New Paintball Players

The first time playing paintball can be scary.  I still remember how much trepidation I felt the first time I was on the field and the whistle blew - everyone seemed to know exactly what they were doing (they really didn't), and I was overwhelmed by the sounds, the mask and the fast pace of the game.  By the time my first day was over I had a much better understanding of the game and I haven't felt that same sense of nervousness since.

New paintball players, though, feel that same trepidation.  They worry about whether it will hurt to get hit, how to shoot their gun, how to react to their opponents and they wonder what the game is really going to feel like.  Those thoughts are completely normal, and if they keep a few things in mind, they'll be fine.

For those of us that have played more than a few games in our lives, we need to take a minute with new players and welcome them to the game.  It's okay to go easy on the newbies and help them understand the sport.  It's okay to take extra time and go over the rules in detail and explain exactly how a paintball gun works.  It's okay to walk the field and explain boundaries in detail.  If we all just take a minute with the new players we can give them the best opportunity to embrace the sport we love.