Field Owners - Let's talk Ref's

[extremegina]

I'm just wondering if some field owners out there could post about there Refs.
Like, how/what do you pay them. Do you ever have trouble finding Refs, do you have the same one's every week, what is your age limit, etc. We own a field and Refs always seem to be a big issue!
Thanks!

[Timmyfanatic]

AT my field we pay our ref's minimum wage. We have a full time staff and all the ref's are actual employees of the business. It's more expensive that way, but you make your schedule and you know your ref's are going to be there. Running a field and being succesful is all about customer service. Having a full time staff and actually having the same ref's on the field day after day makes the reffing better and more consistant. Players like to see consistancy in reffing. As far as age limit, when you have them on the payroll you just go by your states laws for minor employment. Of course you must also follow your insurance carriers policy toward age limits.

[dune798]

I dont own a field but what are local field/shop did was start a highschool ballers club and then they get the reffs out of that. Mostly its the same people... meaning that they are the ones that you can find to rely on. They pay us either 30 bux or a case of pmi premium.

[CJW]

Im not a field owner but I am a ref very respected by the owner. if you can only hire refs who are expirenced with the game. if you hire guys who have never played it is a lot harder to help them out and run your field. also remind the refs saftey first always.

[painball_3000314]

I'm a ref up here at the local field, and I'm often the only there on weekends to ref, do to us being a fairly new field, buisness isnt the greatest, but it isn't to bad, it's under what I am able to handel. I make 7 bucks an hour, however most of that money would end up going back into paintball anyways, so I generally trade it out. I play on the shop that oens it factory team, so I am well accuanted witht he field from practice, this allows me to be a better ref in my opinion. Also look for players who are extremely familliar with a number of markers. They must at least know how to fix blowbacks, or I wouldn't hire them seenign as how in many areas blowback owners are a large amount of business. Though it is goon to have refs familiar with your mid-range, and even high-end markers. You are better off with a ref that has more playing experience because they have experienced more bad refs, and will generally ref as they would like to be refed.

[TwistedPBMom]

In addition to normal reimbursement, we also offer "perks" to our refs:

1. Free lunch (pizza, subs, burgers, etc.) and all the drinks they can drink for the day.

2. For every day worked they receive one free day to play (entry,air) plus "ref discounted" paint.

3. Ability to purchase discounted gear and equipment.

Yeah, I spoil them. BUT, I have an awesome group of refs as a majority have been with me for over 2 years. And a long waiting list of those that want to work when the schedule opens up.

Minimum age: 16 (as required by liability insurance). However, most of my refs are at least 17 with several 19 through mid-twenties.

[needmoreworrrr]

I work at pevs@AG as a ref.

Starting pay is $50 a day
Free food/drinks while reffing
Half off food when playing
Free play anytime we want
Free air all the time, and at all the shops
15%discount off on everything in the proshop almost(except guns and tanks)
12 dollars off any paint
for guns and air systems you have to see the manager of the store(I had 200 off my ego...)

[Signal20]

TwistedPBMom, are your REFs on the payroll or are they volunteers?

[ChaosTheory2007]

i work as a ref at my field and the youngest ref that isnt related to one of the owners is 15. most of them are 15 while a few are 16 or older. we get payed minimum wage. we have free all day air anytime we come out as well as free admission. we also get a 10% discount at the shop on everything as well as a ref discount on paint which im not sure how much it is off. other than that we have to pay for all the drinks and food that we buy while playing or reffing. all of the refs are employees that are given a schedule to when they work. the owners didnt care if you knew how to fix different types of markers other than the rentals, because we have a proshop located about 20min away that can do all that stuff.

[tes_rules53]

At my local field im a ref, and we get free admission and a case of paint for a day of work.

[EHSPaintballer]

I am a ref at my local field in Indiana. There are about four of us and we do a really good job because paintball is basically our lives. Three of us play on the house team and travel the state and surrounding states. I am also the captain of the team. If you get a chance try to start a team up for just your refs if they have high end markers. It really gets them pumped up and want to be there to help ref and to play for you. Tell them that you can either pay for their practice paint or pay for paint in a tournament. You should though have them go out and get sponsors for travel/gear expenses, and even entry fee as we have found out that some entry fees can run well into the $2000 range and up. Having thousands of dollars being given to them to play some paintball can make them want to be the best ref/player out there. I am a volunteer ref, but I really don't care if I don't get paid. I represent an awesome field and play for an awesome team.

