“DON’T WORK FOR RECOGNITION, BUT DO WORK WORTHY OF RECOGNITION.”
One of the most important aspects of being a good paintball player or coach is preparation. Come tournament time, you will face some teams that are not much of a challenge and your game alone will suffice in being victorious. But then there are those teams who will be the real test, the real challenge. The ones that will make you dig deep. The knife fight where someone is coming away bloody, maimed, or dead. THOSE are the games you prepare for. THOSE are the games where data, feedback, perception/recognition, execution, paint, etc. all must be on point to win. As a coach, it is your job to make sure the team is prepared to address THOSE teams. As a player, it is your job to be able to address the needs of the coach and help him find solutions to the issues at hand.
With all that being said, an interesting phenomenon has occurred the last 3 months. I field it at least once a year but for some reason this season, I have had several conversations with different players regarding what division to play. Or rather, what division they WANT to play.
It’s a topic that is always out there in some shape or form. And there is certainly nothing wrong with the topic or having that conversation. But I want to be clear about something; this is not in reference to those players out there who care more about a rank next to their name on APPA or who think they are better than others because they have a higher rank. I don’t have time for people like that.
No, this is for those who genuinely wish to know where they need to be. For the record, those I have spoken with recently about this topic are in the latter end… genuine. They are not the “I’m cool cause I’m this D-rank” crowd. Yep, you’re a “D” alright… just not the way you think.
Here’s the conversation in a nutshell I have had recently with a few different players:
“We are looking to play (insert next higher division rank here) at the national level.”
Really? Curious as to why you would do that?
“I think we are ready. I think we could be competitive. What better way to learn faster?”
Have you won in (insert the division right beneath the division they wish to play) nationally?
“No.”
And there’s the rub… you haven’t won nationally at the division you are ranked. Why would you then decide to compete above that level? And how do you know you are ready for the next division?
Let me get something out of the way… do I believe teams in lower divisions can be competitive in a higher division? Absolutely, yes I do. Do I believe they should compete? Sure, in some instances. However…
Let’s break the argument down into its components.
I THINK WE ARE READY
Many players are in a hurry to see improvement in their game. Some players have natural ability and things come to them quickly, some have to work at it, and still others may not be suited for the game (doesn’t and shouldn’t keep them from enjoying the sport we all love though). But paintball is a team sport…
Here is my question to the statement “I think we are ready.” –
Based off what?
It’s a simple enough question and one that a truly prepared team would have the answer for almost immediately. “We won our division at the Las Vegas NXL, placed in the top 5 the last two events, and have been holding our own when we scrimmage this top higher divisional team.” Or perhaps “We have placed in the top 4 the last 3 events in our division at NXL” or something to that extent. I would even consider “We won the series title in our division at this Regional event landing in the top 4 every event, have the financial backing, practice every weekend and are really gelling as a team. We made Sunday and took top six in our division at our debut at NXL. There are a few more things we need to hone, but we are well on our way.” Hmmm… not a bad response. Still, why not try to improve that 6th place first?
Winning an 8-10 team regional event or a 4-5 team local event is not indicative of how well you will do at a national event. There are lots of factors to consider before making the jump and lots more than just a few wins at small venues here and there.
I THINK WE COULD BE COMPETITIVE
What is your team’s definition of competitive? Do you consider it competitive if you were to go 2-2 in prelims and just miss the cut? Is that acceptable? Maybe tying a team in the division above you denotes being competitive? What does it mean to be “competitive”? Not losing every match?
There is a word in there that should catch everyone’s attention – “could”. Don’t you mean “would”?
Here is my question to the statement “I think we could be competitive” –
Based off what?
When I travel to a national event, I’m not going to see if I can be competitive, I’m going because I know we are. I’m going to win… not compete. If you are confident that you play above your divisional ranking, then you need to prove it. Put your money where your mouth is and go show everyone that you can play above your pay grade by winning your division. I believe that in most cases the top teams in any division at the end of a season should be competitive in the next division the following year. Sure, there are some anomalies but not many. Look at just the examples from 2018 to 2019. Semi Pro to Pro: Aftermath; D2 to Semi Pro: TBD Jits, Gulf Coast Hurricanes; D3 to D2: Grit, Padres, Royal City, Blastcamp, Vintage; D4 to D3: Paintballfit.com.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO LEARN FASTER
I have always been a proponent of playing better teams in order to advance the learning curve. Taking the time to bang with a better team will show you holes in your game pretty quick, especially if you are practicing with a team that believes in sharing knowledge. There are always those teams that feel it is a privilege for you to share the field with them and therefore don’t share anything but the ass whoopin’. Not cool but hey, that’s going to happen. Take what you can from it.
Here is my question to the question “What better way to learn faster?” –
You’re basing this off what?
Here’s my thought on this – If you wish to compete at a higher division to “learn” faster, then you obviously have money to burn. I would suggest scrimmaging not just a higher division team, but a winning higher divisional team to better know where you stand. Otherwise, you are about to have a rather expensive practice called a tournament. Enjoy spending all that money on plane tickets/rental cars/entry fees/hotels/paint/food, etc. to play 4 matches. Instead, how about taking that money you have burning a hole in your pocket and spend it on more paint for practice? Spend more time at the field shooting it in useful ways, learning, and getting better. Put in the work to EARN the bump up as opposed to just declaring it.
Now, remember at the beginning of this blog we talked about being prepared. As a firm believer in preparation, it simply makes sense to understand the level at which you SHOULD BE prepared no matter the arena. We have talked about it before. Working harder now saves you even harder work later. Preparation is a continuous improvement process.
Remember, there are two things to prep for: the expected and the unexpected. Obviously, the expected is the easier to prepare for. There are countless examples of how to do this in paintball. As you can imagine, if we don’t spend the time prepping for the most basic of things (laning, practicing a layout, etc.), this will more than likely lead to disaster at an event. That being said, not prepping for what we can’t perceive can be disastrous too.
If you aren’t prepared for the unexpected, then you didn’t really prepare now did you? That goes to the nth degree when you bump divisions.
Coaches get shot too… oh and we will have new merchandise coming soon
Here’s how I look at it overall. If you haven’t really proven you are prepared for the higher division, don’t return from a failed event attempt with excuses. If you didn’t take the time to prepare appropriately – e.g. KNOWING you have the capability to win because of your preparation and experience – then don’t do it. You’re just hurting yourself in the long run.
In my opinion (and that’s all it is), if you haven’t earned it, if you haven’t prepared for it, then it really didn’t matter to you anyway. Ultimately, you have a duty to come prepared for anything that matters to you. There are no excuses. When things matter, you should want to be prepared. It shouldn’t be a choice. It just is what it is. Do the hard work of preparing for the expected and the unexpected. There aren’t any shortcuts. Put in the time and do it right. In the long run, you will be happy you did.
The 2019 Dallas Open NXL is in the books. And once again, the Dallas event had its share of adverse conditions although not on the level that most had anticipated (perceptions ranging from inconvenient to apocalyptic). I personally felt the event turned out much better than expected and could have been a lot worse (Think Galveston Hurricane or Chicago Tornadoes). I will go on record as saying that I like the Texas Motor Speedway venue (both Whataburger and In&Out were packed plus you have a Buc-ee’s right there). However, it may make sense to move the event to later in the year. I say this only because, a simple google search will show that Texas’s wettest month is, in fact, May. To those of you who will then say, “But then it will be too hot!”
Pit row day before event start (Thursday)
Shut up. Hydrate correctly and play ball.
Dadnabbit… did it again. Let’s get back to this month’s blog topic… The conditions of the venue got me thinking about how teams respond and address this very thing. As a whole, we prepare for events by studying the layout and developing ways to play it effectively. But what happens when plans become compromised by “adverse conditions”? How do we conquer things we did not anticipate?
I decided for this month’s blog, I would start by just looking up the term itself – “Adverse Conditions”.
Adverse, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, is:
acting against or in a contrary direction
opposed to one’s interests
causing harm
Condition(s), according to several definitions of the word, in this case, the most appropriate to our topic:
a state of being
What I came away with is this – “Conditions that make it difficult for something to be or happen”.
There we go… a baseline…let’s start there.
Not just mud… sticky mud
“Prepare for the unknown by studying how others in the past have coped with the unforeseeable and the unpredictable.” – George S. Patton
How should a team address “adverse conditions” when they arrive at an event? Most people would say with preparation, of course. If you know it is going to rain, you bring your visor, a clear lens, extra towels/microfibers, plastic bags, etc. We’ve all played in the rain before. At least, I hope most of you have and understand there are certain necessities to this. If not, make a comment and we will make it a topic of a future blog.
But what about issues you couldn’t possibly prepare for?
During the Dallas event, certain players or positions may have found themselves hindered by mud. You may have even found your plans disrupted by the solution to the mud… mulch, which anyone knows that if you dive into it, you have a real good chance of stopping quite abruptly. So, dashed plans and potential injuries have now become a constant concern. There is a good chance your team was used to running far or using a pocket play or what have you. But you get to the start box and realize the mud will most certainly be an issue with getting a good jump start. Or maybe the start box was fine but the center or tapes were mud pits that would cause over-sliding? Or maybe they put mulch right where you want to dive to enter the snake or dorito? You suddenly realize you may not be able to play the field the way you prepared for it. How do you prepare for that?
This could get messy…
Preparing to play the field
The most practical approach to any field is developing plays based off specific scenarios. I almost always develop a “bread and butter” play. This is the base play that my team will use most often. It usually provides a higher statistical success rate by putting us in good position with primaries (our first bunker of choice off the break) and allowing specific goals to be met early.
Then I like to play the “what if” game.
“Expect the best, plan for the worst, and prepare to be surprised.” – Dennis Waitley
Let me give you an example. Not too long ago, the south saw a rather horrendous snowstorm (for the south). I was at work and lived about 10 miles from there. Everyone was being told stay in place, don’t travel. Being the stubborn man I am, I chanced it and made it home safely. It took two hours but I ended up with my family as the south dug out of a 3 day freeze. Here’s the thing… what if I hadn’t made it and got stuck or wrecked?
