The team assessment should be approached in such a manner that you are not showing favoritism to one person or coming down extra hard on another for dropping a mission, loosing a prop or whatever the reason may be. As the Team Captain, everyone looks at you to see how you will react when something does not go the way you were hopping for it to. If the team sees you yelling and screaming at people, they will think that it is an accepted practice and will do it themselves to their teammates when something negative happens. Don’t forget that your team mates are not being paid to play with you, so unless you’re a masochist, being yelled at will get old real quick.

When you are addressing positive events, feel free to use the players name to reinforce them, however when you criticize a situation, never address the player in question by name, try to use statements such as “we could of done it this way” or “this happened to us.” The saying that the best-laid plans go to hell in the first 5 minutes of game on is a perfect summation for any paintball game. I have seen people plan contingency after contingency prior to the start of a game and throw all the plans out the window when team X does not complete what seemed to be an easy objective and the game plan has to be altered to reflect such. The less corners you can back yourself into will help you later on.

The format you should follow is to schedule a team meeting after the event, possibly the following weekend if the team’s schedule permits. You do not want the meeting to take place directly following an event, but at the same time you do not want to leave it go for to long as people are by nature revisionists. The reason for this is two fold. 1) You want the team to be able to take a step back from the event and think about how everything went, and 2) the emotion from the game should be subsided at that point and people can make better assessments of themselves and the team without being caught up in the moment and feel that they are being attacked.

A good project you can give to everyone prior to the meeting is to fill out a simple questionnaire about how they feel they preformed, what they could change, and what they feel could be changed for the group in total. Again, you should make sure that no one mentions any names, as you do not want to create a division within the team over something as futile as who caused the team to drop the mission or loose the prop. In the grand scheme of things, at this stage, it is not worth the drama. Later on when everyone is more accustomed to each other, the assessments can become more critical as the players should know that they are not being malicious but want to insure that everyone is playing to the best of their ability. Do not address people’s personal assessments with the group, that is something that should be done one on one to achieve the best outcome. Would you want to be criticized in front of everyone? It may sound corny, but you really should treat your teammates, as you would want to be treated. Mutual respect can go a long way and save you a lot of headaches later on.

When you are talking with the entire team, be sure to ask about how they feel the communication was between everyone. Could there of been something done differently? Was there a breakdown? Maybe how the field was labeled? Code names for objectives? Don’t be afraid to ask everyone for their opinions before the team takes the giant leap and purchases the $200+ dollar radios. By playing more events, you really will see what works and does not work. Some teams rely on radios for every movement they do whereas some teams refuse to use them. To be successful, you do not need radios; so do not feel that you need to purchase them. If the guys cannot afford the $200+ dollar radios, start with the Motorola 2 packs that you can find at the big box stores. If your team chooses to not go with radios, at least keep two, one for you and one for the sides commander to contact you on.

If everyone is honest with the team and themselves, there shouldn’t be any obstacles that can not be overcome by talking about them post game. Ask everyone’s opinions about what they feel the team should practice prior to the next event. You can set up a practice rec schedule where you work on different aspects while playing against live opponents. You can take it a step farther by having different team members run the practices. This will encourage ownership into the lesson and will make people appreciate how much work goes into organizing a practice, let alone a team. Dry practice runs are fine for starting, but if you truly want to master a new technique, you need to play against someone who will be shooting back at you and will force you to play as if your team was in the middle of a scenario game.

All games should be used as learning experiences, and like with everything else in life, you need to work at it to get better. Anyone who is remotely successful has become that due to hard work. If your team stays hungry and keeps the eye on the ultimate goal, you will achieve success.

This weeks question is: As the Team Captain, what do you feel your primary focus should be directed towards at this point?

Next week we will be discussing the issue of crafting the teams direction and the possibility of sponsorships.

Until next time,
Josh Foote

Pro paintball player Raney Stanczak

Prior to taking a break to finish College and play professional poker, Raney played pro with the Ironmen, Aftermath and Dynasty.

In recent years, Greg Pauley has competed with Avalanche (Warped) Ninjaz, Texas Storm and the DSS P8ntball program. In addition, GP was involved with the Omaha VICIOUS program and helped coach the team into the professional division.

Which professional team do you think Greg Pauley will be coaching? Share your thoughts in the comments!

After the postponement of PSP Galveston’s professional division, players and fans began speculating as to how the PSP would handle the delayed pro matches. Unfortunately, there is no precedent for postponed paintball matches to take place at another location. Lucky for everyone involved, the rescheduling only effects 12 teams.

