Here are some tips and tricks that apply to speedball.

Keep Moving!

Players should constantly be moving from bunker to bunker, without
letting the opposing team see. Using crouching techniques to do so
will limit the opposing teams view of your moving. Also, have
teammates cover each other during the movements. Moving often
creates a hide and seek sort of effect.

They may think you are in one bunker, but they did not see you move
to the other. Moving often and quickly can trick opponents,
leaving you the chance to move closer to the flag, and sending them
on a wild goose chase.

Communication Crucial

Communication is important in every aspect of life, perhaps more so
in speedball! In speedball things happen much faster than in
classic paintball. Communication is necessary among your
teammates. If you are guarding someone, let him or her know.

If you are eliminated, let your teammates know. Or, if you know of
an opposing player that has been eliminated, communicate that to
your teammates as well. For example, if someone on the other team
was eliminated and you are unaware of it, you may not advance on
the field.

If the teammate who ousted him told you, you would have known it
was safe to pass him. If you are guarding someone and become
eliminated, let the person under your guard know so they know they
are on their own.

Bunker Often

Bunkers are there to be used. Take advantage of them. In a
fast-paced game as speedball, being out in the open too long can
result in elimination. Stay in bunkers as much as you can, and
find that you will stay in the game longer.

Watch Tunnel Vision

Tunnel vision is something that should be avoided in any type of
paintball game. In speedball, the playing field is already
smaller. Don't make it even smaller by only focusing on a portion
of it.

Hopefully you have discovered some new tips and strategies from
this special Paintball 'Mini Course'. Let us make a
recommendation...

If you really want to get good at paintball, win more often, win
tournaments, and become an amazing player that people will envy,
you must get this manual: Paintball Heros.

You have nothing to lose. It's guaranteed.

Here is part 2 to 'small tips, big difference'...

Moving Tight

Not only can one stand and sit tight while playing paintball, but
also move in a tighter manner. Players can use tighter moves, such
as crawling, which makes them lower to the ground. When moving
while walking or running, keep arms tight to the body. This goes
for gear as well, which should also be held close as possible to
the body.


Gear

Gear itself can make a player a bigger target than they need to be.
The weapon being carried can easily be held closer to the body to
appear smaller. However, gear that is attached and being carried
on a player's body can indeed stick out, resulting in higher
visibility by an enemy. Be certain that gear, such as an extra
loader, hopper, tank and any additional pieces are not showing more
than they ought to.

These small tips will make one big difference once implemented on
the playing field. Share these tips with the rest of the team and
maximize your cover. So, keep those elbows in check, and perhaps
practice crouching by giving that remote control a break.

Playing Tight: Small tips, big difference part 1!

Ever hear the saying you make a better door than a window? When
you are in the way, it is obvious. That can be said for paintball
too. And, obvious is obviously something a player does not want to
be.

The bigger a player appears to be, the easier they are to hit.
And, the object of paintball is to, of course, not get hit. By
bigger, we do not mean one's stature or body type, but the way they
are presenting themselves on the field.

Believe it or not, things like elbows can make all the difference
in a friendly game of capture the flag.

This article will highlight some helpful tips players can implement
into their game to make them, well, have better game, and prepare
them to become not such an easy target to hit.

Coupled with other strategies, playing tight is one sure way to be
paint-free longer.


Crouching Player, Hidden Target

The first, and probably most obvious method of becoming smaller is
crouching. Crouching seems to be a lost position, as we no longer
have to do it in front of the television set, thanks to remote
controls. On a paintball field, however, this could be a savior.
When crouching, players should tuck their bodies in as close as
possible, making sure knees and elbows are not protruding out.
This is almost like being in the fetal position, but upright.
Another way to look at this is as if the player is rolled up in a
ball.


Barriers

Another way to be lesser of a target is pay more attention to
posture and actions when behind a barrier. For one thing, players
should look around a barrier, not over it, as this will keep
showing the head to a minimum. Once again, elbows need to be
minded, as they can stick out from a barrier. They should be kept
tight against the body to prevent that from happening.