Now, I’m no boy scout (is there such a thing anymore or is it the he/she/we have no identity politically correct hand out trophies to everyone snowflake brigade these days? I don’t recall… oh well), but I believe in preparing for the unforeseen. I had placed in my car the night before non-perishable food items (granola bars, beef jerky, water), a thermal blanket, flashlight, a lighter, matches, some laundry lint in zip lock bags, a change of clothes including extra socks, a pair of boots, and extra layers. And before anyone asks, yes, I had a firearm with extra magazines and ammo. I had no idea the storm would be as bad as it was. I had no idea I would get stuck. I had no idea of any of it. But I thought ahead… I played the “what if” game.
Doesn’t matter. Get it done.
What if our opponent plays the layout in a way we didn’t think of? What if they have great guns off the break and they are chopping us up consistently on the break? Or perhaps they are taking more ground than us on the break and getting into position earlier or faster? So on and so forth. What do you do?
Hopefully, you played the “what if game” before you got to the event.
I realize I have oversimplified this concept. But you get the basic principle. And that same principle applies to adverse conditions.
The field my team was competing on in the prelims during Dallas had its share of these conditions. One side of the field had different issues than the other. So we made note of it and developed our plays and breakouts around those conditions. I was able to do this based off prepping for a completely different condition (good guns on the break, teams taking ground, etc.) Does that make sense?
Photo Courtesy of Dane Hawkins Photography
We played the West side of the field (the one in front of our pits) differently from the East side of the pits. I also relied on data from my players who were actually IN it to let me know what they felt their capabilities were. Notice how I also mentioned east and west… this meant we were actually dealing with the sun (yes, the sun was in Dallas/Ft Worth) so I also took this into account.
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.” – Confucius
The whole point of this particular blog post is this. You CAN prepare for the unknown. Adaptation – the action or process of change to better suite an environment or condition – is the basis and lifeblood of any good paintball team. Adapt or die. Understand that adaptation is incredibly important to paintball teams.
Dane Hawkins Photography
Now, to shift gears just a bit… I was reading some more sports psychology this past week (at home sick … I had time). And I decided to look up anything that dealt with performing in the rain. I didn’t find anything… but I did find an interesting article that I want to share the basis of with you all.
One thing we have talked about at length here at Zen is the mind… having the appropriate attitude and better understanding of one’s capabilities through truth. It has often been joked that I am “toxic masculinity” with certain thoughts and perceptions I have. I am “outdated”. Without getting too political, which I admit, I may have already done… I will say that I neither prescribe to nor acknowledge what I believe to be the weak willed and irrational perspectives being taught to our young men and women in today’s society regarding what is “normal” or “socially acceptable”.
That being said, I do want to point something out that came to my attention recently regarding a young man I know. Dealing with certain issues mentally can be challenging and is becoming more and more common in many of the paintball players I meet. Besides the obvious topic we discussed above in relation to a player’s perception to the conditions (How are we gonna deal with this coach?), there can be heavier or greater issues being faced by players. Here is the basis of what I read:
R.A.I.N. (Bob Stahl, Ph.D. -February, 2010).
“R” – Recognize.
“A” – Allow or Acknowledge that it is indeed there.
“I” – investigate and bring self-inquiry to the body, feelings, and mind.
“N” – is to non-identify with what’s there.
Besides this one particular young man, it got me thinking about some of the other young men I have coached over the years. How do I recognize or hope to reach young men who may be struggling with depression or similar issues? If I can’t recognize what they are dealing with or maybe I do but can’t at least point them in the appropriate direction, what good am I? My instinct is to toughen them up. But that isn’t a one size fits all solution. I can’t beat it into them. I find this R.A.I.N approach a useful tool for the toolbox.
He always keeps his promises.
The concept is that if we use R.A.I. N. as a practice (make it a standard approach), we develop a better understanding of what fuels or drives our fears, anger, or sadness.
I personally believe that acknowledging stress, anxiety or pain rather than suppressing it is advantageous. I feel that we need to learn how to cope with and view all challenges as a rite of passage instead of running away from them or hoping someone will fix them for us. Adversity builds character. Steel is forged in fire… not with long walks in the park and hot showers with lavender…gross. Face the issue, embrace it, recognize it… and ask for help.
I apologize for detouring there… I always try to keep this light and fun. Just felt it might need to be said or read by someone. If you or someone you know is battling depression or going through a tough time, reach out. Let them know they are not alone, just like you are not alone.
Anyway, like I said, I am under the weather so I am cutting this one short.
Wading into something like the unknown can be daunting, scary… most are hesitant. Some are warriors and welcome the challenge. There is no right or wrong approach, as long as you begin.
I’m a firm believer in heart. I love watching those players who get on the grind, get smashed, get up and do it again, get smashed… and do it again and again. They don’t lose, they learn! That takes heart and if the player has the right amount of it, you’ll never beat them. You may win… but you won’t beat them. Heart is unbreakable.
I am drawn to people of that nature and this Gun Fu article is certainly one of those people.
His real name is Jerardo…
“I go by Jerry but my mom started calling me that so it stuck and was easier for people to pronounce.”
The author and Jerry at the range
Jerry Caro is entering his 5th season of professional paintball. He started his pro paintball career with the Los Angeles Ironmen, jumped over to PC Katana last year, and is currently rostered with Los Angeles Infamous.” And he just turned 25 years old.
“My Birthday was a few weeks ago on March 17th, not a bad day for a birthday since it falls on St. Patrick’s Day. “
Said with an Irish grin no doubt.
“I first got into playing paintball with one of my childhood best friends Eli. We did everything together from Pokémon cards to riding bikes just to name a few. But what sparked the idea of paintball was BB guns. We got tired of just shooting cans, so we both thought it would be awesome to be able to shoot at each other with Paintball guns instead! That was just the beginning… not knowing what would happen next. We went to the nearest Walmart and each bought a Spyder Imagine, went back to his house where he had acres of land to run around on, and shoot at each other; it was perfect.”
He became instantly hooked. Jerry and his friend Eli would then go on to look up the closest paintball field. The very next weekend they ended up at USPN (United States Paintball Nation) in Hollister, CA (About 50 miles south of San Jose).
“There was a team called Inflict that was there getting ready for a tournament they called the World Cup we knew nothing about…” he says with a laugh. That’s where he met future Royalty/Ironmen teammates Al Fernandez (currently on the Ironmen), Danny Ibarra, Toke Hamil, and Jason Vitalich.
“They were all guys I looked up to and wanted to play like. They all were kind enough to teach me how to play the game.”
Jerry is a lot like many of us. His love of the game is obvious and he happily explains it.
“I love so many things about paintball; one being that it’s constantly challenging. It drives me to become a better person/player/friend/teammate. Paintball gives me life; it’s an escape for me. Nothing beats the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been, and the lessons I’ve learned from this sport I’m so passionate about.”
Hey but it isn’t all fun and games.
Fun and games – Left to right: Sean, Zen, Timmy (Katana), Jerry, and Jason
“Sometimes politics get in the way and can cause it to lose some of the fun at times but I try to ignore that whenever that kind of stuff happens.”
But it wasn’t always about paintball. No, our hero was quite the football player for a time, even playing in college!
“I’ve played Football from the age of 7 all the way up until college. I was able to somewhat balance the two and make it work between Football and Paintball most of the time. I took a few years off from Paintball to focus on school and football. Being in shape for football and then transitioning back into paintball wasn’t what I remembered. I felt stronger/faster but I just had to get used to the agility movements again.
Okay, so we know how it started and why. But what about becoming a professional in the sport? How did that happen? Was that the plan all along or did it just kind of happen?
“My paintball journey to the professional ranks was something I never had in my head and it wasn’t really a goal of mine. I just love to compete and be the best I can possibly be. Every time I went out to play, I wanted to get better and learn something new. I would work on my weaknesses from snap shooting left handed to running and shooting left handed until my left side felt just as comfortable as my right. It didn’t matter if I went to the field without paint or even a gun…”
*Author’s note – pay close attention to this next part – remember we were talking about Heart?
“… I would literally play pretend with a paintball squeegee. I would ask the Ref if I could play (without a gun) and I didn’t care if I got shot. The goal was to get as close to the opponents and make them surrender. I had to figure out ways to be sneaky and communicate since I couldn’t shoot back.”
WHAAAT?!!! Awesome…
And the motivation? Where did it come from?
“I would work at my local paintball field and Ref all day Saturday to be able to play on Sundays. I remember playing a 7-man tournament and I only got to play a few points. I was sat a lot and not being able to help lit a fire in my heart and since that day I played as much paintball as I possibly could so that wouldn’t happen to me again. After that, my game started to improve. I had always heard from my teammates or friends “Dude you’re going to go pro someday.” I wouldn’t even think anything of it. I’d just continue to play the game I love.”
So how did it eventually happen?
“That day of becoming pro was starting to pop up in my head when the Ironmen and Royalty merged into one team. The Men would practice at Santa Clara paintball, my local field in San Jose, California. I was on Royalty division 3 at the time and we got to play the Ironmen a couple times and I knew we had to bring it to them. We weren’t just going to let them smack us around because they’re Pros. Shane Pestana was the coach of the Ironmen at the time. I honestly didn’t really know much about him because I was so in tune with focusing on my game. I guess he started to notice and saw something in me that he liked…”
What do you think he noticed?
“I don’t know what it was, you’d have to ask him yourself!” he says laughing.
Jerry mentions a moment from the 2014 World Cup that he recalls vividly. The Ironmen had just lost to Tampa Bay Damage in the semi-finals. Jerry had been in the pits during the match.
“I remember the looks in all the guys faces after the loss. So many emotions from tears, frustration, and their heads down. I could tell how disappointed they were. I went up to Shane gave him a hug and he told me “Be ready next year kid”. Words I wasn’t expecting!
And that started the fire.
“I’ll tell you what, I was ready that moment! Little did I really know what he meant but I felt like I was ready.”
That next year during the off season, Jerry got an invite to come out to Camp Pendleton in order to practice with the Ironmen. He was anxious the entire car ride down to San Diego (9 hour drive) and didn’t know what to expect.
“That all went away once we were on the field playing paintball. I thought I had a decent weekend of practice. They ended up losing a guy by the name of Steven Pits. I think he injured himself going into the Dallas event. Shane calls me two nights before the event, “Hey kid, so here’s the deal. We need a guy but I need to know now if your able to go”.
And with that, Jerry donned the shield. Shane put it in perspective for Jerry that very night on the phone when he told Jerry, “Don’t thank me… it only gets tougher from here on out!”
“It was a blessing and something I will cherish till the day I die.”