As you will recall, Sunday professional play has been rescheduled to take place on Thursday, April 19th (at PSP Phoenix) due to storms during the Galveston event. A few questions have come across inquiring as to how the PSP will handle the field layouts.

1. What type of layout will the professionals compete on? The Galveston layout, the Phoenix layout, or both?
2. If Pro teams are playing the Galveston layout on Thursday to wrap up the event, how will they have time to walk the Phoenix layout in time to play Fridays games?

PSP Galveston Paintball Field Layout

Earlier this morning we received a note from ProPaintball insiders suggesting an interesting bit of intel was posted on the PSP’s website. Apparently the story was posted then later retracted, possibly only moments after going live. The only tidbit available is this;

Special Announcement Regarding the PSP Phoenix Open Field Layout   The PSP took the following into consideration when deciding on the field layout for the upcoming April 19 – 22, 2012 PSP Phoenix Open:   1) Prior to the Galveston Island event, we received very positive reviews of the field layout and were excited to [...]

While short and unclear, this brief message may provide a few hints of what the future may hold. From the sounds of the above snippet, some sort of announcement is forthcoming.

What is your take? Will we see a replay on the Galveston layout? For PRO, or all of the divisions? Or, will we move to the a new paintball field layout?

The NPPL has moved the event back to the North side of the pier and the Surf City open is starting to take shape. Read on for the latest paintball news and rumors from the event.

All Girls Paintball Team

Poison Ivy all girls paintball team - Camera: HybridFoto

• Bea Youngs, Kat Secor, and Katie Kelly of Destiny are making their return at NPPL HB. They will be joining the girls from Poison Ivy in division 1. We watched Poison Ivy compete at the Malaysia World Cup and were very impressed with the level of play. They should do very well in the NPPL format. Good luck Girls!

Infamous to play NPPL

• Last week we dropped word that Infamous might be making a late entry  into the NPPL. ProPaintball insiders confirmed that this is the case. According to sources, Infamous will have Travis Lemanski, Kali Rudolph, Bobby Aviles, Nicky Cuba, Drew Templeton, Zack Patient and Greg Siewers rostered at NPPL HB.

Portland Uprising Pick ups

Portland Uprising Paintball Team

• Portland Uprising made several last minute adjustments to the roster. According to ProPaintball insiders, the team will feature Ryan Tucker, Tommy Tucker, Aaron Ormrod, Nicholas Omrod, Blake Bearham, Johnny Grier, Ryan Martin and Jimmy Hickey. The guys will be shooting MacDev Clone GT’s and sporting head to toe PBRack paintball gear.

Pro Paintball Warm up

• Sounds like a few pro teams will be getting in a last minute grind at Whittier on Thursday morning. Word is LA Critical, Portland Uprising, and Texas Storm are doing a bit of warm up before they walk the fields later in the afternoon.

HK ARMY blows it, picks a new name.

HK Army Paintball team prepares to breakout

• HK Army decided to play Division 1 instead of making the leap to pro. The guys will be playing as Giant HK and will probably show up to one or two events max. So much for the dream of one day having a pro team.

Stay tuned for more paintball news and rumors as they develop. Like ProPaintball on facebook!

Thanks to Raw Fotos and Bjorn Bainto for photographs.

Michael B @ ProPB: Why don’t you start by telling us a little bit about yourself – who you play for and have played for and how you got to where you are now.

Nico Perry: Right now i play for Seattle Thunder. Before this I played on Tacoma Notorious and before that Part-Time Ninjas. Hard work and determination got me to where I am skill wise, but without the support of my teams that I have been on and my parents, I couldn’t have been at the level I am now. I owe it all to the people who helped and supported me.

Michael B @ ProPB: Very true, support is key. Being so young, how do you balance your school work with now playing paintball at the pro level?

Paintball player Nico Perry locking it down

Nico Perry: Ha ha, the school topic. I knew this was coming. In my family, school is very important. Playing paintball nationally and having to miss school Thursday-Monday a few times a year sometimes takes a toll on my school work. I just have to be on top of it. That might mean taking a test a few days before I fly out, or doing homework in the hotel room. Even though I’d like to, I’m not going to make a living playing paintball anytime soon, so school work has to take precedence over paintball.

Michael B @ ProPB: As a first year pro in the PSP, did you find it intimidating to be going up against long-time veteran teams such as Dynasty and Ironmen?

Nico Perry: Yeah, to be honest, I was a little scared going into those two games. You never really want to count yourself out, but against teams like that that have great coaches and players alike, I was unsure if we were ready or not. But after that first game against aftershock and having my boys behind me, the fear left me when those games came around.