Target Practice- Ways to Improve Aim

In a game like paintball, it's crucial to have good aim. Without
it, in a game where the enemy must be eliminated, a loss is certain
without hitting targets. Good aim is a skill that is mastered over
time, but it is a skill that can be honed from the beginning.
There are some ways to practice aim prior to hitting the field.
For those that have their own equipment, here are some drills to do
from the backyard:

Hanging targets

Hang some targets, such as cans or bottles, from strings on tree
branches, clothesline poles and other sturdy objects. The idea in
this is that the targets will be of height of opponents in
different positions. Let the wind be a natural obstacle, as it
will mimic the opponent moving.

If this becomes easy, move back a few steps, further to one side or
another, or choose smaller targets. This is a surefire way to
build aiming skills.


Point Game

This is almost like solitaire for the paintball fanatic. Set up
some different size targets in an area. Put a can here, a piece of
wood there, and old doll over yonder, etc. Assign point values to
each of them, and then load the gun with only a certain amount of
balls. (Kind of reminiscent of that amusement park shooting range
game, where players fire at objects that begin to move or make
noise, such as a piano player or a rocking chair....)

Players should first set a goal of a certain score they hope to
achieve. Once the round is fired off, add up the points. If the
goal is met, congratulations! If not, practice makes perfect! Try
again! This could be implemented to play between several people
who would like to practice, each shooting a round and whoever has
the highest score wins. While trying to reach a goal, this method
of practicing also builds aiming skills.


Obstacle Course

Since shooting while moving is sometimes a necessity, aiming on the
move also become something that needs to be practiced. For a more
advanced way of practicing to hit objects, try moving at the same
time! Set up a small obstacle course with targets. Then, move
through the course while shooting at the targets. Not only will
this help aim, but also simply aid in getting the body used to
moving through zigzags while using a weapon.

Now lets cover three more important movement techniques...

Rushing

Rushing is a quick way to get from point A to point B, and can be
combined with crawling. Rushing should be kept on the short side,
around three seconds, to keep the enemy from tracking players.
To rush, a player will lift his or her head up from their current
crawling position and scan the area for their next move.

Then, they will lower their head, bring their arms and legs closer
to the body and then quickly lift up and run to the next position,
and get back into a crawl. This can be done several times to
strategically get from part of the field to another in the quickest
manner possible.


Moving With Stealth

There are points where players will not be crawling near the
ground. But rather than just walking through the playing area,
they should be moving with stealth. Moving with stealth means
moving quietly, carefully and slowly.

To move stealthily, the weapon should be held in the ready
position. Footing should be kept solid by putting the weight of
the body on the foot that is currently touching the ground, and
letting the toe hit the ground first and not letting the heal hit
until the toe feels solid. Steps should be short to maintain
balance, and the leg should be lifted high when there is high
brush.

So, when thinking about stealth, keep some other S's in mind- slow,
study and solid.

General Movement Tips

-Player should camouflage himself and his weapon

-Weapons should be taped up so they do not rattle when moved

-Player should wear soft clothes that fit well to prevent making
noises

-Players should look for routes that are concealed and/or
covered

-Players should avoid areas with loose stone, such as a steep
hill

-Players should watch out for alarmed animals, as an enemy could
be nearby

-The tips we discussed on movement can be reviewed on our website
with pictures: Paintball Movement.

Want to improve your aim? Wait until the next article...you're
going to love it!

Three Important Ingredients To Teamwork

In the first article we revealed three important ingredients to
teamwork:

attitude
skill
and strategy.

We covered attitude in the first email mini course. So lets finish
up on skill and strategy, and then in the next article we'll dig
deeper into battlefield techniques and secrets!

Skill is the second major ingredient in effective teamwork.
Teammates of widely varying skill levels can work well together;
the key is ensuring that each player's skills integrate well with
everyone else's.

If one person's tactical skills are far below those of his
teammates, he probably won't be able to keep up. If his skills are
vastly superior to everyone else's, he'll get bored and quit. Then
the team has lost time that could have been spent getting a better
candidate fully integrated into the team.

Another issue is each player's learning curve. Say you've found
the perfect candidate in terms of attitude and commitment, but her
skills are a little below everyone else's.
Does she have natural talent, or is she a quick study?

