A young player asked me, "We have a lot of players at my school, grades 10-12. We want to start a paintball team or a club. Can you help?"
I've helped a number of school clubs get started. Some simply find a club sponsor and get going. Others meet opposition and must go through a petition or request process. Here is a method to help with your petition drive. Start with three petitions. This helps let students and teachers know you are serious and will give you an idea about how many are interested (or opposed).
1 
Waiting for the call! Photo by Skirmish.com.
One petition can say something like this: "We are students at (name) School, and as responsible young adults and paintball fans we request the creation of a paintball club at (name) School. Paintball is a sport safer than football and baseball (already sports at our school). Paintball does not require school facilities like soccer and track (already sports here, too). Our club and team... (talk about goals for the club or team, etc). At the bottom of the petition is where students sign to show their support.
2 Another petition is for parents to sign. It would say something like, "We are the parents of students at (name) School, and we support our young adults' decisions to play paintball and form a school club for the promotion and discussion of paintball." Then have as many parents sign that as possible.
3 Finally, make a petition for faculty, and if you have an advisor who plays paintball, ask him or her to help you word this petition. This basically should be like the parents' petition.
4 
Young Guns are paintball's future.
Next, schedule a "what is paintball" presentation. Explain fun and safety. Always call markers by their correct name, "markers." Take a clean mask, a small clear-plastic container with different-colored paintballs, a squeegee, and any other small items that will help explain the game. Show action pictures using Power Point or whatever works for you, but never take a marker to school without clear permission from the school, because it can be against school rules to have one on campus. Statistics about paintball are at www.actionpursuitgames.com, Articles, Statistics, etc. Take copies of the petitions (keep the originals at home). When your club or team gets started, let APG know: co2@actionpursuit games.com
Dave "Landshark" Norman writes from New Hampshire, and travels the world in search of paintball.
Test Around! Tip of the Month Test gear before you buy. If you can try a marker at the pro shop, great. Shoot a few loaders-full of a good-quality paint using the air system you would be buying. Check for balance and comfort of the grip. If you ask players at the field, without interfering with their games, they may go with you to the target range and show you how their marker works, and let you shoot their marker. Take your own paint, of course, and it should be high-quality so you don't break paint in their marker. If you will test electros, you need a motorized loader, and for the very fastest electros, the very high-end loaders for maximum performance. Try harnesses on, too, and move around like you would in a game. -Tip by Dave "Landshark" Norman
