 Race for the flag: Kelly's Heroes UK.  Color match uniforms create airbunker camouflage.  A classic paintball move: Breakout, drop, hustle into the next bunker, and come up shooting. Photos by Skirmish.com  The hand covers the mask's hard surface, in hopes of a bouncer instead of a break.  Moving up, with a wall of paint out front! |
Stepping up to the big leagues? Paintball is pure pro power at the very top. Two major leagues in the U.S. plus one in Europe offer pro and semi-pro divisions. Noisy, screaming fans are just one part of the rules changes this season. Harder, faster speedball with faster-yet markers promise a year of exciting ball games!
NPPL The 2006 NPPL Annual Meeting covered rules, format, safety, entry fees, prizes, marketing, venues, and more. Several task committees were formed. Sign up for the NPPL mailing list at www.nppl.tv.
Chuck Hendsch continues as NPPL president for 2006. Camille Baker continues as Director of Marketing, NPPL. The National Professional Paintball League may be reached at www.nppl.tv, or phone 714.536.9050; fax 714.536.0676.
The National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) and Pure Promotions announced early registration for the 2006 Super 7 World Series for teams that finished in the top 20 of their divisions in 2005, and for teams to register for the entire season in advance to secure a spot in each 2006 Super 7 event. The NPPL Super 7 World Series will be hosting 207 teams for each event in the 2006 season: 18 Professional teams (qualified and locked); 36 Semi-pro teams (qualified and locked); 36 Division I teams; 54 Division II teams; 63 Division III teams.
Players ranked "pro" for 2005 lose their pro status and drop to semi-pro unless they are listed on a 2006 pro roster. Semi-pros of 2005 lose that status and drop to D1 unless they are on an '06 pro or semi-pro roster. Semi-pro teams may have up to two pros on their rosters. D1 can have up to two semi-pros on their roster but no pros. DII teams may have up to two D1 players on their rosters but no pro or semi-pros. DIII teams are limited to only DIII players. DIII players move to DII after being rostered at five NPPL events.
PSP For 2006, the PSP announced cash prizes for 1st place at each event will be: NXL $40,000. XBall Division I $10,000. XBall Division II $8,000. XBall Division III $5,000. 5man XBall Division II $2,500. 5man XBall Division III $1,800. Cash prizes also are given for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.
The PSP 5player XBall for 2006 adds something new: Crowd participation will be allowed, to add enthusiasm and excitement. The new scheduling system will guarantee each team eight games, with the possibility of more in the preliminary round. Brackets will have five teams each, so every team in a bracket will play every other team in that bracket in a best two of three series to see who advances to the next round. The 5player XBall is open only to Division 2 and D3 teams, with an entry fee of $1,000 for D2 and $800 for D3.
In the Young Guns division, 5player rules will apply, and crowd participation will be allowed. Each team may roster up to eight, including staff and players. If a player turns 16 before November 13, 2006, s/he will not be eligible to play in the Young Guns division. All players must be 15 or younger through the entire 2006 PSP Season in order to compete in any of the YG events. The Young Guns division will be held with a maximum of 24 teams on the Sunday of the 1st-5th events and on Saturday at the 2006 World Cup. The top four placing teams from each event will win a free entry to the Championship at the World Cup; 24 teams will compete on Sunday at the World Cup for the title of Young Guns Champion. YG entry fee $500 per team per event. Maximum 24 teams per event.
The 2006 rules are at www.pspevents.com. Questions: Keely Watson, Paintball Sports Promotions, keely@pspevents.com; www.pspevents.com
Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) announced before the season began that the NXL would no longer continue as a closed league. Other pro teams can enter to compete for a cash prize at each event, so there will be a winner at each event.
Division 1 XBall will go to five-team brackets with a round robin within each bracket, with advancement to the semi-finals for a round-robin format within a new bracket. The "mercy rule" will require the game be called if at any point during the second half one team is winning by seven or more points. A roster must have 10 players and no more than 19 total. Entry fee for D1 will be $2,650 per team per event.