Is her strategic approach similar?

Is she always working to improve her performance?

If each answer is "yes," then she probably is the right person
after all.

Each team member should also be able to play a backup role, in case
you lose a crucial teammate. Suppose your team loses its wingman.
At the moment, you need someone to watch the center, but you don't
need a sniper. Does your sniper have well enough secondary skills
to fill in as wing man?

However, strategy is often more important than skill. No matter
how well you get along with your teammates or how high your skill
level, lack of strategy loses games. The most common strategic
mistake occurs when players forget that they are part of a team.
Yes, it sounds obvious, but in the heat of a firefight it's hard to
remember that what's happening to you is only one part of a much
larger picture.

Paintball is also a game of logic. One expert player describes
paintball strategy as "playing chess in your head," and it's an apt
metaphor: Teammates must think several moves ahead and plan for
contingencies that may never occur. Each player needs to be able
to think logically, anticipating each move's potential results, and
analytically, anticipating unexpected or unintended consequences.

There is a final factor that grows out of the other three:
Communication. Communicating with each other clearly, both on and
off the field, goes a long way toward ensuring that attitude,
skill, and strategy take care of themselves.

Defensive Tactics in Paintball

The best offense is having a good defense. This kind of thinking is usually deployed in sports such as basketball or soccer where the team does its best to prevent the other team from scoring especially in a championship match. A team can also use the same tactics in the game of paintball by preventing the opposing force from capturing the flag.

Games start with both sides having limited ammunition. Since the game can last for a very long time, the team should make every shot count. The players should only fire when there is a clear shot rather than not being able to fire when it matters the most.

Spreading out over a certain area is a good defensive tactic. This is to cover the enemy no matter which direction he may come from. Should the opposing team see one of your team members, the others who have a better view should neutralize the opponent.
If in the opening minutes of the game, the team has lost half of its members, the best strategy is to fall back to the base and regroup. A perimeter should be set up to prevent the other team from outflanking the group while patrols can be sent out to search for the enemy.
If a scout has spotted the enemy, the person can take the opponent out. Should there be a group moving towards the base, then go back and tell the others and fight off the enemy with the same number of people. This plan could fail if any of the members of the opposing force escapes the attack and informs the others the location of your base.

The trick in catching the enemy off guard takes camouflage and concealment. Since the guns have a limited range, it is best to wait until the opposing force enters the “kill zone” before any shooting takes place.
When a firefight takes place, the player’s position has been revealed. Since the enemy will return fire, the person can still survive the enemy’s bullets by getting sufficient cover.
If this is not feasible, then transferring to a better area is a good idea. The player should inform the others before moving so that the others can give adequate cover.
It takes planning for the play to work. By communicating on the field, the team has a good chance of defending the base then surging forward to kill the enemy or capture the flag.

Popular Paintball Games

As paintball improved and became popular, many individuals tried their abilities at it; giving rise to the assortment and diversity of paintball tournaments and games.

Recreational or Capture the Flag

Played by two teams, where each team has a flag and the objective of both teams is to capture or seize the opponent’s flag and carry it to your team’s starting point. This is one way for your team to win and another way is by eliminating the opposing team entirely.

Each team has to defend their base and simultaneously dispatch team players to eliminate the opponent and capture their flag.

These games are usually played in the forest; bunkers and structures can be put up throughout the area.

Scenario Paintball

This is a paintball game with a theme set up behind it: there are an endless number of themes that can be created making the game feel and look very realistic. There are a number of players; in many cases as many as a hundred are involved in each team.

Each team gets the theme (storyline) a day before the start of the game. There are usually two teams participating, having the “general” as a team’s leader.

Each player is given a role and they should work together as a team in order to carry out and win an assigned mission. Props in accordance with the theme are introduced and distributed throughout the field. There are questions asked in connection with the theme and points are awarded for correct answers.

These points are totaled at the conclusion of the game and the team having the most number of points wins.

Backyard

This can be played right at your own backyard, a friend’s empty property or at times any property but you must as you get permission first. You gather your friends to form a group and then conceptualize your own game which typically is “capture the flag”.