Jerry and his lovely sister… and some guy.
Jerry is one of the most humble guys I know and incredibly self aware. He pushes himself all the time. He wants to do well in ALL things, not just paintball. Interestingly enough, he encourages everyone else too. He genuinely wants everyone to do well, be happy, and live a good life. He’s accountable, almost to a fault. He’s powerful that way, at least in my mind.
I asked him, like I do all the Gun Fu professors, what is the best advice you have received for your paintball life?
“The best advice I’ve received was – have fun, enjoy it and play the way you know how to play. It wasn’t so simple for me, Paintball is a mental game and I would put too much pressure on myself and that wouldn’t help me to a certain extent. I notice when I just play the game the way I know how to play and have fun, my mind felt clearer. I clear my head of anything negative, any doubts I have I will think as if I am back home at my local field playing and having fun. No pressure. That mindset helps me focus on the task at hand. That doesn’t mean don’t work hard… it means work smarter. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself to the point where you’re just beating yourself up. For the longest time, in my professional career, I would put too much pressure on myself. I would worry about getting shot, making a mistake, being overly aggressive or not aggressive enough. I would hesitate and start second guessing myself… That hurt me and my play time. Recently, I started to take a different approach. I now think back to why I started and everything I have done to be in the position I’m in today, realizing I’m doing what I love at the highest level. Now I just need to apply everything I’ve worked for and learned along the way and play the game the way I know how to play.”
Honesty and humility… awesome. This is why I love this guy.
So what drill does Jerry love to do?
“There isn’t a drill I don’t like doing if it’s going to benefit me and my game. If it does, then it’s going to benefit my team. It’s important to have a goal going into any practice and life in general for that matter.”
See what I’m talking about? But I digress… come on, give us one.
“My favorite drill would probably be 2v2.”
Really? Why?
“It’s a great drill because you pick a buddy and it’s you and him against two other guys and you have to communicate. Once you shoot one, you immediately have the advantage. You let your teammate know ‘hey he’s on me’ so he can make a move and close it out. I also like the fact that, if you end up being the 1, you have to keep your head on a swivel. It’s challenging but rewarding if you figure out a way to beat them.”
Let’s give them what they want. Let’s talk about the Skeleton crew… You’re new team Infamous. How is that going?
“Joining Infamous I didn’t know what to expect honestly. But change is usually good for the most part. I knew some of those guys have been playing for a while and I felt like I could learn something from them and them from me. I’m really confident that this team has what it takes to win and be a top level team. I love how many people doubt us. I’m really looking forward to how the season goes and I know we will progress every time we play together.”
Let’s get the ‘infamous’ Thomas Taylor head shot moment out of the way (see what I did there?) What was going through your head at that moment (besides a couple of .68 caliber Tylenol gel caps)?
Laughing “Man… let me tell you, my lights went out for a second or two! I took a jump shot over the fifty snake. I knew I was able to shoot the snake side can from that side of the field since it was higher. Everyone on the team knew we had to score big so everyone knew we needed to put points up on the board. There was one guy left. It was Scott Coleson, my former teammate and great friend of mine at this point. We all smelled blood in the water and wanted to get the last guy but I was the one who got the worst of it getting shot by Thomas! We have practice coming up so who knows maybe I’ll get some payback… just kidding” he chuckled.
Jerry getting the best of his new teammate Thomas Taylor last year…
Any final comments?
“Shout out to all the people who have helped me get to where I am. I couldn’t have done it alone that’s for sure. And to my mom and family for always supporting me. Much love!”
“A fighter, a real strong fighter, should always look dignified and calm, and I believe that any expression of aggression is an expression of weakness. A strong person will not be nervous and will not express aggression towards his opponent. He will be confident in his abilities and his training; then he will face the fight calm and balanced.” – Fedor Emelianenko
Fedor Emelianenko
We all know paintball is a high energy sport. There is physicality to it unlike any other. However, with that physicality comes a mental aspect that is totally in lock step with any other competitive high impact sport. With the intensity that is tournament paintball, coaches and players have a tendency to face an emotional rollercoaster. With little time between points to determine what went right, what went wrong, and how to adjust, the importance of “pit control” is often overlooked. How a coach or team responds when in the pit to growing pressure can tell you a lot about how prepared they are, how mature, and for the most part, their overall paintball IQ.
Pit control is nothing more than maintaining composure as a team. Keeping a calm pit where players and coach are in sync is just as important as having good practices prior to a tournament. There should be a cadence, a rhythm if you will, to what happens before and after each point. There should be an understanding of what needs to happen, a process. The coach pays attention to the opponent as well as aspects of his players. The players come in and provide data. The coach takes that data, combines with his own, and proceeds to develop a response (notice how I don’t say “plan”… we aren’t there yet.).
What controlling the pit looks like!
From a coaching perspective, the composure of a coach is almost always reflected in their attitude, body language and what we will call “presence”. Remember, coaching is not just about getting the best performance from and developing your players… it is every bit as much about building a confidence in them. Helping them recognize capability and pushing them past it. Especially in the pit!
Coaching or playing with players who lack a level of composure or are quick to panic is difficult. A player who has a tremendous amount of talent but lacks the ability to remain calm in a high pressure situation can create a wave of doubt among his/her teammates. It also has a tendency to be a telltale sign that the player is selfish. Players or coaches who make the smallest issue into a nuclear threat are toxic. If you go thermonuclear war over a small issue that was controllable to begin with, your attitude will not only be a distraction to an easy solution, but create a “vibe” that won’t be appreciated among others. There is no need, as my mother says, to make a mountain out of a mole hill. In other words, stop overreacting. It distracts from the real issues. If a simple issue causes frustration or panic, imagine what effect a real issue would have on that person? You must be able to adapt. Solve the problem. Don’t point fingers and take it out on those around you. Just get it done and check it off the list of things we need to be aware of next time.
“Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” – Publilius Syrus
This brings me to my first point. Don’t be ashamed or afraid to admit when a role is too big for you. If you have a role for your team and you don’t WANT the job, feel you aren’t up for the task, need help or worse, don’t feel you are appreciated for whatever the reason, say something. If you don’t want the job, say you don’t want the job and be honest about it. If you feel you don’t have the assets to perform the job, say something or ask for help. No one can fix something they don’t know is broke. If you are doing something so others take notice, you’re doing it for the wrong reason and should almost certainly remove yourself from the equation. If the only motivational reason you are doing a job for your team is so others will look at you, bow down and show appreciation for it, then step off because you’re selfish and not team oriented. You’re self-oriented and most teams don’t have time for that kind of drama. Go step in the ring where it’s just you and an opponent. Then see how much appreciation you get.
Composure and focus
I got off topic… where was I? Oh yeah…
Frustration and panic is a horrible combination and a recipe for disaster. Coaches and players with composure have the ability to connect the dots of opportunity in the face of pressure. Good coaches/players quickly recognize causes of adversity and solve for them immediately. They head them off at the pass.
When leading – especially during times of adversity, crisis and change – you must avoid showing any sign of lack of preparedness that will make your team feel unsure. Let’s break it down into some steps, shall we? Here are some ways to maintain a positive pit environment when the team’s tournament future is on the line:
Take emotion out of it – A good coach shouldn’t have to yell (unless it has reached that point and he has to gain some attention – that is another topic). Showing self-control is imperative in times of stress. When we get emotional about a scenario, players will see this in a variety of ways and none of them good. A composed coach can maintain his cool and still express urgency just not to where it becomes distracting from the goal at hand. Logic, cool heads, data and facts will win the day.
Be nice; until its time not to be nice – Don’t get personal. And don’t take things personal either. Decisions and scenarios don’t always play out the way we want them to. And when they don’t, we have to recognize that, hey, it happens. We have to take what we can from it and move on. We can’t afford to get defensive because when we do, it’s no longer about the moment and has become about us. And that’s selfish. Selfish players and coaches don’t win long term. During a match is not the time to justify anything. Afterwards…maybe. Do not distract from the task at hand. Think about it for one moment; the second you take something personal, you have removed sensibility in addressing the problem. Your decision making has taken a hit and isn’t that what you are there for? Why hinder it?
Stay positive – Duh. “We suck again!” helps no one. Be the example. How many of you have heard the saying, “You catch more bees with honey than vinegar.” Same principle here. If I need a player to believe, I don’t tell him, “Hey man, I need you to do this but… honestly I think you suck but if for some amazing reason you are actually able to pull this off… great.” Being an example here is imperative. No matter how bad it gets, if we maintain composure, we can focus more clearly and address what needs to happen or be done. We have to maintain a positive attitude and manage the goals effectively in order to keep everyone on task and switched on. This is where a team, player, or coach can really show their capability of controlling a pit. You have to set a tone before the event, before the match, during, and again following it. If you have ingrained that positive mental attitude in your players, it is contagious. That contagiousness will alleviate a lot of issues that may try to rear their ugly heads in the pit. They are defeated before they arise. A true team feeds off each during times of stress. Build upon positivity leading up to things and you can carry that positive momentum into it. When that first adversity strikes, that momentum blows through it like a locomotive hitting a smart car. Or perhaps a better more descriptive analogy would be America handin’ it to the Japanese at the Battle of Luzon in 1945? (Okay… that was me just trying to get you guys to read up on some history. Read a book…and this blog)
Be lions! – If you are able to project your positivity and zeal, you can create a tenacity in your team/teammates that will rival the Roman Centurions! Make them believe! If you exude the traits of bravery, strength, confidence, and belief, that can be addictive. You are communicating these things through body language, attitude, how we carry ourselves and in our words. Every team experiences slumps and highs. It goes with the territory. If you fear the slumps and only expect highs, you make yourself vulnerable to self-destruction. On top of this, it makes it difficult to maintain composure when you are finally faced with adversity. Panic leads to mental breakdown which leads to bad decisions or worse, no decision at all. We have to stay focused. We have to anticipate. We have to read the landscape so to speak. When I am faced with difficulty, I go through a rather simple checklist: What’s the worst case scenario? What is the best possible way to affect that outcome? Do it. If we can maintain composure and objectivity, we can recognize that things are manageable and we need to resolve them efficiently. If it doesn’t work out, we MUST learn from it so that the next time that same scenario arises, we are even more prepared. This leads us to our next component…
Be decisive! – Don’t show doubt. Doubt is that evil little villain that creeps in when you least expect it and poison’s the towns’ water well. Game over man. Speak with authority, like you already know the outcome! Confidence is a must; even if you have no idea what you have proposed will work. Believe! If you can inspire, you can win.