Michael B @ ProPB: What are both you and the team doing in order to be prepared for the Phoenix event in only a month?

Nico Perry: Well, since the pros weren’t able to finish the tournament, we have to prepare for two events: Galveston and Phoenix. I have been stepping up my workout regime, doing cardio and working on my core. Besides our regular team practices, I plan to also work on my own gun skills. In this unique situation of having two layouts in one weekend, it will be a challenge for all the teams to be prepared equally for both tournaments.

Nico Perry playing paintball with Notorious

Michael B @ ProPB: Were you disappointed at first to be told your team wouldn’t be able to finish Galveston for more than a month?

Nico Perry: As I was standing in a 6-inch puddle of water getting rained on and having fire ants biting me, I guess you could say I wasn’t that disappointed, haha. Having this extra time just gives us the chance to go over what went wrong in the Dynasty and Ironmen games and be that much stronger come Phoenix.

Michael B @ ProPB: Yeah that is nice to have time to review and come back with new outlooks. Any shout outs you’d like to make?

Nico Perry: Of course! I thought you’d never ask. I want to thank all our sponsors: Empire Paintball, DLX, Understood, Diamond Hill Paintball, Ninja, Raza, Exalt, and Pro Paintball. I also want to thank Corey Field and the rest of the boys on Thunder for giving me such an awesome opportunity. Big thanks to my family, especially my dad, who has been with me throughout all of it.

Michael B @ ProPB: And just to remind us, how old are you again?

Nico Perry: 15, turning 16 in april.

Michael B @ ProPB: Well Nico that wraps up my questions… thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us and good luck in Phoenix!

Nico Perry: Anytime, thanks!

• Pro Paintball insiders tell mentioned that Infamous MIGHT be competing at the NPPL Surf City Open. After an off-season full of rumors that Infamous had left the NPPL to focus on the Race-To format, word is they might be coming back for one event or the entire series. Infamous players Damian Ryan and Brad McCurly play with Chicago Legend while Kali is rumored to be playing with DC Arsenal. The big holdup appears to be filling the Infamous roster with talented players for the event.

• Paul “P4″ Katic (ret. Arsenal) is rumored to be playing with Hollywood HK. Also in the mix is Mark Lack (ret. Entourage/Dynasty). Lack took a break from the pro field to refocus on his college education and is said to have the paintball itch. Word is both P4 and Lack will be joining HK on the pro field at NPPL Huntington Beach next week.

• Rumors ran back and forth about the future of the Indianapolis Mutiny program after the teams no-show at NPPL Las Vegas last season. According to ProPaintball Insiders, Tommy’O and the gang will be back on the pro field at the Surf City Open.

• Patrick Hughes (ret. Aftermath) is said to be making a come back in time for NPPL HB. No word yet as to what team he will be playing with.

• Over the weekend several pro teams converged on Camp Pendleton Paintball Park in Southern California to practice for NPPL HB. XSV, Impact, Dynasty, and Critical were mixing it up. Unfortunately for them, mother nature made things “interesting” by dumping a ton of rain on the park.

XSV Paintball team practices in the rain

• Stoned Assassins are said to be returning. The team played the D-League (RPL) trying to get back in the groove. Whether they will be a one hit wonder, or play out the entire season remains to be seen.

• Last but not least, registration to NPPL Surf City Open is open for a few more hours. If you are planning on playing be sure to visit the NPPL.com website and sign up now!

What news and or rumors have you heard about the NPPL Huntington Beach Open? Share your thoughts and comments below!

Where Paintball Takes Us

FRIDAY- Get energized! Your paintball weekend STARTS here!

DerDer 300 FPS- This DerDer trailer is still among the best. DerDer’s 300 FPS provided a pivotal turning point in how paintball videos were seen, the sport exposed and experienced. Mild Violence, Swear Words and Mind Numbing Hits! Viewer Discretion IS advised! 300 FPS is a CLASSIC example of hard hitting paintball…

Click here to view the embedded video.

ConsoleCreature is credited for this next video. “Covering Gaming events and producing the best video content in Canada. Gamers want to see video -We give it to them.” This video from ConsoleCreature featured the motion picture “Green Zone” and tactics utilized within the film. Produced at CBQ Tactical in Toronto, Canada- the lesson is keep your gun up! Take a look!

Click here to view the embedded video.

BuyPBL: Where Paintball Takes us- Thailand

Follow the real life ADVENTURE of world wide paintball! Where does paintball take the BuyPBL crew? Find out what it’s like in Thailand with this “Day 1″ video from the ever popular BuyPBL series!

