Articles
Life as a "newb"
By John Sime
Sep 13, 2002, 19:53

In order to get a drivers licence you have to learn how to drive. In order to play Baseball you have to learn how to hit the ball. In order to do anything you have to start at the beginning, and try it for the first time. Ladies and gentlemen; boys and girls, the exact same thing holds true to Paintball. It is no different. No matter who you are, you once played Paintball for your first time.

Some people may have played it for their first time when the sport was just an infant. They were the pioneers, and they were the ones who found out what worked and what didn’t. In a sense they were ‘newbies’, but that’s all there was then.

Paintball has grown and matured somewhat and a lot of those pioneer players are still playing, and more and more people are discovering Paintball, and all it has to offer, and are trying it for their first time. We get new players all the time going out with parents, older brothers or birthday parties. They want to take part in the sport and discover it for their selves. Assuming they have a good first experience, they will come back for more, and eventually become part of a new generation.

In order to keep them though, they have to have a good experience. Part of that lies in the hands of the field operator. They have to provide good service, and be hospitable. However, that is only one half, the other is the players that play at the field. The other players are the ones who will be interacting, and playing along side the first timers. It is their job to be pleasant, helpful, and patient. First impressions mean everything in our society and the first game of Paintball will determine whether that potential player come back again, or goes home to tell their friends about how bad Paintball is.

When you try something for the first time you are nervous. You’re unsure what it will be like, and you want to make sure you do everything right. New Paintball players feel the same. They are nervous, they have never been hit by a speeding gelatine capsule, or bombarded with talk about ‘Cocker this, 14 inch that, or where the lube needs to go (well, with the exception of Health class at school). All this can be pretty intimidating. Especially when you don’t know how you should act or talk. Think back to the last time you did something new, like going to High School, Band Camp, or playing Paintball. You probably were nervous.

It’s not terribly hard to make a new player feel welcome. Nothing like taking care of a puppy, or brain surgery. It’s all about how you represent, and project yourself and the sport you play. You also have to be patient. New players are just learning and don’t get everything the first time. I remember it took me a while to grasp the difference between an Autococker, and an Automag. After all, they both shoot paint, so what’s the difference?

‘Cocker, Shocker, Flatline, NPPL, hot, gogged, BPS, and pod are all examples of Paintball jabber we use all the time. It fits in nicely to the average Paintball player’s vocabulary, but wait, did you stop and think about someone who has never played Paintball before? When a new player hears all these terms, chances are they’ll just listen, and will be to shy to ask about them. I was, and I kept my mouth shut. I was too nervous to ask. Everyone looked like they were too busy to talk to me, or have anything to do with me. It sounds kind of harsh, but that is what it felt like. It’s pretty easy to spot new players. If they look confused explain to them that a Rainmaker is a Paintball gun, not a Native American rain dance, or what ever else they seemed confused on. Once they understand the terms, they will feel much more comfortable talking with more experienced players thusly picking up more information and knowledge.

The premiere Paintball game for a beginner can be, scary, exciting, and overwhelming all at the same time. That is quite a bit of emotions to experience all at once. It’s no surprise that for the first timer things out on the Speedball field, or in the woods good get a little confusing. There is a lot of yelling going on, several Paintballs flying every which way, and people running chaotically about. You’d probably had time to pick out the new players by now; it’s not that hard. If you see them in a game huddled in the back with all their friends behind the same bunker, please don’t hesitate to go over and help them out. Tell them what’s going on, brief them on how to play the certain game you are playing and let them know it is much better to move around than to stay in the same bunker. I remember when I first started; I was terrified of stepping foot out of the back bunker. I didn’t leave that bunker for several games. I just sat there sticking my barrel out and firing at random intervals. However, one glorious day I finally I got the courage to move, and really discovered what Paintball is. So, make that clear to the beginning players. Paintball isn’t about sitting in the back hugging your friends in the middle of the woods. Paintball is moving, and running, and sweating.

The Ref is your friend right? Make sure new players know this. Make it clear to them that the Ref is always the one in the bright shirt, or with Ref on their goggles. Make sure they know that the Ref is there to make the game go as safely, and smoothly as possible. Any time the new player needs help he is able to call the Ref over for a squeegee or a question or what ever the need may be. For all you Refs out there, you should be equally able to help, and show a new player the ropes. You work, and represent the field. If you provide a good time, then when the new player decides they want to play Paintball again, more than likely they will choose your field.

Field owners, and Refs should conduct a safety briefing before playing any games for new players. This should cover the basics, such as safeties on the markers, and goggles always on unless in a designated ‘goggles off’ area. However, just because the field has done this doesn’t mean that can’t re-enforce this on the field while playing. If a new player gets shot in the goggles I am sure one of the first reactions would be to take them off and clean them. So, if you see a player taking off their goggles on the field, or on their way off the field, yell to them, get their attention some way and let them know what they are doing wrong. The same, goes for barrel plugs or any other rule that regards to safety. Explain what they did wrong, and calmly tell them how to correct it. “You stupid newbie!” is not required. Paintball has excellent safety statistics and we should be able to keep it that way.

One of the biggest fears I had of Paintball was getting hit. I heard stories of welts, blood, and other nasty things. The first time I played I showed up with a t-shirt, turtleneck, sweatshirt, and winter jacket, in the middle of July I might add. By the end of the day I was only in the turtleneck. After getting hit several times I realized that it doesn’t hurt as much as some people said, but it still hurt some. If a new player asks if it hurts to get hit tell the truth, don’t lie. It does hurt. Whether it hurts a bit, or hurts a lot differs. It all depends on where you were hit. Most of the time if you are running around it feels like a mild sting that vanishes in seconds. Also, explain to them that neck protectors and athletic supports/chest protectors can also help reduce the pain. Tell them honestly, after all they asked an honest question.

What’s worse than getting hit once? Getting hit 13 times perhaps? Overshooting doesn’t feel good. These new electric markers, and fast firing guns are very intimidating and may make the new player feel ‘insignificant’ with their rental. You are all smart people, so use judgement. It is not necessary to shoot them more than once. It hurts, and leaves a bad impression of the game. It will stay, and stand out. When they think of Paintball that may very well be their “fond” memory of the sport. We don’t want any first time players going to school the next day and being questioned about their 15 welts, and then recommended to the Guidance Department as a possible victim of abuse.

Paintball markers are quite the fascinating machines for someone who has never seen them used, or used one before. Naturally when you see, or use something you have never experienced before you will have some questions. Naturally, being the experienced player you are the one who has to answer the question. It is not a difficult task. What ever they ask, give them a simple explanation in plain English; they don’t need technical terms or Paintball jargon.

Everything you teach, or explain to them they will remember. All of these terms, situations and what ever else they have witnessed is being soaked up into their ‘newbie’ brain. With a little help, and more visits at the field they will know what they are doing, and talking about. Any help you give them makes it so much easier to figure out how the sport works, and makes their first Paintball game so much more enjoyable.

A player who has a great day of Paintball is much more likely to go and tell their friends and family to try it then if they’d have had a less enjoyable day. Anyone in advertising will tell you that word of mouth is the best form of advertising. It’s free, and reaches the masses. This only works if the product being advertised is satisfactory, and it is our jobs to make it, and keep it that way.