I'd take advantage of the rise in paint and playing costs to recruit/convert agglets to pump players if I were you matey
UK Press Release
- Thread starter Robbo
- Start date
I have an SL66 as well
Perhaps SupAir isn't having reduced numbers and other issues because it's too expensive or the rules need changing.
Maybe it's because people are bored with it and want to do something else.
I was around when speedball came into existence and it certainly wasn't done for the players or for spectators, it was done because it was cheap to setup and you didn't need woodland.
Pumps are back, woodball is back, scenario games are on the rise and it would be nice if the focus wasn't always on how do we keep SupAir going.
I'm almost 40 an have never entered a SupAir tourament in my life, I played it for a bit of a laugh but like my signature says "I remember when all these inflatables were trees"
Perhaps SupAir isn't having reduced numbers and other issues because it's too expensive or the rules need changing.
Maybe it's because people are bored with it and want to do something else.
I was around when speedball came into existence and it certainly wasn't done for the players or for spectators, it was done because it was cheap to setup and you didn't need woodland.
Pumps are back, woodball is back, scenario games are on the rise and it would be nice if the focus wasn't always on how do we keep SupAir going.
I'm almost 40 an have never entered a SupAir tourament in my life, I played it for a bit of a laugh but like my signature says "I remember when all these inflatables were trees"
The majority of the players on this forum play SupAir, and enjoy it, so why wouldn't they want to keep it afloat?
It's like me writing an essay up in the pump forum bantering on about the lack of pump players in the UK, and then Snax (sorry mate, first person I thought of) blundering in and saying "BLAGH BLAGH shut up about this pump stuff, SupAir is better, stop stealing the limelight".
A little over exaggerated, but you get my point. It's a consumer led discussion and the patrons of this forum generally play SupAir.
I'll see you on MCB
It most certainly isn't a Sup'Air federation and will attempt to cater for and promote all forms of paintball enjoyed in the UK.
We are acutely aware there is an extremely close relationship between woods-ball and tourney ball; for the most part, that's where the event ballers are born.
As for what's in it for woods-ballers?
Well, we first need to acknowledge there is a growing movement to hold events in the woods, and it would be these type events, as well as big game events that could well choose to come under our banner for sanctioning.
Remember, sanctioning has a two way benefit for the event itself and the board, and let's not forget the players here, they will be attending an event that has value for money and is accountable in terms of standards, safety and judging; if it doesn't meet those standards, then it won't be sanctioned, end of!
I hope this answers your question Andy ...
Plus woodsball will be important to bring punters into the sport as they can then try Sup-Air if they are keen.
I'm not a site owner, just a player who's played woods-ball for years and just starting to play SupAir before I’m too old......so here's my 2 pence worth:
From experience in other sports, regulation is the key to everything. At the moment SupAir is going in the right direction, and this in turn needs to be applied to woods ball. As you say Robbo, I can bet that about 90% of people on this forum started on a woods ball field.
At the moment woods ball is not seen as a serious area for ballers, and as a player I can see why. There is no standard, no control and hardly any regulation. From what I can see, a percentage of site owners of woods ball fields just want first time punters anyway......they pay top price for the paint and never to play again until the next stag do or birthday a couple of years down the line.....but business keeps rolling in from these days so its ok! As a one off day, the cost is justifiable so please read on and don't think I'm saying you are over charging as I'm not. However even when these players do play again, chances are it will be at a different field. At all the various fields I've played in my time, from all the forms I've filled out, I've NEVER received an email, a telephone call or mail shot telling me of a walk-on day or offer to play there again.
I can bet that at least one person in one of the groups mentioned above wants to play again, but when they've just paid £50 for a day and 500 balls, chances are they're thinking its not a 'hobby' they can afford. I'm not blaming site owners here - they have to make a profit, and without these guys, the sport would die. There needs to be that next level of play available, and at the moment its not there. I'll come back to this point later.
Paint prices need to come down so that they can charge a reasonable price for the paint and get some repeat business. Just take a look at the profit of the paint companies on the web. Why should they drop the price though? Things are going fine just the way they are from their position. It’s all about balance and at the current prices; I don't think the sport will grow like it has the potential to do so. It will continue at its current plateau, the number of people leaving the sport directly proportional to those who enter, without any real growth.
Back to regulation.
I think that every marshal before being allowed to step onto a field should have been on a short training course and hold some kind of certificate maybe from the UKPSF or other governing body saying that they are a qualified marshal.
Air/C02 training. Every site owner, or employee who will be filling should have been given training and hold a certificate to prove this.
Random site checks for crono limits and safety etc.
The list could go on for a bit so I'll just stop there at the most obvious ones.
As for taking woods ball to the next level why can't some sort of league be set up within a certain district or county? A and B teams made up from site regulars, playing home and away games. Players will experience other sites, site owners will be able to compare notes and that's when standards will rise.