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Millennium Series season opener is around the corner and the European pro teams are making last minute adjustments to their rosters. Read on for the latest paintball news and rumors!

• Mikko Huttunen of the LA Ironmen has joined London Nexus for 2012. Nexus is a DYE team as well, so chances are Mikko will be floating back and forth.

• Ramstein Instinct has picked up Archie Montemayor of US pro team X-Factor for 2012 Millennium Series competition.

• Copenhaggen Ducks have picked up brothers Karl-Johan and Sebban Samuelsson. The Samuelsson brothers previously played with Joy Division. ProPaintball insiders indicate that this is a huge pick up for the Ducks.

• Frankfurt Syndicate picks up Kiril Prikhidnyy of Russian Legion and Alan Goulding from Amsterdam Heat for the Millennium Series. Last year Kiril played the Millennium Series with Art Chaos (primarily Russian Legion players).

• G.I. Sports Montreal is a new Millennium Series Pro team formed for the 2012 paintball season. Tampa Bay Damage, a U.S. pro paintball team, will be representing GI Sports and Dye Precision abroad this year. This will be damage’s European debut and it should be interesting to see how they cross over into the Millennium format.

Special thanks to Nick B. for his contributions to this article.

Paintball team San Diego Pirates win Division 1

The PSP Galveston Island had a strong and healthy start for the 2012 PSP season. The season opener was sold out with 150 teams booked for competition and tons of paintball manufactures converged to display their new paintball gear. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the sun shine would be short lived as nature had other plans for the weekend.

Matty Marshall, Todd Martinez and Steve Rabackoff host the webcast

Following Friday’s preliminary rounds, a fierce storm unleashed heavy winds and rain on Galveston Island. The winds had an immediate impact and players and event staff watched helplessly as field netting was torn down and portions of fields became swamps. Thanks to a midnight effort by Lane Wright, Dave Youngblood, and the event staff, the PSP was able to save three of the competition fields from natures wrath. Midway through Saturday the PSP announced they would postpone the Saturday afternoon pro bracket and finals until PSP Phoenix (they will be played on Thursday April 19th 2012). This was done to make room for the divisional games and insure the event was able to complete as planned.

A big announcement for the 2012 season came about just moments before the games began. The PSP and a new media company, Sports Media Productions, unveiled a revamped paintball webcast. Officially named ‘Paintball Access’, this new paintball webcast is hosted by Todd Martinez, Matty Marshall and Chris Lasoya and included stats, player profiles and instant replays. Paintball Access did a great job of covering the Pro games on Friday and Saturday with mass appeal. Matty Marshall and company held their own with top notch commentary and presentation despite the downpour.

Paintball team Palm Beach Venom wins Division 3

Division play would compete late into Saturday night, with teams emerging Sunday as truly tested athletes. No doubt this experience had put some hair on the chest of ‘ballers battling it out. With the pro games postponed, the pro field and webcast was freed up for the divisional finals. Paintball fans were able to experience the divisional battles from the comfort of their homes as the teams battled through the storm for the podium finish.

2012 PSP Galveston Final Results:

Division 1 RaceTo-5

• 1st San Diego Pirates
• 2nd New Jersey Jesters
• 3rd T1 Topgun Union
• 4th Static

Division 2 RaceTo-5

• 1st Coalition
• 2nd Revo
• 3rd Boom
• 4th Scottsdale Elevation

Division 3 RaceTo-4

• 1st Palm Beach Venom
• 2nd Central Florida Paintball
• 3rd Chaos Company
• 4th New Jersey Jesters Silver

Division 4 RaceTo-4

• 1st TKO
• 2nd North Texas Shockwave
• 3rd Imperial
• 4th Central Florida P8ntball

Division 3 RaceTo-2

• 1st Gainesville Gridiron
• 2nd LSD
• 3rd Toy Soldierz
• 4th Kickn Factory

Division 4 RaceTo-2

• 1st Pound Town
• 2nd Cave Stars
• 3rd BMF
• 4th Entropy

Pump RaceTo-2

• 1st Dallas Notorious
• 2nd TXR Underground
• 3rd Tennessee TrueBallers
• 4th NBK

Congratulations to all the teams and athletes who would compete in this event. We must extend our “thanks” to the PSP Field Staff for keeping things going in otherwise crippling circumstances. Be sure to follow ProPaintball on Facebook and Twitter as the PSP travels to Phoenix April 20-22nd!