The Paintball Team Guide

My old post:

My grandfather, an engineer, gave me a great little acronym to follow by in life's various projects. Its KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid(!). I think that's the best way for you to go. I'd reeeeeeeeeeeeaally strongly reccomend not worrying about markers... especially Angels. Many other markers will do the job for you and won't be sucking $1000+ out of your pockets.

The basics that I've learned the hard way go as thus (and may be repetitions of previous posts):

1. Decide your teams goals.
Before you embark into paintball teamhood, you must make sure you know what kinds of games you want to participate in. Speedball and woodsball are the two basic types. Rec will give you a test of both. When you begin playing with future founders and members of your team, be sure to identify the type of gameplay you WANT to do.

2. Find loyal players.
Many people are initially focused and committed to making a real team. However, as time and obligations begin to take precedence, there may not many members of your team left to join in for practice, play, or even a few tourneys. You want to find people that can compliment yourself. Having members with more experience to guide you through your early stages is really helpful. An experienced player can identify how you need to improve your game, what exercises you might want to do off the field, and even give you connections with other people that come in handy much later. Once you have people who come back again and again, then start talking about serious membership. Its a commitment... you want people to stick around.

3. In the beginning, equipment should be practical.
For now, take those tippmanns (or whatever you prefer...) and have fun using them. Make sure to search the whole spectrum. Renting different guns is one of the best ways to discover the marker for you... sometimes borrowing is better. You might find asking the people at the proshop or veteran players about the inner-workings of the different markers you use. If someone will take the time to show you how to take care of some of these markers, take the opportunity. A gunsmith at the basic levels and local tourneys really shouldn't be a priority. You're basic and intermediate needs should be addressed by you and each of your teammates. The best maintained and functioning guns are owned by those who can do their own repairs. You'll save a lot of money, time, and unexpected marker failures on the field this way!!!

4. Get group rates as soon as possible.
Once a group is established and you find that this field is your place of choice, make sure to sign up early for a team. They don't care whether you play tourneys (unless they sponsor you, and that's usually a rare thing so early on); they just want you to give them money for the field. The discount deals will usually be given to returning customers. You assure them biz, they give you less expensive rates. This will keep you playing and keep players from dropping out due to cost. It's always a good deal...

5. Find local businesses to sponsor you.
If you're team members have good relations with local business owners or you're doing well in tourneys, consider going outside the paintball world to get some team cash. In return, they want to see some adverising of their store and whatever wares or services they provide... so you've got to be at tourneys and you've got to do well in them!

6. Overall, just get a rep in your local paintball world.
You want to play well and you want a good rep with the players you compete with in competition and also in rec. A website and simple posters will also go a long way. Make sure to build your team off the principles of the game. In the most basic sense of the word, you are an athelete. Good sportsmanship and winning/losing attitude will always be remembered on the field as easily as a cocky and inconsiderate one. A good rep with other players will draw people to you serious about the sport. There's nothing wrong with bringing in new players who are willing and ready. Bad reps will discourage other 'ballers from bringing you into the paintball community. Of course, there will be cases where attitude will win 'em over and other times when it won't make a bit of differece. When you stress the fun of the game, the whole team will be happier and they'll show it in how they play and in the times they show.

If you try to take a little time to let it grow and evolve naturally, you may discover your team taking off faster than you expected. The general idea is that starting and maintaining teams can be very difficult. These steps are the best I know of to ensuring that you will get the right people, the right gear, and hopefully, the most amount of monetary support for your team.


This is another thread I started to look at some of the strategies employed by teams in paintball:Tactics

Edited by Mr. Spiffy

Maybee add something about keeping it fun and dont let "politics" creep in.

Good advice though, thanks.

wow really good post Spiffy

I think I am going to sticky this for a limited amount of time. Theres always a ton of questions asked about forming teams, this might help.

THIS IS A FANTASTIC POST PROB A STUPID QUESTION BUT WHY WASNT IT DONE OR STARTED BEFOR? BUT ITS A REALLY GOOD IDEA I MY SELF WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS AS IM A NEW BEGINER TO THE EXCELENT WORLD OF PAINT BALLING.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND INPUT FOR US NEW USERS

YOUR PRB RITE BUT STILL EVEN IF THE SIT HAS TO BE UPDATED SURLY THIS TREAD SHOULD BE GIVEN A PERMANANT PLACE OR LINK SO IN STEAD OF 5 PEOPLE STARTING A HOW DO START A TEAM THEAD THEY HAVE 1 PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GET THEIR Q ANS As AND ALL OF THEIR INFO AND WHERE THE MORE EXPERIENCED PLAYERS CAN ADD AND PASS ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCES SEE WHERE IM COMING FROM

ok almighty fourm gods u regulate and watch and read wots being said lets have a responce

Thanks American, some nice detail stuff and team etiquette is always important to consider. I'm sure there must be other people who have something else to add or even something I should update in my post. However, if you reccomend an update to my post, PM with what you want added and I'll paste it into my article with your name attached. THanks again!!!

Make sure that after you assemble your team, to be sure one of your teammates makes a thread on this forum to ask for help thinking of a team name. The only rule that goes with that is your team has to use one of the suggested names.

i want to thank you all me and a few buddys are going to start a team in our little town and this will really help