D2 XBall will play a similar round-robin format, with a 15-minute game clock that will stop after each point scored. A D2 game is won when one team has seven points or when 15 minutes of actual play time has expired. Teams will switch sides after every fourth game point has been scored. D2 has different roster rules. Entry fee for D2 will be $2,350 per team per event.
D3 XBall also will play a round-robin format. Games will be played with a 15-minute game clock that will stop after each point scored. D3 games are won when one team has five points, or when 15 minutes of actual play time has expired. Teams will switch sides after every third game point has been scored. Roster rules are different. Entry fee for D3 will be $2,150 per team per event.
Tim Schroepfer is the new head of rules, and will run the PSP referee program. Schroepfer will organize the referee crews at each PSP event, and will run the Referee Certification Program. tim@pspevents.com can answer questions about the rule, or about the referee program.
The PSP announced its opener in south Texas February 16-19; Las Vegas April 20-23; Chicago June 22-25; San Diego/LA August 10-13; Northeast Sept. 21-24; World Cup Nov. 6-12, 2006.
Smart Parts Smart Parts announced its sponsorship of the Russian Legion in a press release stating, "The best team in Europe hopes to become the best team in the world-and they'll be using Smart Parts' markers, barrel and air systems to reach their goal. The two-year contract starts with the 2006 season and runs through the 2007 World Cup. The Russians will shoot the Shocker and Freak Barrel System-both of which will be powered by the new Max-Flo Micro 4500 preset air system. A private-label "RL" Shocker along with other team-related items are in development for the 2006 season. In addition, the Russian Legion Club has become an Authorized Distributor of Smart Parts' products in the former Soviet Union." William Gardner, president of Smart Parts: "We're very pleased to sponsor the Russian Legion. We love their total dedication to the sport-it fits perfectly with our attitude about paintball. Along with the Philadelphia Americans and Team Dynasty, we proud to support three of the best paintball teams in the world."
Smart Parts announced it will sponsor the Miami Raiders NXL franchise, in the NXL's revamped pro league for the 2006 season. The press release stated, "In an agreement reached between Bill Gardner, Miami's team owner, and Dr. Stephen Draper, Doc's Raiders team owner, a new team will be formed to compete both in the NXL and NPPL paintball series. The Miami Raiders will be comprised of players from Doc's Raiders as well as former Detroit Strange players. The Jacksonville Raiders team remains intact and will serve as a farm team to the new franchise by competing in the Division 1 leagues of the PSP and NPPL. Bill Gardner will retain ownership of the team while Dr. Stephen Draper will assume the GM (general manager) and coaching responsibilities for the new organization. The team will alternate practices between state-of-the-art paintball facilities in Jacksonville, Florida, and Smart Parts' All-American Paintball Park in Western Pennsylvania." Bill Gardner, president of Smart Parts: "We've sponsored Doc's Raiders for three years now-both Stephen and his team are a class act. They've done an excellent job of representing Smart Parts. The team has also improved each year and been highly competitive in every division they've entered. In a lot of ways, they remind me of Team Strange when they were coming up-talented, dedicated and team oriented. We wish them continued success in the NXL and NPPL."
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ESPN  Lanes fill with paint as the Ton-Tons come out in a high-low set.  The ref takes the armband.  The ref looks for a paint mark.  Set! Hold for the start, then explode into action! |
ESPN announced the air dates for the first series of the U.S. Paintball Championships sanctioned by the NPPL, with original airings Monday nights at 10:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. PST starting Monday April 10, 2006, and continuing every Monday through May 29 on ESPN2. Footage is from the 2005 NPPL Super 7 World Series Commander's Cup in Miami, Florida. There are eight different shows, each one hour in length. Show 1: April 10, Show 2: April 17, Show 3: April 24, Show 4: May 1, Show 5: May 8, Show 6: May 15, Show 7: May 22, Show 8: May 29.
ESPN will promote the show in several ways, including a major promotional push during the NPPL Super 7 Huntington Beach, CA, event in March 2006. www.nppl.tv, or call 714.536.9050.
