Is it Just Me Or.....

[Model98]

Are kids just absolutely stupid (No offense intended to any kids on this forum)??? Allow me to explain...

We had a big group of kids come out to the field where I ref to
have a paintball birthday party, these kids were probably in their early teens.

During one of the games, one of the kids had the stupidity to take off his mask, because it was fogging so bad AND SHOOTING, try to figure that out :confused:.

Luckily one of the other refs stopped the game and issued a warning that if you take your goggles off, you're going home, no if ands or buts about it.

At this point, the game was restarted. We even had a few of the kids who were elimnated and sitting waiting for the next game by the field thrown off for removing their masks.

I have NEVER been so scared in my life. In the long run, I am thankful that the kid didn't get his eye(s) shot out, but the potential was there.

I realize that the kids were newbies, but if you can't follow simple safety rules, you shouldn't be playing paintball.

Anyway, off of my soap box now:laugh:

[tut00]

While I do agree that kids do tend to have a hard time listening, ( i have three of them), I don't know if you can say its only them. I have seen plenty of adults who do the same thing.

[elTwitcho]

There's a ref at skirmish I believe it is, and I think he said it best with his speech before every game "Always keep your mask on at all times. If I catch any of you even start to take your masks off on the field, I am going to tackle you as hard as I possibly can. Sure being tackled hurts, but it is infinitely better than having an eye shot out"

I think refs need to emphasize how easily a paintball would remove your eye from your head. I can't even dream of going into a waiting area without a mask, I've seen too often what paintballs can do to flat surfaces like the chest or back, I don't even want to imagine how bad it would be to get hit in the eye

[Model98]

Originally posted by elTwitcho
I've seen too often what paintballs can do to flat surfaces like the chest or back, I don't even want to imagine how bad it would be to get hit in the eye

Neither do I.

Quite frankly I felt bad when I had to toss one of them out, because they were there to have fun, but I thought to myself, "We cannot compromise safety...safety always will be the #1 rule in paintball, having fun is secondary. And if safety is compromised, no one is going to have fun."

I honestly hope that a situation like this NEVER EVER comes up again in the future, but its not going to happen since there will always be people who don't listen/pay attention

I understand that as a paintball referee (Or officiating any sport for that matter) there is an amount of responsibility. You have to be responsible for the safety of players that are playing the sport and if something bad happens to the player(s), it reflects on the sport as a whole.

[pr0kch0p]

this doesnt really happen often at my field, but its terrible that people dont understand the importance of the mask.

[Incube]

Ok at my field what the refs say is "keep your mask on if not you could lose an eye, because we got good aim" lol

One time there was a bunch of newbies and the ref said keep your mask on or you could be shot in the eye and go blind. and then one guy said that what my dad says about masterbation.

It was pretty funny

[TheSickness]

at the field i ref at they have a picture of a guy that the owner if friends with that got his eye shot out. he shows it to everybody and tells them how it happend. nobody takes there mask off after seeing that.

[Model98]

Originally posted by TheSickness
at the field i ref at they have a picture of a guy that the owner if friends with that got his eye shot out. he shows it to everybody and tells them how it happend. nobody takes there mask off after seeing that.

I want to educate them, not scare them half to death :laugh:

[TheSickness]

it scares them but it show that paintball can hurt you if you dont follow the saftey instructions. some people dont believe it could happen but it does and this just shows them that it really does

[KOTOWA]

I remember the first paintball game I ever played. It was my friends first time too, not to mention it was his birthday. We got some crappy xfire masks single lenses.
He was retarded(not seriously) enough to pull up his mask in front of a sign that was on a tree that said "KEEP YOUR *UCKEN(Wrote in by some college students) MASK ON!" He then got shot right under his eye.

Thankfully, he still had his eye, but it left a nasty black eye.

After I saw my buddy get shot, I didnt want to take off my mask until I got home under my bed covers.

So remember kids, "KEEP YOUR *UCKEN MASK ON!"