Chapter 9

LOCAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS

In 1999 the paintball industry made several key moves that opened the game up to younger players. Product pricing came way down and schools, churches, youth service organizations, PAL and other such groups began to embrace the game as a way to provide healthy exercise to young players. (The Boy Scouts of America and Scouting USA continue to maintain a ban on playing paintball as an officially endorsed activity, even though it would seem to be a natural for them. We’ve never gotten a really clear explanation, but we do know that Troops regularly play in a non-official capacity.)

This kind of play is still in its grass roots stages, with little or no national level organization. However, this does present opportunities for the enterprising paintballer. Most stores and fields are willing to offer discounts to groups – especially if they are well organized and can offer a decently-sized group that will purchase and play regularly.

Around about 1998 several college students banded together and formed independent college-based leagues, restricting play to players attending the schools in the league. This led to the first-ever National College Championship (hosted by the author) and the eventual creation of the National College Paintball Association, which hosts multiple events annually, as well as providing an umbrella for regional associations to operate under. High school-level play is also beginning to start up, working with the NCPA and hosting at least one national level event for high school-aged children.

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The remainder of this chapter covers ways to start and organize a school-based club or activity, how to find support for the endeavour and how to deal (effectively) with the inevitable objections.