Speedball

Also called “Center Flag”, the speedball field is designed with many huge bunkers; usually “inflatables” filled with air that are shaped similar to big snakes, soda cans, water tanks etc.

Here, a team can be composed of between three to ten players in a game. There is only one flag that is involved and it is located at the center of a field. The two teams start at each end of the field and attempt to gain possession of the flag at the center and carry it to their bunker. The team that does this successfully wins.

Paintball can surely challenge the “soldier” in you. Give it a shot!

Paintball Basics

Paintball is a safe, simple yet challenging and strategic sport that is played usually by two teams, each with at least two players. Adults and kids alike enjoy this sport as they often refer to it as an advanced or improvised game of tag.

Tournaments attract many spectators of all ages, as it is a very exciting game to watch.

Paintball games are of various types, however, the most popular game often played is called "capture the flag". The object or the goal of this game is for teams to advance to the opponent’s base, move the other team’s flag to its destined location, at the same time guarding your own flag.

The paintball field has many obstacles such as tires, forts, old cars, hay and the newest are “inflatables” that are constructed as refuge for team players; making the game all the more exciting, as if participating in an actual game of war in videos.

When one is hit, it can hurt briefly and at times give players bruises. Players are typically required to be in long sleeves shirt and pants, making sure that the color is not be identical as that of the judge and complete paintball gear such as mask, helmet and goggles for safety.

The sport of paintball has a distinct and accurate set of rules that are strictly followed. The producer of the tournament is the absolute authority in regard to either an alteration or addition to the rules; marshals oversee the event, and their decision is always final. No dispute on the paintball field is accommodated or entertained.

A military approach to paintball is useless, as that knowledge is recognized and understood by the teams. A team’s tactic should be carefully planned; your team’s line of attack will not be known by the opposing team, and there should be a quick switch of plans in case something goes wrong.

There must be a lot of team work involved, as everyone moves through the field. As a team member moves, there should be others to guard and keep watch and give off covering shots when necessary. A team that moves together with a common objective will have a great chance of succeeding in this game.

Communication in the field is also very important. A team-mate can shout the position of the opponent. The moment that a player is seen, the game for that player is up; so there is no reason for you to keep quite; instead, inform the others the location of the enemy.

The excitement of this game concludes when you are seen and eliminated - a situation that all team players struggle to avoid.**

Paintball, A Sport for Everyone

Paintball is one of the most popular outdoor participation sports around. The good thing about paintball is that everyone or anyone can play. There are no special requirements needed. Players can partake of the thrill paintball brings, regardless of race, age, gender and social status. The only requirement is a competitive spirit and the desire for adventure.

Paintball combines the elements of two childhood games, tag and hide-and-seek. Given the nature of those two games, paintball is for people who want to experience the unique rush that participation sports gives, minus physical contact. The objective of paintball is to capture the flag of the opponent while protecting his or her own.

At the same time, players aim to eliminate their opponent from the game by shooting them and marking them with paintballs coming from paint guns. There are almost no limitations when it comes to the number of players, the limitation will only stem from the size of the playing field.

The game can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life, whatever lifestyle or profession. There are no discriminations when it comes to paintball. It is a competition where the quickest and smartest survive.

The chances of winning for each person are very fair, since old timers can find themselves being eliminated by neophytes. Men and women are equal in the game, and it is where the young do not necessarily have advantage over the old. To be an expert in paintball, a player must be able to think quickly, with precision. Victory is not at all dependent on strength and agility.

What can paintball bring to its players? Primarily, it builds character. Through paintball, one can garner skills on teamwork, leadership and self-confidence. The sport provides fun and relief from everyday stress, without the danger of injuries and death.

This is a big plus for companies, and paintball is fast becoming a recommended activity for employees. Paintball gives the following benefits for the staff and management: morale boost, improved camaraderie, removal of the barrier between employer and employee, and enhanced group dynamics.

Paintball is available to everyone, and serves as an alternative activity for several events. Groups from college sororities, fraternities, athletic teams and company staff and management all grab at the chance of playing paintball. It is featured as a central theme during birthday bashes, bachelor parties, or just simple gatherings. It is an activity that everyone can truly enjoy.