Be Accountable! – How many times have we talked about this one? It goes without saying by now, yes? Understand something… the buck stops here. Take responsibility for each and every decision. Do not fear outcome for if you focus on outcome, you aren’t focusing on the solution. Does that make sense? Take action and accept the outcome of your decision. It’s actually a really simple yet powerful act. See, when you as a coach or player take responsibility/accountability, you have essentially neutralized the problem from the get go. You have hit the pause button on the crisis. Until we meet again crisis! In other words, ok, the situation won out this time but now I recognize it and I will take steps to keep it from either happening again or defeating it when it does happen again.
Act Like You Have Been There Before – I’ve been saying this a lot lately. This may seem redundant with some of the things mentioned earlier but that’s because it is true. Solid coaches and players know that the key to keeping a cool calm pit is to act like you have been in the situation before and that it is nothing new.
Share data and adjust fluidly
Listen, it’s easy to lose composure during a paintball match. It’s easy to get rattled. How many times have you been walked off the field, got in the pit, and angrily voiced your thoughts on the matter?
But then, how many of you have experienced a coach or teammate who is cool under pressure, shows those quiet reserves, digs deep, focuses and rights the ship only to rally you to go out and win the next point?
Make no mistake about it… I had to look that word up too. But I find reading a new word a day helps in the development of my vocabulary (duh). You will see what I did there in a moment…
In last month’s blog, we did a quick dive into depth charts of rosters and the difference between recognizing potential talent and simply picking obvious talent.
This month, I wanted to continue along those lines and discuss something that happens whether you chose door number one or door number two (recognizing potential or picking obvious). No matter which you chose, you now have another duty… will you manage the player or develop the player? This is usually based off the first decision you made. Although, I believe all players still have room to develop.
“All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work.” – Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States. Read about him and get your learn on.
As with many of my blogs, this topic developed out of a conversation. I was speaking with a semi pro player I have come to know over the past year. We were discussing our opinions on what a “paintball coach” really is or should be. I, personally, believe it is the role of the coach to create an environment where the players can be just that… a player. The coach needs to remove all external factors to make sure the player’s focus is on getting better and performing well. In other words, create an environment where they can be their best. If I keep bringing issues to the players, if I bring drama, I am putting roadblocks in their progress. Why? Because I am distracting from the number one goal of being a coach… helping and guiding the players so they perform at their peak. The coach needs to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of each player, and leverage them against the layout. Then, during a match, leverage those same strengths and weaknesses against the opponent within the parameters of the layout.
If you can recognize how a player responds or rather how they learn, then you can “coach” them more effectively. One size fits all works with some teams but most teams are pretty diverse. You have to know how to approach each player individually and know what motivates them. So let’s focus on DEVELOPING a player.
In my experience, there are three things that cause teams to fall short or adversely affect their performance:
1. Not clearly communicating expectations
2. Ineffective/infrequent/inappropriate feedback
3. Lack of accountability
So if the above is bad it makes sense that the following would be better:
1. Clearly established expectations
2. Continually coaching (environment of always learning)
3. Creating accountability
You better know who this man is.
“Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.” – Bruce Lee
These are the 3 most important steps in developing a player, as well. From this base line, all goodness will spring… which means you need to establish a good base line. Without a good base line, all badness will spring and now you’re in a pickle.
EXPECTATIONS
How do we effectively manage expectations? I believe when you establish an expectation and/or a goal with a player (and the team for that matter) there needs to be the understanding that they currently have the capability of achieving it but that it is challenging enough to push them.
As a coach, you and the player or team, should understand that these expectations should have a “cadence”, and recognize which are priorities. Develop a consensus on that and you should be off to the races.
I have found that teams perform better and learn quicker when the players are responsible for both individual AND team goals. In other words, the focus of the individual player should be to improve something about themselves that leads to the overall strength of the team. If the betterment of the individual doesn’t increase team capability, we’re wasting time.
COACHING
Another 3 pack for you to consider. Coaching should have a minimum of 3 components. And this shouldn’t just apply to paintball but all aspects of life. The three “F’s”:
1. Frequency
2. Focus
3. Fairness
Everyone should get something out of it…
Always engage. Always look for ways to improve. Now this doesn’t mean rag a player over and over every point and every drill. You have to find the balance. When you see an opportunity to create an improvement, say something. If they ASK you, respond. You should WANT the engagement. Most players WANT to get better. And this doesn’t have to just be the coach. Players can make players better. Steel sharpens steel.
No matter how frequently you engage, if there isn’t a purpose behind the engagement, if there isn’t a focus on what is or was the issue, then you are simply creating static. This can lead to a nagging relationship or a stressed player who is afraid to be engaged. They will usually shut down. Make sure there is a point.
Finally, be fair with criticism and praise. If you compliment a player on an accomplishment make sure others are receiving similar positive reinforcement. Same with criticism. If someone’s doing something wrong, call it out but not just when THAT person does it. When ANYONE does it.
Lao Tzu was a Chinese philosopher and the created Taoism
“The key to growth is the introduction of higher dimensions of consciousness into our awareness.” – Lao Tzu
ACCOUNTABILITY
This one is easy. Recognize success, celebrate it, but do NOT ever ignore failure. Identify it and embrace it with the understanding it must be fixed or improved. Or over strengthen a strength. If you create a positive environment, the players will usually hold THEMSELVES accountable recognizing things they need to work on. THAT is a great thing unless that’s all they are doing and they become Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh (okay, some of you just went… “What??”. Google him.)
Be careful though. Measuring performance can be subjective, especially in paintball players. Set individual goals, develop some metrics, and observe. Base it on the data you have and can read/see.
One on one time is important in development
All three of those components can be summed up in the following analogy – The report card!
Remember when you used to bring your report card home to your parents? (Do they still do that or does the new generation not get held accountable? Perhaps grades are a micro-aggression… I don’t know these days…I digress) Let’s say you bring home 3 A’s, 2 B’s, and a C. Where does the conversation with your parents start? Usually around that C, yes? If not, maybe it starts with the A’s and then the C? Either way, they both should be discussed.
I will leave you with this. Ask yourself these three (there’s that number again) questions in conjunction with everything stated above:
1. What’s the goal?
2. What does success in reaching that goal look like?
3. Always align a player’s goals with those of the team’s needs.
This blog post was brought to you by the number 3 ah, ah, ah….
Remember, you can create your own truth when you don’t hear the truth…
Happy New Year! The season is soon to begin and in some instances, has already begun. Coaches, captains, and players alike are all getting in on the “grind”, preparing for what could be their most challenging season yet. Preparation, as we have discussed several times in the past, is multi faceted. There are several elements that go into preparing, training, creating, in order to roster a winning team. Just like in other sports, it is critical to have the right mix of talent on your paintball team. I thought, since it is the beginning of the year, we should look at a specific aspect of team building.
A team/coach needs to understand not just the fundamental level of talent but how that talent is spread out and in what areas. In other words, what is the depth of your roster? This is the topic of this months blog – roster depth and recognizing talent.
Try outs are a great way to scout and recognize or select talent
In all team sports, every serious team looks at their “depth chart”. This is usually a list identifying the starter in each position. So, a starting player would be listed first or at the top of said list, while back up or second string is listed after or lower on the list. The list is developed and based off capabilities or who is better at what when.
Now, before I go any further I want to explain my stance on paintball players and their positions. I’ve had this conversation several times lately but I feel it bears mentioning due to our topic.
Yes, I believe in developing a paintball player versus a snake player or a dorito player. If you identify as a snake player, dorito player, or as a cat, you have already limited your abilities on the field and my ability to utilize you in a game setting. I prefer to use the terms 1’s, 2’s, and 3’s. In its most simple form, it would go like this; if you are a “snake player” – you’re usually fast and a good gun fighter (hopefully). These basic precepts apply to dorito players too (I would hope). So if I have a fast gun fighter, why shouldn’t he train for both environments? Playing from your feet, knees, stomach, should all have the same basic principles, yes? Take into account the field layout and how a player does based off its shown opportunities…well…
I believe that it’s solid for players to cross train anyway, to try different positions on field, especially given layout changes. This is in hopes to better understand what the opponent can and cannot see. It also gives the player a better perspective and understanding of how their opponent may act in certain circumstances. I also am a firm believer that layouts will dictate player’s capabilities by highlighting strengths and exposing weaknesses.
Couple this with the fact 2’s (mid players) should be able to play both front and back and that 3’s have to be able to take the 2’s spot and clean games up, that means they should be familiar with the 1’s and 2’s capabilities/knowledge set too. Translation? Everyone needs to know how to play everywhere. Does that mean you don’t have “specialists”? Not at all. Can you have specialists? Certainly. Especially at higher levels. So it’s not an outright disregard or disposal of the thought process. Simply a different look or approach to training and improving ones skill.
This.
Okay… moving on.
When we look at roster depth, at least in paintball, we should be looking at several factors.
Experience – How have they learned/grown from their experience? Are they knowledgeable. Can they articulate it? Just because someone has played a long time doesn’t instantly make them “experienced” by the way.
Physicality – Are they physically fit? Are they durable, have good cardio, think clearly when tired? Injury prone? Are they fast, slow?
Skill set(s) – What are the players strengths over all from a fundamental perspective? Good laner, snap shooter, gunfighter, communicator, head for the game?
Character – Are they coachable, do they listen, are the respectful, are they loyal, are they a team player, do they get along, fit in the culture?
How do you measure these things and how do you develop your own depth chart? This all begins by understanding the difference between “recognizing talent” and “picking talent”.
Now, most paintball teams happen organically. What I mean by this is most teams are a group of friends or acquaintances who attend the same field or know each other in some common manner. It isn’t so much about the “draft” so to speak but working with what you got. Honesty is a big part here. But that doesn’t mean you can’t utilize what you have, take a serious look at your roster depth, and plan accordingly.
Watching.
Where was I? Oh yes…
Picking talent is easy. “That guy is a good player. I just watched him get two consecutive 3 packs and no one has stopped him. And he seems like a cool guy. We should pick him up.” Easy.