For example, 6 sites come together. Each month one site will hold the league day. Points system etc and the teams play it out. It works in a similar fashion for all other sports so why not woods ball? Yes sites still keep their walk-ons and punter days, but by doing this it would be taking woods-ball to that next level that is desperately needed in the UK.
All other sports operate like this, and as far as cricket and rugby are concerned I know that fields are evaluated regularly, and unless they are in top condition with regards to the facilities etc, their teams are not allowed to be promoted higher league of that area. It encourages standards not just from the site owners, but from the players. Meetings are held and sub committees are set up in order to regulate and develop the sport under the bigger umbrella. I'm boring myself now.
Feel free to slate me........
From experience in other sports, regulation is the key to everything. At the moment SupAir is going in the right direction, and this in turn needs to be applied to woods ball. As you say Robbo, I can bet that about 90% of people on this forum started on a woods ball field.
At the moment woods ball is not seen as a serious area for ballers, and as a player I can see why. There is no standard, no control and hardly any regulation. From what I can see, a percentage of site owners of woods ball fields just want first time punters anyway......they pay top price for the paint and never to play again until the next stag do or birthday a couple of years down the line.....but business keeps rolling in from these days so its ok! As a one off day, the cost is justifiable so please read on and don't think I'm saying you are over charging as I'm not. However even when these players do play again, chances are it will be at a different field. At all the various fields I've played in my time, from all the forms I've filled out, I've NEVER received an email, a telephone call or mail shot telling me of a walk-on day or offer to play there again.
I can bet that at least one person in one of the groups mentioned above wants to play again, but when they've just paid £50 for a day and 500 balls, chances are they're thinking its not a 'hobby' they can afford. I'm not blaming site owners here - they have to make a profit, and without these guys, the sport would die. There needs to be that next level of play available, and at the moment its not there. I'll come back to this point later.
Paint prices need to come down so that they can charge a reasonable price for the paint and get some repeat business. Just take a look at the profit of the paint companies on the web. Why should they drop the price though? Things are going fine just the way they are from their position. It’s all about balance and at the current prices; I don't think the sport will grow like it has the potential to do so. It will continue at its current plateau, the number of people leaving the sport directly proportional to those who enter, without any real growth.
Back to regulation.
I think that every marshal before being allowed to step onto a field should have been on a short training course and hold some kind of certificate maybe from the UKPSF or other governing body saying that they are a qualified marshal.
Air/C02 training. Every site owner, or employee who will be filling should have been given training and hold a certificate to prove this.
Random site checks for crono limits and safety etc.
The list could go on for a bit so I'll just stop there at the most obvious ones.
As for taking woods ball to the next level why can't some sort of league be set up within a certain district or county? A and B teams made up from site regulars, playing home and away games. Players will experience other sites, site owners will be able to compare notes and that's when standards will rise.
For example, 6 sites come together. Each month one site will hold the league day. Points system etc and the teams play it out. It works in a similar fashion for all other sports so why not woods ball? Yes sites still keep their walk-ons and punter days, but by doing this it would be taking woods-ball to that next level that is desperately needed in the UK.
All other sports operate like this, and as far as cricket and rugby are concerned I know that fields are evaluated regularly, and unless they are in top condition with regards to the facilities etc, their teams are not allowed to be promoted higher league of that area. It encourages standards not just from the site owners, but from the players. Meetings are held and sub committees are set up in order to regulate and develop the sport under the bigger umbrella. I'm boring myself now.
Feel free to slate me........
I agree with you about taking players to the next level. I'm one of those people who's been to a few punter days for birthdays, and have probably only been to about five or six over the course of four or five years, and I really want to get involved in a higher standard of paintball.
I taken the first steps that I can by buying my own gear, and getting into big events such as the Warped big game, but there's just no scope for regular play.
The only kind of paintball that I can personally get to is my local site when I'm not at uni, which is just £100 a case punterball. Short of making big payments for big excursions there just isn't anything available, especially when I'm at uni, as travelling is incredibly difficult. I'm mean, it's not like other sports where you can just buy a ball and play in a park. Paintball is inherintly expensive and you have to travel far to find a place to play.
So yeah, I completely agree that there is no next step for those that want to go a bit further, and I would personally love to see a place to play regularly, but it's almost impossible for some people to take the next step, as there's just nothing available within reach. And I can't really see that changing unless local punter sites are willing to change their business.
Do you think that this reform is going to create enough growth so that people from small towns like me can play regularly? Or is paintball still going to be associated with big costs and lots of travel?
a list of walk-on sites would be nice in the rec ball section.unlucky for you guys down south but up north we have a woodsball league that is run between 5 sites for an idea what it,s like go to www.nobattlepack.com ,maybe some of you guys could get something going down south
