Why is it about prizes????????????
I travel to many events and have watched a LOT of paintball in all the years I have been in the game of paintball. WHY do all the players think they deserve a large prize package for playing in a event for the game they love? I look at other sports/games that have competition and they offer trophies and bragging rights for the win. Unless it is on the pro level of a sport. Local events and such are far from that.
Lets look at the game levels equivalent to paintball.
Soccer. When you play soccer, you get a trophy for your efforts. By the way the trophy is at the end of the season, correct? You win a game? You walk away knowing you won that game and you played a better game than the competition. Did you get a new soccer ball or a new car, cash?
Baseball. You win a game? We were taken to the pizza place for dinner and a pat on the back for a great game. We did not get new bats or clothing or money.
Football. You win a game? what do you get? A meal? Bragging about what a game the team played? No new football or cleats or such? The end of the season you had a banquet and were given a trophy for all your dedication and work for the season. Did you get a car, cash?
BMX/Motocross racing. You/parents spend a lot of money for you to race. You win and what do you get? A trophy? I raced many years in BMX and Motocross. My parents spent quite a bit for me to participate in a sport that I loved so much that i ate and slept the sport. I have lots of great memories of the wins and losses along with TROPHIES/Plaques of wins. I did not win any bikes or cash or lots of prizes for my efforts and wins. I got a TROPHY and memories of all the fun I had.
No matter what sport/game you play you will win trophies most of the time and the pride of the win is the most cherished part of the day. Why is it in paintball everyone feels that they should get a large dollar prize package for playing the game they love?
WHY do we the promotors keep doing it? WHY do the players keep choosing what events to play based on the prize package? WHEN will the players be happy with a trophy or a plaque showing the win and hard work of the day? WHY cant we get past the MONEY of the game and play for fun? WHY do players complain about a event if it does not offer 1000.00 markers or such as prizes? WHEN can we play events for the love of the game?
Why do we have sandbagging in events? Do players feel that unsure of themselves that they play a level lower than their capabilities so they can feel the rush of the WIN?
How does a player sleep knowing they are cheating themselves as well as other players of true potential?
WHEN will the true player come out and realize they can learn from playing in a true division they belong?
I am amazed by the amount of players that truly do not see the harm they are doing to the sport by not moving up and playing in the correct level they should be. Not only are you limiting yourself but you are hurting players that could do better if you moved up. The players below you feel that they can not beat you so they either quit the game or stop playing events. This leads us to what is happening today, no new players coming in and the older players are not competing so we all lose.
When do you feel is the proper time to move up? Is it when you have played rookie for 8 seasons and you have dominated all the 12 yr olds in the game?
I see the way to do a move up in divisions is by playing the best you can and when you have won 3 events you are ready to compete in a more challenging level.
WHY move up? Why not? Is it more fun to play hard and know you deserve the win or do you accept the win with less work since you are a better player and enjoy dominating lower level players?
Lets look at this from a view of a player (i will not name them).
Tank: why do you play in a rookie event when you are a D1 player?
Player: I enjoy squashing the little guys and taking the prizes.
Tank: so you do not care that you are better than them and you know it?
Player: yeah! I like the non competition. It is like playing rec ball with noobs.
Tank: that is pretty sad on your part. You do not feel that you should move up?
Player: sometimes. I am scared to move up and get beat up on.
Tank: I see what you are saying. I bet if you moved up you may become a better player with more confidence.
Player: never thought of that. If i play better than me then I will gain skill and confidence. Great idea.
Tank: so you are moving up a division?
Player: never! Just kidding. I will do that soon. I understand what it is like to feel fear of getting whooped up on. I did not like it when I was. I guess the feeling of power made me the same as those players that did it to me.
Tank: i am glad you are doing this. I look forward to seeing gain the skill and dominate on another level.
If all of you players would look into yourselves and fend of the fear of moving up then maybe the TX events may grow?
Thanks for reading my babble. Think about what you have read and look into yourselves and see what you can do to make the game better. See you on the field.
TANK