Recognizing talent is a little more nuanced. I would go as far as to say an “art”. This is the evaluation of how good a player canbe based off their existing capabilities. In other words, you are predicting whether or not a player will grow in the future based off their current physical, technical, and psychological qualities shown.
The major difference between the two is that one will probably get you better results starting day one. The other will more than likely (if done correctly) build you an elite player for the future of the program/team and get you results down the road.
Several teams I have encountered over the years have the “win at all cost” mentality. This is usually what leads teams to actively searching out better existing players (picking talent). Not many have the patience, desire, or even capability to farm talent. And that is understandable. When you focus on building a team based off picking existing talent throughout the area (or even more so, outside your area), you are basically picking team members to start the winning process right away. This, of course, includes cutting those team members/try outs who do not help with the winning process. This will certainly lead to short-term successes.
I spy talent…
However, teams that do this have a tendency to be short-lived or see sporadic success. They didn’t invest in the culture, they didn’t invest within the team name, all topics we have discussed in past blogs.
Now teams that choose to identify talent and farm it have a tendency towards a little more longevity. They certainly have a healthier culture (in my opinion) and are usually the greater “team”. Paintball is, in fact, a team sport so I don’t see why that wouldn’t be an advantage. Is this always the case? No. Same with the paragraph above. From my experience, it is true more than not.
I will say that I believe this is where solid coaching comes into play. Not just in recognizing talent but ensuring the creation of an environment in which players can thrive and learn. The coach must be able to know what that player needs to work on, how they need to work on it, how they learn, and recognizing what motivates them (and not necessarily in that order). A coach must target the physical, psychological, and technical components of a player then identify if a player does indeed have what it takes to become a great or elite player.
Talent recognition is obviously a long-term approach to player selection and development since it mainly emphasizes training players instead of cutting all but the best ones and finding better players to fill the gaps. Of course, identifying a player who you think has what it takes , investing the time, and then learning you were wrong can be a bummer. It happens. But that almost always lies with a misidentification of that players attitude and willingness to learn or the culture that exists around them (environment).
Not a bad guy to have on your squad. But he is old and ornery…
Some teams have farm teams, usually lower divisional teams, that they try to build. Of course, some programs use these teams to fund the higher level team (I can’t stand this if it isn’t mutually beneficial.) One advantage of having farm teams that is often overlooked is, you can transfer players up and down (barring APPA rankings). A player doesn’t have to be cut if they are just learning at a slower pace. Its like having majors and minors in baseball. We’re not cutting you, we are putting you on this roster until we get you up to the speed we need you to be. Of course, you have to be careful as sometimes other teams will scoop them up. You also have the issue of your top players, if the culture isn’t sound, feeling they are not growing, or you surround them with sub par players, you run the risk of them leaving for another team.
The key is balance. If you help the less skilled ones catch up technically to the proficient ones, you are in a win/win environment. Your talent book just doubled in size as did your roster depth.
We need better coaches in our sport too. But that is a blog for another day. Better and more educated coaches in our sport will lead a better understanding of the difference between picking and growing talent. Hopefully more decide to teach and encourage players to develop rather than try to win at all costs. Again, not that there is anything necessarily wrong with the latter…
“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” – Confucius
Admit it, you like to look good. Who doesn’t? Taking pride in one’s appearance should not be disparaged. However, there has never been a vainer creature to walk the earth than perhaps a paintball player.
And why not? We play a high adrenaline sport where we shoot at each other, donning our “helmets”, our “uniforms”, “warring” with each other in “combat”, out thinking, out maneuvering, and out gunning our opponents like we are John Wick performing the Mozambique technique (at least that’s how we see ourselves yes?) Which brings us to the ones who captured it… the forgotten ones……the people who make us look good. The people who tell the story for those who were and weren’t there. Those who capture our most personal moments on the field and in some instances, off.
In triumph and defeat, I am, of course, speaking about paintball photographers.
“Love of beauty is taste. The creation of beauty is art.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I have had the privilege to meet and make friends with several photographers over my years in the sport, all with unique personalities. Each with a talent that is often misunderstood in a profession that is often misunderstood as well.
I thought, after all the times that they have helped us tell our story, we should hear theirs. I reached out to some who have not only made me look good but many of you as well. I have known some for years and others I have recently become acquainted with through teams I coach or other friends. All of them have something in common beside their paintball photography and that is that I find their work awesome.
When I first thought about doing this blog, I really didn’t know where or how I was going to write it. I thought, keep it simple. So I just shot off a couple of questions to see what I would get. What I got was some further insight into what I already knew were some pretty cool human beings. I am honored to know them so, without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls (there are only two genders…) I give you my friends the paintball photographers!
BAUMS AWAY!
You can’t have a blog or whatever about paintball photographers without mentioning the guy who pretty much paved the way. Those cool action photos of the NXL professional division? Those cool NXL Europe photos you see of their pro division? Yeah, you can’t say paintball photos without mentioning Paintballphotography.com, run by none other than the man, the myth, the legend…Gary Baum.
A sighting of the Gary Baum creature in his natural habitat
How many of you know he is a orthodontist with a post doctoral degree, teaches at Universities, does leading research and writes journals for jaw surgery as well as a legal consultant and commercial drone pilot? Or that he wrote the NXL waivers? Did you know that 9 weekends out of the year he’ll walk 10 miles carrying around 50 lbs. of equipment?
Gary and I go back to 2011 (I was certainly familiar with his work prior – who wasn’t?). He came up to me after our finals match at World Cup and said, “Hey, that was a good match.” (It wasn’t…but thank you Gary). From then on, he and I would always stop and chat when we could. I spent about an hour and half on the phone with him recently and I have to tell you, I could probably write the entire blog on Gary alone. But he wouldn’t want that.
“Here’s my personal philosophy – I want to be that wedding photographer – he walks around, no one notices him, he does his job and goes home. Some people think I am anti social. I’m not. I’m there to work , I’m there to do a job. I don’t care what people think of me. I don’t need a persona. In my opinion, media should be invisible. I’m judged by my content not what I look or act like.”
“I started taking pics at NPPL at the first Huntington beach. Camille let me on the field. (That’s a funny story too – Zen). Afterwards, I got a call from Jungle magazine – they asked for me to give them 5 pictures – When they got them, I got hired on spot. Then things just took off.”
How many of you know that Jungle Magazine owns Facefull?
“I hated watching the paintball magazines all fold.”
Me too.
Did you know he has written the media regulations for all the leagues? NPPL/PSP/NXL – He’s known Tom Cole forever – And works for GI and Valken.
“I don’t make good pictures I take good pictures. I’m a witness…like a press photographer.”
So how does he get the shots?
“Pros are easy… they move easily. They are predictable. I’ve been shooting some of these guys for a long time so I have learned their nuances. I know what looks good. It’s the brute force approach. I take a lot of photos so I’m going to get some that look good. Spray and pray really. I’ve probably watched more paintball matches than anyone alive. I’m ambidextrous in my eyes and hands and I have great peripheral eyesight.”
“Speedball is repetitive. Scenario is more challenging. I want eyes as it gives a level of intensity. Now, you get shot to shit but I don’t notice it anymore.”
Like I said, we could probably write an entire disertation on Gary… but I like how he closed out our converation.
“So many great photographers coming up. I don’t have competitors. I have colleagues and I want to see them all do well.”
Word. Thank you for your amazing contributions to our sport sir.
BIGGER’N DALLAS?
This next photographer started taking photographs of paintball because he wanted to show his friends what they looked like when they played. It morphed from there.
“My friend got me into it back in 2006. I did take regular photos, but really enjoyed paintball photos. Video was just a natural progression, cameras nowadays have both abilities. We’d go to my house after practice and we’d make little edits just to share between us. ”
I remember Hunter Laughlin of Tufshot Media handing out his Tufshot stickers at an event (CFOA maybe?) back around 2010? I also remember every member of my team grabbing some and putting them on our hoppers. Mine stayed on my hopper for almost 3 years! What I like about Hunter is how passionate he is about … well… everything.
Hunter “Dallas” Laughlin and his famous smirk. Photo cred to Marcos Barradas
“Paintball is the most epic thing to shoot in my opinion because it’s so exciting. To me, nothing compares to seeing someone shoot someone else. Race cars, real guns…. nothing compares to seeing someone get someone else.”
He’s quick to tell you about the investment. And understandably so. I, personally, could not do it.
“One thing I wish people understood is how much money we spend on equipment, and how much our equipment takes. I’ve taken 100K+ setups on field before.”
Do you think paintball photographers and refs get the respect they deserve?
“Refs have it pretty bad but they have zero responsibility when they leave that field. Videographers and photographers have to worry about putting thousands of dollars of their own equipment in front of 300 mph objects… Once the event is over…. then the real work begins…. editing. For the next three weeks you edit and edit and edit. No one goes through what we go through…I filmed 40 teams last event. We don’t get to see games, just record parts, and rarely know who wins. So when people say they do it for the sport and say “grow paintball,” I snicker …. because none of them do what we do for our sport.”
Thank you Hunter! Please keep up the great work! And thank you for that video edit too!
STRETCHING IT TO THE LIMIT
I know one photographer who towers above the others… literally. And his Cooper has logged more miles in one season than most people put on their vehicle in a lifetime. Not to mention looks better than most paintball players. I also believe he was the first photographer that Prime hired when we finally felt like we were worth documenting. And yes, he did an excellent job.
“I got into photography shooting photos of my car. I was still playing paintball at the time. Once I figured out you could make money instead of spending it, I sold my guns and started taking photos. I haven’t shot a paintball gun in probably 6 years.”
Nice. Dude’s totally pragmatic. And I certainly appreciate that. So why does Phillip “Stretch” Baker of 1904Photography take photos of paintball players?
Only trees are taller than Phil. He has an elevated skill set. (See what I did there Stretch?)
“I like shooting paintball because it has a lot going for it in terms of photos… the action and emotion of the sport, plus cool stuff like snagging a photo that is clearly a fraction of a second, the splat.”
I asked Stretch to pick one specific thing that he wished people knew about him. He wasn’t having it. Instead, he gave me another sensible answer which I appreciated because of his candor.
“I’m terrible with questions requiring me to pick one thing… ha-ha, it always varies depending how I feel that day. Today’s answer is…. I’m not as much of an asshole as people think… I’m just quiet.”
Awesome. I think that’s what I love about Stretch… a man of few words but all are thought out. Thank you Mr. Baker sir for your continued work!
