Spring's here and it's time to put your gear in order.......yes another paintball season is here!!  Here's a list of tips for playing, preparing and others....some old, some new, some rewritten again.
 
Preparation

Can't play unless your prepared correctly. Course you can play and regret it LOL! First off break out your gun, err 'marker' and give it a cleaning. Power it up and take it outside for some dry firing...(you know no paint and do it in a safe place). Give it some rapid sustained bursts single shots and such. Get used to the feel. It might've been a while since you've used it so get reacquainted with the feel, weight, balance of it. Try snap shooting from the hip. Prone shooting laying down. Run around a bit and play imaginary battle. Lean around obstacles and practice. Visualize where your shots are going. Were they may be coming from. Play the battle in your head while your body gets used to the physical side of things. Ok...ammo time. Shoot some rounds now that you've gotten used to the feel of things...just please PLEASE in an area where its ok to shoot rounds and its safe! Don't just aim and shoot. Move around. Fire from hip. Try closing eyes and fire a few to visualize impacts then look. You might surprise yourself...learn how to shoot around corners/obstacles pretty effectively. Ok now you're aquatinted with you 'marker' again. Time for another cleaning. Check things out 'o' rings bolt barrel look ok and performing good? GREAT!
 
Equipment Check

Hopper Ok? Is it clean dust free and cover still close snugly? Good now check the elbow, still a nice snug fit? Your guppies (or paintball storage containers!) all up to par? Clean, good working condition? Pull out your clothing. Still fit after that winter layer you've acquired? Any holes need mending? Hat still fit. Goggle time, lens clean, secure, elastic strap ok, inside padding good? Did ya check the fan I showed ya how to build if it still works? (shamless plug I know!) Shoes, boots, footwear? Still fit, in good shape? Ok..loa up yer hoppers, guppies, dress up with all your equipment and practice a bit more. Get used to it all over again!! Fun isn't it? Of course it is..those paintball juices are flowing and you're getting even more psyched to play!!
 
OK You're prepped, lubed, practiced and ready to go. Just do yourself a favor and remind your friends to get prepared. It'd kind of sucks err stink if you go balling and your buddies gotta leave cause his guns broken cause he never took time to prepare. Or you arrive late cause buddy couldn't find his clothes, gear, and you, his mom/wife had to run around and help him find it!
 
Play time!!

Take the time to check out everyone. Especially If there's new players. Check'em out. See if they have questions. Be friendly. Offer positive advice. Stay away from negatives...."hey buddies cool Air Jordans.....pretty nice sneaks bro but next time you play bring some old sneakers or cleats so you don't ruin those bitchin sneakers". Ya didn't trash him..you complimented his apparel and made a kind and helpful suggestion.....he might even say "thanks". Wanna be mister nice guy to all the newbies and equipment renting players? Here's a cool tip trust me. Bring a roll of electrical tape with you. (I use scotch 3m its the best) Go to the renters/newbies and offer your expert and money saving tip! Offer to tape their hoppers and elbows to their markers. How many times you've been playing or walking to game and someone's rented hopper falls off of marker and spills $6 worth of balls onto ground. Rented hoppers, elbows get tons of wear and I rarely see any with good strong fit. I've never seen owner/ref complain either, cause tape comes off with no residue (hint only electrical tape!) and it saves them grief from someone complaining. and you'll love it cause trust me there's always one who doesn't need it and almost always is the person who's hopper drops off marker. (its ok to laugh inside now you did try to help!) Take the time now to show newbies how to clear jams. Yes the ref shows them quickly but its good to practice a few times. Ease newbies fears on getting HIT. Don't prey on them. Answer questions positively and get your buddies to help out as well. Everyone relaxes becomes friendly and enjoys the day more.
 
Playing Tips

I know the good stuff.

Keep your head/eyeballs moving. Prevent concentrating on the one guys who's shooting at you. Chances are his buddy who you aren't looking at is about to get you and not the guy you're concentrating on. Ask yourself when hit?..Did that guy get me or was it someone else i wasn't aware of.

Be quiet before battle starts or while laying ambush. How often do u hear something/someone before you saw them?

Know where your buddy is. Don't lose focus of teammates, they may need you or you may need them so keep tabs on each other.

As you play try to have a good picture as to how battle looks. Fighter pilots call this 'situation awareness'. Try and visualize the battle and how its affecting your team and opponents. Ask yourself on ways to maximize your effectiveness while minimizing opponents. That way you're fighting your battle and not the enemies.
Try to never move in a straight line towards opponent. You're only making yourself an easier target.

Try to move in zigzag patterns while advancing. Look at where you'll end up and analyze if there are any weaknesses there. Most places that look better usually aren't so prepare.

Try not to move when teammate is. Lay cover fire for each other. Leapfrog back and forth. Suppresive fire will help your teammate reach his goal better than you both charging.

Be flexible. Once the 'paint' starts flying the battle becomes 'fluid' meaning battle is constantly changing so change your plans accordingly. Its always wise to make a plan with teammates before battle so you all have a plan. Just that opponent may have a very strong defense or weak one and you must be flexible to either not push a bad plan and to exploit enemy weakness even if it wasn't your plan to do so.

Venture around opponents bunkers/castles/strongpoints. Never assault an enemy strong point unless you've checked out all the possible angles and approaches. Look for the 'chip' in enemy's defense and exploit it.

Finding gun difficulties, imitating empty paint conditions and etc. may lure an enemy to expose himself for a quick elimination. Maybe it'll work maybe it wont..if it does well good for you!

Psyche out opponents...read the article!! (plug plug plug!)

Remember on walk on games...most might have played or not but try to get team on a plan. Ask ok any body got any ideas? anybody done this battle before? What worked? What didn't? Ok who wants to defend/attack,etc. Share opinions get everybody on a plan. If outvoted agree to accepted plan and support it.
 
Between games and end of day
 
Compliment others on there playing and shooting and tactics. Everyone likes to hear compliments. You might've planted someone good. Go and compliment them. Tell them you were surprised you got them. That you thought they had you. You'll be surprised with smiles and compliments instead of sneers "he's the one". Confront complaints and explain yourself. You both are on other side of field and most often see different things. Explain what u saw and what you did. Be friendly remember adrenaline is flying and tempers do fly quickly especially if someone accused of cheating. Explain yourself politely, freindly like. Go to suspected cheaters and ask don't accuse..hey it appeared to me this happened..was it so or just seem it from my perspective? Most people lie badly when confronted. If you think person cheated well he cheated himself. Maybe pull a ref aside and politely explain it and make him aware for future encounters. Show newbies or less experienced players encouragement and offer tips to help them play. What you keeping everything 'top secret'? Why? Hopefully someone gave you tips to improve your game help others and you'll all enjoy yourselves more. After all you want competition not a duck shoot. Its costing you good money to play too. Sure its great to win every game but sucks to lose every game. Juggle teams around to even. I find most don't want to go to losing team and its usually me that volunteers. Know what; I have great time doing it. Especially when other team doesn't make plans and general JoGumby says 'hey, you guys wanna try something new?' Oh man, and if you pull it off other team loses momentum, your team gets some and glory, glory will be given to you LOL!! <<tip...jump teams when losing team on defensive. Easier to plan defensive strategy and succeed and gives courage to team when offensive turn. and with momentum swing! Ahh and the ride home is great with buddies....ya we were kicking butt then I went to the other side and what happened?!!!! OK so a little gloating's ok !!!!!!

Joe "Gumby" Allen
MPN Columnist