Millennium The Millennium Series (www.millennium-series.com) has joined the UPBF (United Paintball Federation). The new UPBF announced itself as paintball's paintball body for the world. Its Web site was not working at press time. The UPBF supposedly is formed: 1) To improve the game of paintball continuously and promote it globally in the light of unifying, educational, cultural, and humanitarian values particularly through youth and development programs. 2) To draw up regulations and provisions and ensure their enforcement. 3) To prevent all methods or practices that might jeopardize the integrity of matches or competitions or give rise to abuse of paintball associations.
The UPBF set itself up as an administration supported by committees under the control of an Executive committee. The confederations are to be the umbrella organizations of the paintball associations on each continent: APBF (American Paintball Federation); EPBF (European Paintball Federation); APPBF (Asian-Pacific Paintball Federation); SAPBF (South American Paintball Federation); AFPBF (African Paintball Federation). The UPBF grants rights and privileges. The federations have obligations to respect the statutes, aims and ideals of paintball's governing body and promote and manage the sport accordingly. There is a UPBF disciplinary committee and an appeal committee supposedly to get the power to decide on organization of tournaments and the development of paintball in general. Decisions taken by the committees must be approved (ratified) by the Executive Committee (UPBF's board of directors, names unknown at press time). The Executive Committee is the UPBF president, four vice presidents, 14 members, one observer and the UPBF General Secretary.
North America gets five members and one vice president; Europe 5/1; Pacific-Asia 1/1; South America 1/1; Africa 1/1. The administration is carried out by the General Secretariat. At its head is the UPBF general secretary, who is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Executive Committee. The general secretary is also responsible for UPBF's finances, international relations, the organization of the UPBF World Cup, and other UPBF paintball competitions. The General Secretariat is comprised of divisions dealing with development, competitions, paintball administration, finance, business, personnel, services and communications. One ID card is supposed to work for UPBF events worldwide.
Outlook '06 The 2006 season kicked off after an off-season filled with controversy. What would the pro teams do? Would the sponsors keep spending the big bucks to keep these teams out on all circuits, or maybe everyone would focus on one circuit? Worst of all, would some of the top teams wake up and for the first time be looking at the inside of their own checkbooks? The financial outlook for the paintball industry in general, and for team sponsorships in particular, was on a serious decline at the end of 2005. Companies had to choose where to cut, and sponsorship money truly was on the chopping block. Teams that had been accustomed to major support got a rude awakening to the realities of economics.
Rumors of dancing deals kept flying around through the off-season, when players and sponsors were off the road and had time to crunch numbers, knit, and fret. Should the pros get into one circuit with two (or more) divisions? Are there too many events set this season for all of them to make a profit? Can teams without major sponsorships make more than a couple of events? If the teams can't travel, and the events don't draw, then what? Are regional leagues going to grow because of the lower travel costs? Probably not, as many teams say they would rather spend all of their money on a few big events where they can play in the company of top pros.
The concept of closing the "pro" divisions still rankles a lot of players. Ownership of some pro team slots by people or companies that may not intend to field a team are also bothersome, although such investments should perhaps be viewed the same as we consider any other saleable commodity. Some asked why there couldn't at least be a rabbit prelim for some wild card spots in the pro divisions for each event.
Another big bone is reffing. No matter how good a call is, the refs are getting yelled at, threatened, deliberately shot (remember the major incidents like this from last season?), and disrespected. As our sport grows, the pay and job satisfaction for referees will follow, but even skilled and physically fit referees may need additional tools to survive in today's tournament world. Tougher penalties would certainly help, like longer suspensions and real databases to track suspended players. Why not put their names and the penalty on the news, and post them on the Internet sites, perhaps with the names of their sponsors?
About the ramping and higher rates of fire, unless the safety equipment gets on the stick and catches up fast, including mandatory full-head protection (those do exist and it's time for the big-leaguers to wear them), lots of people are predicting an increase in serious head injuries or worse. What that means to insurance companies is secondary to what it means to the players on the receiving end of uncalled-for sports assaults. Paintball is not, and never was, intended to be a full-contact sport where serious injuries are part of the game. Those who want paintball to be that way may want to form a new full-contact sport (no minors allowed) and let the world know they are fringe extremists, not representing the 99.99 percent of real paintball players. Or maybe they should switch to ice hockey or rasslin' as their sport of choice.