BUT WAIT! THERE’S MOHR!
This next photographer works with Gary and Hunter at NXL events. He also thinks I’m an angry guy… I’m not. But that is a story over beer… and with both of us at the table to defend our view points. (I’m kidding… He doens’t think I am an angry guy… much)
Michael Mohr of MMPhotography played his first paintball event at a 3 man tournament at Pevs Cousins Indoor on Long Island.
I had to use this one Mike. Don’t look so happy! Photo cred also to Marcos Barradas
“We went 1-7 the whole day. We were excited though because the only team we beat was the first place team of the tournament. Long story short, I had a good time with my friends and got an opportunity to meet Billy Wing and shoot his dm6. A photographer was there and got a picture of me shooting Billy’s new gun. I was beyond excited to get that one awesome clear picture. So even though we were terrible I got a memory of a good time I had with my friends on my first tournament.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
“I was taking photos for other stuff at the time but I wanted to be that photographer that got photos of the “new guys” of our sport. So, even though you could have gone 5-3,4-4 and just didn’t quite make it on to finals. You had a photo to look back on when you were playing with your bros. Next thing you know, I’m traveling around the states shooting multiple events meeting great people new friends and capturing great memories for people.”
Prime was lucky enough to be one of those teams a few times… But his story started like a lot of other photogrpahers that end up in Paintball.
“I was a normal photographer doing couples’ shoots and basic non action stuff. I was introduced into paintball at an early stage of my photography career as well though. As the years go by you learn and grow and find what’s your style for the sport.”
I like that line. Style for the sport. And it make sense to me. So what is it about Paintball he loves to shoot and why?
“No sport will compare to the speed of paintball. To be able to freeze a paintball in midair or a splat off someone’s mask. Any player in any position can make a great play and you have to be ready at all times or you’ll miss the shot. I almost get an adrenaline rush taking photos sometimes because the action gets so intense. I love having the ability to capture those action shots.
But again I love the friendships this sport creates. Memories between father and son, brothers, friends both good and bad. These moments in paintball are worth everything too.”
Outstanding view point my friend! Thank you again for all your amazing work sir! And remember, it’s not anger if it motivates them… lol
A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME
What I find fascinating about Nichola Hayden in particular is that she hasn’t had any formal training or spent a single day in any photography classes. Everything to do with photography and editing she learned from trial and error. In other words, she practiced every chance she got.
No, not a crazy cat lady, she is an inked rose.
“I first got into paintball photography as a hobby. I’d snap a few pics here and there at the field I worked at. This ended with me shooting some at a tournament that happened and well, it took off from there. No photography experience and I just learned as I went along. It took me just 1 year to get my name and work out there.”
She worked at Westworld Paintball for 6 years. This was after she played paintball and got hooked so she decided to apply for a part-time cashier job there. But, Nichola being Nichola, she worked her way to Field Manager within a few months. After a couple of years doing that, she worked her way into the Marketing Management position, (again no experience in Marketing).
“Give me a few and I will learn my way around the job.”
Shortly after, Tim Montressor asked her while at a local event to cover some Luxe Pro teams.
“Tim Montressor noticed my work and we got to talking at the local events that he teched at and he offered me the opportunity to cover the Pro teams and I of course accepted. I had already built up a good following and in my first year I used to fill all my spots and then some. I got a chance to go to my first World Cup that year thanks to QT aka Aardvark who worked with the Planet Eclipse tech team. He Introduced me to cup teams as I was only covering the local West Coast teams for WCPPL and UPL. He also helped me out to Fulda Gap to cover the official Planet Eclipse team Capital Offense. ”
But why? Why paintball?
“I enjoy shooting it (paintball) because I enjoyed playing it. Unfortunately, I had to step away from playing as it wasn’t financially viable to do as a single parent on a single parent income. So I still got to be in the fray and environment of paintball and able to make extra money doing so. ”
Make no mistake, Nichola is a strong, independent, hard-working woman and is not afraid to speak her mind. Something that I appreciate… and some don’t.
“A lot of people would nay-say and “hate” that I only got the work due to wearing booty shorts and having an overtly sexual presence online. But when NXL banned my short shorts and Fuzzy ears I was still continuously booked. A lot of people who booked me were the parents for their kids. I started taking more time out last year to focus on my personal life and being home more often. But the NXL World Cup 2017 I ended up with 27 total teams booked in. As you can imagine that was hard work and I recruited Jeff Zapfe to assist me. So I believe 100% it was my hard work and having the ability to network and be able to Market myself to anyone that got me so booked.”
Rock on with your bad self girl. May you continue to find great success in 2019 and beyond!
SNAILED IT!
This last photographer is one I just met this past World Cup. We actually run in similar circles but it was the event that led to the meeting. Fun, jovial, opinionated, and driven, this guy is what we call in the south, “a hoot”. He is also quite modest. You can ask him, “Hey, if there was some advice you would give to teams looking to book a photographer, what would you tell them?” and he would say…
“Honestly not really sure here. If you do not know a photographer personally and you are needing pictures at an event ask around other teams and see who they suggest.”
Sean Snell of PFunky Snail photography is a genuine dude. Easy to talk to.
Sean Snell ladies and gentlemen. Would give gredit to APOLLO but don’t know any APOLLOs
“I began playing the sport in 2004 and took a break in 2008 till 2015 where I came back into the sport playing D3. I fell back in love with the sport immediately and found friends that I had honestly forgotten about. The amount of money and time that it took to play competitively throughout the 2015 and 2016 seasons was starting to show and I just could not sustain it any longer. I had always been decent with a camera so I decided to give it a try. The knowledge that I have of the sport mixed with the passion I have for it and photography made a perfect match! I have been able to spend those event weekends with people who I consider family while still being on the field with them, just without a marker.”
So why was it a natural progression to trade the marker for a camera?
“I started doing photography back in 2012 when I was working with a production company shooting for beauty pageants. While with this company I was able to learn the basics of a camera and also learn basics with video as well.”
Beauty pageant photos to paintball photos? I get it…
“My love for the sport and the friends that I have made along the way is 100% why I love photographing this sport. One aspect in photography that I have always hated is posing people. With paintball you take the pictures that are presented to you. Watching down the lens zoomed in as you witness and capture someone just getting destroyed is quite exhilarating!”
Okay, but….
“I do this for the love of the sport. As cliché’ as that sounds it is true. The sport has brought me many friends some of which I consider family and it is all attributed directly to paintball.”
Cheers to that sentiment Sean! Thank you for taking the time to respond to me for this blog. I look forward to getting to know you more and wish you and yours the very best!
I would like to thank all the photographers that took the time for this. There are a million more I wanted to talk to because I think they all have a fascinating story to tell and I truly enjoy hearing them. To those of you who I reached out to but were unable to get back to me in time, no worries! I understand and I am sure we will have another opportunity to tell your stories. In the meantime, if you are interested in the photographers who were in this blog, here are links to their work! And of course, you can find them all on Facebook, as well.
With that, MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! I would like to leave you with this quote and prayer…
“I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys” – Charles Dickens
If I have said it once, I have said it one hundred thousand times…Commitment, belief, and a positive mental attitude are all aspects one must possess in order to become a success, whether you’re in sports, in business or, what have you. Now, I have a tendency to begin a lot of my blogs with a quote. Here’s one; I believe it was Muhammad Ali who said, ” It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
Not many of us can say we have won a National paintball event, much less two or more, or even more impressive, the World Cup. But that’s exactly what the subject of this Gun Fu blog did. And after reading this, I think the quote will make more sense.
Born in the small town of Madisonville, Louisiana and raised just outside of New Orleans, Stuart Ridgel will celebrate his 28th birthday later this month. And just like a good many of us ballers, it all started at a birthday party…
World Cup Champion Stuart Ridgel of the Gulf Coast Hurricanes
“I was around 10 years old when I first played paintball. I was invited to a childhood friends birthday party. I remember one game we played capture the flag and I grabbed the flag from the center 50 area and ran it back to our starting area without getting touched. I thought I was invincible at that moment in time, I was praised for doing that by my friends and the parents. That was my first experience with paintball. It was a positive experience.”
When talking to Stuart (Stu as his friends call him), its obvious he has a love for learning as well as sharing. It’s pretty contagious actually. But there is no doubt he is competitive. And you can tell almost immediately that he is a truly honest and humble guy.
Belief
“I played rec sports throughout my childhood so I enjoyed competing and I was always very competitive. When I made my way to high school, I played a season of football and didn’t play much probably because of my size mainly. Then I tried out for baseball and didn’t make the team. I was already playing woodsball quite a bit and dabbling in speedball playing a couple local tournaments. After my experience with high school sports, I wanted to do something where I could actually contribute to a team and compete. That’s when I really started to play speedball a lot more. I was playing with guys around the field older than me and actually shooting them. I thought this is awesome! I can beat grown men and hold my own! It didn’t matter how big or how strong I was. Then at the end of 2004, at my home field 10 minutes down the road from my house, the New Orleans Rock-It-Kids hosted a tryout because they were moving into X-ball from 10-man. For the Rock-It-Kids to be that close to my house I think I was just destined to play paintball. I was 14, tried out and they picked me up because they saw potential and could mold me. At our first D2 PSP event, the LA SoCal Open 2005, we won first place. I only played maybe 4-5 points, but I was hooked. First time flying in an airplane, traveling halfway across the U.S. with older guys to play paintball. I was in love.”
In case you missed it, Stu and his team the Gulf Coast Hurricanes won the Division 2 World Cup back in November. And they did it in an impressive manner. After their first match which they tied, they found their rhythm. They finished the prelims with a 3-0-1 record landing the 3rd place seed headed into Sunday (right in front of another team who had a pretty decent coach… but I digress). They would dispatch their first opponent 6-2 in the Ochos followed by a mercy rule win (6-1) over the 2018 NXL Atlantic City Champions Carolina Crisis. They would follow that win up in the semis with another mercy rule win of 5-0 setting up their greatest challenge of the event. *Side note – Yours truly was coaching the team in the pit right next to them most of Sunday morning. The composure these guys showed was awesome to behold. A back and forth match, the ‘Canes were triumphant in the end winning 4-3.
Big show
“I always wanted to start my own team and have control of a team or organization. After experiences with other organizations that had policies and practices I didn’t agree with, I knew I wanted to call the shots one day and have more control. Being one of the youngest on these other teams, I didn’t really have a voice yet but I knew I didn’t agree with the way things were. I eventually stopped playing with them and looked for something else.
