Chapter 7
NON-COMMERCIAL PLAY
PLAYING IN THE BACKYARD
Playing in the backyard is a relatively new phenomenon and has become so common that it is believed by the industry that anywhere from 2/3rds to 3/4ths of all play takes place on private land.
It wasn’t until very recently that the necessary equipment, supplies, and availability of same even made it possible to consider playing anywhere except on a commercial field.
Its only fair of me to state before going any farther that I’m not personally a big fan of backyard play – and here’s why:
Lack of Community. Backyard players form small groups whose only participation in the world of paintball is to purchase product off the web, or from a single local supplier (who in many cases is not a legitimate business). This is usually good for pricing issues, but generally bad for safety, definitely bad for playing skills, and limits the player’s ability to gain knowledge about the sport. To put it another way, small local groups tend to in-breed. If no one in the group is educated in the safety requirements, the GROUP is uneducated. Methods of play are limited and therefore player skills are stunted or non-existent.
Lack of Skills. When players are not challenged by more knowledgeable and skillful players, their own abilities are not stretched. They begin to play in a standard manner – always making the same moves, always facing the same opponents, always playing on the same terrain in the same manner. Eventually, this gets old and boring, and players lose their interest in the game.
Perpetuation of Bad Myths. One player in a small group finds some new thing they can do with paintball (for example, freezing paintballs), passes it on to the group and everyone starts doing it – because there’s no one there with greater knowledge and experience to explain why this might be a bad idea.
Lack of Responsibility. Again, since there is no connection to paintball as a whole, there’s no incentive to engage in safe, wholesome activities and nothing to put the breaks on bad, irresponsible behavior. If a small group gets it in their head to shoot up cars or houses, there’s no one there to explain that this will be bad for everyone who plays.
However, I do recognize that backyard play is often the only way many players can afford to participate in paintball, so, after encouraging you to visit commercial fields, I’ll also encourage you to manage your backyard games as safely and responsibly as you can.
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Despite my general disapproval of back-yard play, I do recognize that it is often the only option available to many players; the distances to commercial fields may be prohibitive, the cost of commercial play may be too much for the budget or other factors may come into play. Rather than ignoring this aspect of the game, I provide all of the necessary information - much of which back-yard-ballers are unaware of - and allow you to make your own informed decision.
My reasoning is simple: people are going to play in the backyard no matter what anyone else says. Rather than trying to ignore it, I’d much rather provide you with information that will help you play SAFELY.
