Teams needing players.

[garycarrot]

I have noticed that a couple of teams are asking for players to fill their side for upcomming tournys.

Does anyone else think we have too many tournys and not enough people???

Are we all trying to do too much????

Your thoughts.

 

[Rich S]

no it is just the time of year

crimbo = no money
jan sales = no money

the off season = teams setting up for the new season and not fully being prepared.

 

[Ben Frain]

Yes, to a degree you could be correct but I think the bigger problem is that it's very difficult to get new people into the sport. Everyone you speak to about Paintball thinks it's do with war and camo etc and even when you try and describe Sup Air fields they just look confused... I've tried to get a couple of my brothers to play (both athletic/aggresive types who would probably suit it well) but they just don't 'get' it...

So that leaves us with a fairly finite group of existing tournament players. Any half decent regular player usually already plays with a team which means that for the most part there are no 'new' players, only players that have defected to other teams.

I think we definately need to concentrate on getting some exhibition style games going in different areas of the country to encourage new blood to give it a whirl. Perhaps the local rivalry of PA League style games/teams may help get us on that road a little...?

 

[Red_Merkin]

Personally, i think there's too many teams. Combined with a generally weak rec-ball scene, and you have teams always struggling to find players.
The rarest breed is younger players with some sort of income. When you find one of these you hold on to them at all costs!

I reckon that a lot of players will be shuffeling around in the off season, especially this year as several teams have lost players to pro teams expanding their rosters to play in the EXL or to start feeder teams.

 

[Dazdread]

This was covered just recently and I think the answer was a big yes.

Tourneys are now going 7 man rather than 5 so teams need a bigger roster, many teams are entering more than one tournament series and so need a bigger roster. All this and there is no real way of bringing new players into the sport apart from speaking to the right person at the right time.

The sport has expanded but is still just as expensive mostly but I am sure that this will change given time.

The amount of sites running walk on days is the key to showing punters that there is more to paintball than just running around the woods.

 

[garycarrot]

I agree that the cost is a problem, as a "older" bloke, with a wife and kids, not to mention the mortage..
But just as hard is the time, Its 2 days a month, and if you add extra tourny's, well thats another day or two....not enough days in the month to find time to spend with the family and play paintball.

Have to go part time!!!!! Or use my pocket time machine, and do both.

 

[Dazdread]

I know, Just got Leicester Wildcats up and running, will be competing in 2 tournaments and the missus is just about to make me a daddy.

Only time will tell if I am still playing this time next year... something will have to go, sorry kid !!!!!!

 

[garycarrot]

Just puts you under more pressure.......Oh to be young, free, single, rich and not quite so heavy!!!

 

[JoseDominguez]

We just don't do enough recruitment at rec-level............ I had no problem forming a scratch team for the PA last year after one visit to a rec site, 7 of them are still playing now and we've picked up loads of new players.

 

[FAMINE]

Yup, we never struggle for players either.
Maybe its time for teams to look beyond mates playing together and look what the team can offer new players??

How many teams actively recruit new to the sport players?
How many teams have a structured training programme for these new players?

All teams lose players, from money to missus troubles. This is why u need to keep an active recruit. Over the years (about 7) Apoc has lost approx 10 players, but gained about 30!! Now if we just sat back and posted for new players that would never have happened. You gotta go hunt that new blood