Then a couple years later after Aftershock and way too many 13 hour drives to Chicago, I decided I was going to start a team of my own. I hosted tryouts in 2015 and we had probably 30 something players (including almost all of the core D2 players) that formed the NO NAMED TEAM. I was just looking for like-minded players at the time to see what we were going to do and where we could compete. You know how paintball players come and go, we lost half of them from lack of commitment before the first season. A couple months after the initial tryouts, Matt Hamilton came to me (He was already on the no named team at this time) and told me he was opening a field, Gulf Coast Paintball and wanted to help fund a team. He gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse and we agreed to name the team Gulf Coast Hurricanes and that’s how the Hurricanes were born.”
And now you know. Stu had seen a lot and learned a lot from teams like the Rock-It-Kids, Warped Army, and Aftershock among others (for the record, he doesn’t consider himself ever having really played professionally.)
“I only played 3 events with them (Aftershock) at the professional level. I can say I’ve been shot by a lot of pro players though”
So he took what he had learned and, partnering with Matt Hamilton of Gulf Coast Paintball in Slidell, LA, the Hurricanes were born.
2017 NXL Chicago Champions
To understand Stu and the ‘Canes, all you have to do is ask them about their mindset coming into the 2018 season. I think it speaks volumes about the team and their positive and confident approach.
“The team’s mindset was to compete and win at the D2 level one last year before all of us got ranked up. We felt the 2017 season had a few unfortunate things happen to us at the events (like most teams I’m sure) even with winning Chicago in 2017. We knew our group of guys had the experience and talent to compete with the best D2 teams in the league and we were ready to win.
We just needed to figure out the financial portion of the team and what we could realistically afford. Unfortunately, we could only afford 3 events during 2018 Vegas – 2nd Place, Dallas, 5th Place, and World Cup 1st Place. When you only have 7-8 players in your organization that are ready for this level and 1 is a college student with no money national paintball can get expensive.”
Ah yes, don’t we all know it. But the story of their win at World Cup doesn’t end there. There is one other aspect that I think makes this a great story about a team that not only overcame adversity financially, but one other thing as well: they won the event with only 5 guys!
“This was our last opportunity to play at the D2 level together and we were playing no matter what. We have played events in the past where 90-95% of points were played by 5 players with only 7 on the roster. I knew we had the stamina to run the race, we just couldn’t get hurt and luckily no one got hurt. This is a group of veterans that have put in years and have made their sacrifices to compete and win. I wasn’t really worried about only having 5, I believed that whatever was meant to happen was going to happen and it happened for us. The guys on this roster have a lot of heart and I knew you would have to drag their lifeless body’s off the field for them not to play.”
Andrew Rodriguez, far left, played with the team on Thursday. Not pictured is Jacob Searight who showed up Friday and played the rest of the event
Motivating, yes?
But what’s next? The team is planning on stepping up to the Semi Pro\Division 1 next season. What adjustments will they make and what do they feel they need to fix in order to be competitive in a division that has teams like Indianapolis Mutiny, NRG Elite, and Montreal Image?
“We need to be better at working together and communicating. We all have good gun skills, but where a team separates themselves from the pack is their level of communication and how well they can accomplish points together. Communication is the key to success in this sports.
We’re still trying to figure out our player situation and who is looking to commit possibly new players, but our core group is still around and I know they can compete at the semipro level.
This organization needs a dedicated coach and scouting/assistant coach. The top teams have that coach they can count on. This is something that we really don’t have at practices leading to the event. We do have Jamie helping at events, I’d love to have a coach with us running practices and giving us feedback. It’s extremely difficult to do that as a player.”
Okay, so they won the World Cup with five guys and are headed to the semi-pro division for 2019… but how does Stu plan to approach the next season? What keeps him and his crew motivated?
“My own progression and watching the people around me work hard and want to progress and get better motivates me. The effort motivates me. It’s a gratifying experience to watch someone dedicate and sacrifice so much of their time and life just to try to accomplish a goal. It motivates me to want to continue to work hard for the team and people around me and contribute to winning. Wins are few and far between, but when you do get one, you’re on a roll for that indescribable moment. Paintball has taught me to be disciplined, and if you work hard, eventually you will be rewarded. It took me almost 10 years to get my third national tournament win, from 1st place at the Boston NPPL in 2007 to the Chicago Open in 2017. It took until 2018 for me to win my first World Cup; it takes time.”
Stu is always one to give credit where credit is due. What I love about the guy is how he is quick to rattle of the people he credits with his success. He will tell you he didn’t do it alone.
“I look up to Matty Hotard old captain of Rock-It-kids for teaching me how to lead a team and play with heart. Drew Bell for always putting in the work week in and week out throughout the years and just leading by setting the example. Then just almost all of the guys in my organization, in the league and around me that I’ve come in contact with. I try to look for, look up and be influenced by any and everyone that I can take something good away from. I like to search for little gold nuggets in everyone. I’m a strong believer that any and everyone has the potential to influence and teach you something positive, you just have to observe and listen.”
Any favorite Pros or team? I love this answer by the way.
“No favorite pro team. I just enjoy the grind and watching great play.”
Some other things you may not about ole Stuart Ridgel. He has been published – that’s right. You could say he wrote the book on paintball communication (literally). You can order it here!
When you ask him about what is the one piece of advice he wish he had been given when starting out, the response is almost predictable. Same goes for what he tells other teams just starting out.
“Communication is the most important aspect of tournament paintball. I wish this would have been stressed to me from the beginning.
I’d tell them that an okay team that can work together and has an open dialogue during the game can beat a group of good players that can’t work together any day. Investigate the various aspects of communication and learn how to collaborate to achieve goals. “When a player not only has the capacity to have complete field awareness for himself and know the accurate kill count, opponent’s positions, and his team count, but he can make every single teammate on the field completely field aware and understand the game situation, that’s when you start to become a truly great player.”
Here’s another thing I like about Stu. All of you know how I emphasize the basic fundamentals of paintball. I believe no matter how experienced you are, you need to find time to do certain drills. After all, they are perishable skills since muscle memory can fade. So I asked him, what is your favorite drill?
“Fundamentals – Breakout shooting and snap shooting. Win the break and your probability to win the point is exponentially higher. Win a gun fight and you possibly win a tournament. I feel like if I would have won this one gunfight in Vegas this year during the very first point, we would have won that event.
There is a communication circuit drill and a communication situational drill we do that is a lot of fun and helpful, but it’d take me quite a bit to write.”
Love it.
So, in case you were wondering what it feels like to be a World Cup Champion, Stu sums it up for us.
“It feels like all the blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifices I’ve made to play this sport have finally paid off. I’ll cherish that moment for the rest of my life. Being on the field with my brothers and sharing this moment with them will be etched in my brain until I leave this form. We all worked hard together, and on that day, we all became Champions! It’s something special.”
If you are not a sci-fi fan, you may not be aware of a famous series of books written back in the 60’s and 70’s by a gentlemen named Frank Herbert. The Dune series is considered one of if not the bestselling sci-fi novels of all time. In it, there is a quote by the main protagonist Paul Atreides that I absolutely love. Here it is:
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will allow my fear to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone I will turn my inner eye to see its path. And where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
So cool.
How many of you get nervous prior to an event? Perhaps you get a little anxious on the box when you are lining up for that first point of the event? Any of you ever panicked when you realized you forgot something? Do any of you become overcome with the fear of losing, not performing well, or maybe suffering humiliation or injury?
You’re not alone.
Paul Atreides portayed by Kyle MacLachlan in the film DUNE (1984)
Everyone has experienced some form of fear at some point in their life. Fear is our response to perceived physical or emotional danger. How often are we afraid of something that isn’t life or death or legitimately important? Take for instance, oh, I don’t know, not winning a paintball match? Would you put that up on that level? Some of you would, of that I am sure!
Whether you are a seasoned player or brand new to the scene, we will all have specific fears, admitted or not. And that’s okay. Fear can be good. It is how we react to fear that will ultimately define us.
“If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.” – Sun Tzu
The most important thing a player or team can do is understand the “worst case scenario”. Try to identify the worst possible outcome of what it is you fear. Once identified, now we face it, understand it, and reconcile ourselves to that possibility of outcome. Really think about it… is it the end of the world? In paintball, probably not. If you absolutely cannot face whatever the worse case potential outcome is, then you probably shouldn’t be playing. But let me tell you what happens when and if you are able to reconcile that potential scenario… it will free you to truly perform at your highest level. If you accept whatever outcome, from best to worst, you can compete without real fear. However, if all you can do is focus on the fear, you will never perform to the best of your ability. You should be thinking about, and visualizing, the positive outcome at all times. After we recognize potential outcomes and accept them, now we focus on the best possible outcome. We visualize success. If we only wrestle with the worst scenarios, it will distract us from the desired outcome. In other words, always focus on what you want to happen, not what you don’t want to happen.
Fears were overcome for this young player
Here’s where we are going to get a bit psychedelic. The most common reason for fear is the possibility of failure, yes? But here’s where I want to blow your mind for a second. I once read that failure isn’t real. That’s right, it doesn’t exist. See, we invented failure or rather the concept of it. It boils down to this: failure and success are two different ways of looking at the same thing. I would go as far as to say there is no such thing as failure, just attempts at learning how to improve. Now ask me, do I really believe what I just wrote? Sometimes… but let me get to the point or rather the big picture item.
Once you understand that there is no failure, you will begin to recognize what it really is. It’s data. The more data, the better armed we are to face our fears. When we first met our fears it was with a spoon, then we learned the spoon didn’t work, so we grabbed a hammer, and that kinda worked but it was hard and still scary, so we grabbed a M249 LMG, rechambered it in .308 and let loose. Heck that wasn’t scary at all… as a matter of fact, my fear called me up and said, “Leave me alone please. I will never bother you again!” When this happens, we have essentially desensitized ourselves from that specific fear. Congrats! You are now free to perform anxiety free.
Embracing our fears on and off the paintball field can be a difficult and a time consuming endeavor. It is a true struggle for most. But trust those who have succeeded in doing so. Ask them about it and I bet you will be met with a person who is confident and a winner. A person who can focus and maximize their potential every opportunity they get. But I bet you will also find a person who failed more times than they succeeded…
Okay. Let’s dig a little deeper. I also read this sometime ago and it came across my research again recently.
“F.E.A.R. or False Evidence Appearing Real. It appears real, even though it is a fear of the future and is not happening now. Therefore, it has no real substance, arising when the ego-self is threatened, which makes you cling to the known and familiar.” – Neale Donald Walsch
Whoa. Also cool.
Again, each and every athlete experiences some kind of fear or anxiety to some extent. I think we can agree that any person or team who can control their fear on and off the field will be a ferocious and daunting opponent, a capable and inspirational team, and just a plain cool.
Its lurking but it doesn’t have to win…
But be advised; any fear, if left unchecked, will do nothing but grow. We need to address any anxiety, whether it occurs before a match, during a game, or even afterwards. Fear is obviously a negative mindset and will ultimately diminish you and your team’s capabilities. You have to face it! How many of you see players with earbuds in walking about in pit row? I’m not saying these people are scared of something but I would venture to guess that they are using that music to focus themselves, whether it be to calm themselves or pump themselves up for the upcoming “unknowns”. Others may need a teammate or friend to talk to.
There is an old Japanese proverb that says, “Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” Any fear, no matter how big or small, maintains a potential to overcome and create a mind numbing negativity that limits a player’s ability to perform. Don’t get me wrong, I seriously doubt any of you have any anxiety or fear to this level on the paintball field… that doesn’t mean it can’t manifest itself to the level that it is a distraction though.
“Courage is the resistance to fear, the mastery of fear…not the absence of it.” – Mark Twain
As with any problem, the first step is acknowledging there is one. Regarding this particular topic, we need to recognize the fact that we are in fact, nervous, anxious, or afraid. Developing mental toughness (which we have discussed in a previous blog) is crucial and not just to our mental state, it is every bit as important to our physical performance! The greatest players have always had both a solid mental game as well as the physical capabilities.
Paintball has evolved so much over the years that it now requires many variables to have a winning season and team. The physicality of the game has increased and as players become more athletic, the demand for a better mental game and psychology has also developed. Players and coaches need to be able to maintain a positive thought process before, during and after the game.
Don’t fear the reaper…
Karl Menninger, the famous American psychologist, believed that fear is educated into us, and can, if we work on it, be educated out. How profound. I couldn’t agree with him more.
One thing I try to do when coaching is help a player focus on the successes they accomplish no matter how big or small. No, this is not a participation trophy approach. This is, once again, developing data… learning. If I can focus a player on how they succeeded and not on how they failed, it will slowly build confidence. I have seen too many players and for that matter coaches, focus on all the wrong things! This is a petri dish for building fear. They think more about not making mistakes than completing the goal of the drill or the point. How many of you have heard me talk about setting small goals and focusing on those first? See, if I point out the small success as opposed to the failure, the player begins to recognize they are moving in the right direction. They can then begin to visualize the positive. Once this happens, the fear no longer controls his or her approach to the goal which ultimately removes any hindrance to learning. They begin to visualize the result which helps them accomplish it.
Ultimately, I think it comes down to an approach on how to conquer fear. If a player has a fear of loss or embarrassment or what have you, then we need to refocus their attention. That attention needs to be on efficiency and consistency. If you can get them to focus on performing efficiently and doing so consistently as opposed to worrying about perfectly, you have already won the mental game and so have they. To put it simply, you don’t have to be perfect to win. There will be things outside of our control. We need to focus on us, not those things. Once a player or team understands that mistakes are a natural part of the game, they are already well on their way to improving performance. The goal is for players to trust in their skills so they can play more freely and feel less tight or controlling.
Let me set up a scenario for you. Tell me if you’ve heard this one… You’re just returned from a tournament and the team didn’t perform well. You thought for sure this was your event. Sure, you struggled the first 3 events of the series but this time was supposed to be different. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. What now? What next? What do we do?
Who has been there, done that? Probably 80-90% of the tournament teams out there actually.
“Mindset is what separates the best from the rest.”
Staying motivated after spending time and money to compete and not seeing results can be one of the most difficult issues to overcome for a paintball team (well, for just about anything really). Motivation is ultimately what leads people to try harder, and more effort usually leads to gains/production for people. But more importantly, it will lead to eventual wins. Winning leads to all sorts of good things, which leads to growth in a team’s capability. On and on the cycle goes… most of the time.
Who dreams of the Sunday club?
Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic bullet or drill or strategy that will make all this happen. Motivation, for the most part, comes in a multitude of ways. I’m willing to bet that almost every member of your team is motivated by something completely different from one another. Everyone has unique values and ideas… which leads to a conundrum sometimes. What motivates one may not motivate the rest. If you are going to be successful in motivating your team to stay the course, then you have to create that motivational environment (we’ve talked about the culture before yes?). Nothing will beat hard work, especially when all the hard workers want the same thing. If you don’t have that luxury of having a team that all rows in the same direction for all the same reasons, then It will take multiple concepts. Here are a few I have found out over the years that have seen success. Some you have read about her in the past but it never hurts to have a refresher course:
Set an example
If you are the captain or the coach or the manager, be a leader. Set the pace, be the example, set the bar! If you are pointing and telling instead of showing and going, players will not respond well. You set the tone of the practice, you set the tone of the team, you set the environment. It can be one of positive growth and affirmative accountability or it can be one of negativity and laziness. Which do you think a solid good player is going to actively search out and respond to? Your work ethic and the values you hold dear to your team will determine its longevity. By setting the right example from the get go and maintaining that example, you will have a meaningful impact on the team’s willingness to follow. YOU will be the motivation. For instance, if you drill hard and stay optimistic about everything, even in the face of defeat, or at the bare minimum take an intellectual approach to problems and issues as opposed to just identifying failure, your team will likely do the same. If you set the example with positivity and understanding, your team will mimic you, and the entire culture of the team will become one of motivation. That’s an environment that IMPROVEMENT will thrive in.
One will. One goal. Everyone rowing in the same direction.
Honest Communication is Paramount
This goes hand in hand with setting the example. Everyone needs to feel comfortable giving input. It is the leader’s job to focus input but everyone should feel comfortable enough to comment on matters of the team. If a player is afraid to ask a question, it stifles growth and promotes an environment of frustration. Frustration leads to anger which leads to the dark side. But here is the biggest impact open honest communication will lead to; it leads to trust. When people understand that leadership isn’t hiding anything, when they understand what is driving the decisions, when they understand the motivation, they are much more likely to trust in the process and the deliverer of the message. If you openly communicate, you should gain respect. But that communication has to be both ways. Open communication and trust lead to clarity of vision and that is really important with a paintball team both on and off the field. Players who feel appreciated for their input will create opportunities to identify potential problems before they even blossom. Earlier we said everyone is unique. They can also be unpredictable. Know that, no matter how flawless you implement your motivational concepts, not everyone will get it. But also recognize that one out of 8-9 players doesn’t mark failure.
Individual attention
While teamwork is important, it is hard to beat some good ol’ fashioned individual attention, especially when it comes to motivation. In a paintball team environment, it is easy to get “lost in the shuffle”. Taking time out to speak to a player alone and on a personal level can change a player’s attitude almost instantaneously. It doesn’t have to be about paintball even. “Hey man, how’s the family? Good?” Then do something that is even more important than asking about them… listen. In order to motivate someone, knowing them, really knowing them will give you tremendous insight in how to do so. What ails them, what scares them, what they like, don’t like. Know it, learn it, and then use it to help make them a better player and person for that matter.
When a player does something well, comment on it openly. It will not only make them feel appreciated but it will also let the other team members know that, if they do well too, it will be recognized. The domino effect if you will. It can be contagious. But probably the most important aspect of this motivational technique is for when someone is struggling. They are beating themselves up or they haven’t had a couple of good practices, or what have you. Letting them know you see it, and you want to be an asset to help, can be just the right motivator. It also demonstrates from a leadership role that you have best interests in mind. Even if it means cutting them.
Motivation comes in many forms. (Thanks Mr. Mohr! Really, I’m not angry)
Opportunity/Creativity
We all do it. We get into a routine and soon that routine becomes just another motion and the benefits of the routine become lost. They become… well… boring.
Throwing in some things to break up monotony of practices or setting specific goals for the team (or even each individual player) can be a big win on the motivation search. I have found “No position is safe” is a great motivator; then couple it with cross training. Have my 1’s play the 3, a guy who usually specializes on the snake play the d side. Have fun with it, create a little bizarre world and see what unfolds. Who knows, you never know, you might discover something about a player or players you didn’t know before.
Besides, you all know I believe in making paintball players… not a snake player, or a back player… etc. (although having a specialty player isn’t necessarily bad, I would just prefer everyone know how to play everywhere). This is a great motivator too if you have a feeder team or players who hang out looking for an opportunity. Give them the shot.
“It’s a slow process but quitting won’t speed it up…”
Put in the time and the time will pay off
Take a break
HOW you create the environment is just as important as it will determine WHAT the environment ends up as. Like we stated at the beginning of this blog post, how you go about creating the environment will affect the overall “vibe” of the team. Be advised, again, there is no right or wrong way… that will all depend on your team’s make up of players. It’s going to be different for every team. I have always preached that the teams getting after it will always surpass the teams who don’t. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t do other things than paintball together. Eat dinner together, go play putt-putt or something stupid together. I personally like to take guys to the shooting. Something that will build comradery and teamwork while having fun outside of the normal reason you get together as a team (practice or events). Trust me, this one is worth it. And who knows, maybe you and the team will learn something…
Trying to separate your paintball team from your social circle just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Sure, it can work, but I think a lot of successful teams break bread together among other things. I’m not saying everyone on the team should be best friends. But that doesn’t mean you can’t associate outside of the field. Being at least friendly and cordial is important especially on the trust front. I like cook outs. Brew and meat. That’s awesome.
…Here’s the thing and I will leave you with this. The key to ALL of this, whether you are a coach or a captain or what have you, is simply focus. That’s right, motivation is ultimately finding a way to focus on a goal. If I can focus you as a player or a team on a specific goal and arrange it to where you are all moving in that same direction with the same intensity, you will see results. Simple right? No, but it becomes easier if we follow the topics we discussed above.
Okay…I will shut up for this month. Thoughts on the topic? Agree/Disagree? Let me know in the comments.
Zen and the Art of Paintball 