[SirFraincisDrake]

well at my local field that I ref at the owner pays us about $5.50 per hour we work and we get free water when reffing.

[blautsauger]

My boss has three fields and one store. At our Indoor field, right next to the store, I believe that they get paid minimum wage. At our Woods field, it $7/hour in store credit except for a few of the people who get it in cash. At our new Sup'Air field, it is cash. All refs get free drinks at all the fields, and the Woods field includes lunch. And we all get ref discounts at the shop on pretty much everything but markers.

[kavon]

TwistedPBMom, are your REFs on the payroll or are they volunteers?

for perks like that I'd do it for free... but I get the same perks playing for the field team anyways, & then some.

[EHSPaintballer]

I also get those same perks. Perks really do help get dependable refs.

[Smart Parts ION]

....

[Paintbalaguy]

I have reffec at fields where they pay you in paint not by the day but every 5 hours you get a case and if you are a consitant ref for 3 months then every hour you get a bag and I have been at field were the pay minmum wage

[Utpbmom]

We pay our refs $6-$7 an hour, on a regular payroll. ( a little above the going rate for an entry level high school position in the great state of Utah) plus free entry and air, discounts on paint, cost plus 10% on merchandise.

They all have a posted schedule, and, since the majority of our refs play competitively, we are very flexible and willing to accomodate their tourney schedules.

All of my refs know how to fix most markers, and one of my front end managers is a certified gun tech.

All of my refs are at least 16, and I have a waiting list a mile long.

[[PTWPb]STAFF]

Hey All you Field Owners Out there im looking for a refing job right now i have one but the place istnt the best.if u could contact me any way or on aim my sn is Chevyracing817. :)

[Dakkon]

Where I work.. I think its a pretty good deal compared to alot of places.

Requirements: 16 years of age
Experienced in paintball (don't have to be GOOD, just have to know about paintball)
Mature
Has to work a minimum of 2 days a month to keep perks
Can't play in fields tournaments once you work there

Wage: 50$ a day. (7:30 AM to about 4:30 PM, 1 hour lunch)

Perks:
Free drinks when working
Free lunch (usually just get pizza)
Free entrance and air
Discounts on anything you need paintball wise
Refs can have a 'tab' say they want to play but don't have any money or paint, they get paint but the next time they ref it goes to pay it back.
A couple other ones...

Problems finding refs: It's easy to find people who want to be refs, its hard to get people to work constantly. Usually refs get hired who go to the field alot, and start getting known by people. We have issues since its hard to find people to work on our busy sunday, when everyone wants to play.

[dyepsycho]

jeez, you guys got it tough. In wisconsin pretty much anything goes. I've been working since I was 12 at my field. We get payed cash, and we get 40 all day, but perks are amazing.
If you work there you and your team are automaticly sponsored. For tournaments (no matter where you play, even home turf) he pays entry and half of paint costs. As long as your there almost every weekend. We also get about a case or two of paint a week, we shoot/sell a lot of it and he orders it in skids, he almost ALWAYS has damaged boxes on the bottom of the skid, while the paint is still good, the box is crushed. So we get them. Thats a great perk. Plus we can play for 10 dollars w/ air and our own paint all day every day, as long as we worked 3 days out of that month. We get lunch and I get breakfast and a ride. We also get wholesale gun stuff and if a gun sits in a case too long, he puts it up for ref auction. Bidding starts at 1 dollar. We gather in the shed and get it going, he sold me an omen for 150.
One more perk is, Theres always a place to play. We can come in whenever we want, play for as long as we want (on non-opened days) and get our tanks filled and stuff. Then we just play some airball. As long as we clean everything up and put it back the way it was left, he doesnt mind. He has a motion camera on a pole focusing on the airball field (he keeps it up 24/7 so he has the camera so nobody walks off with the field) so he knows who didn't clean up last.
we have the tabs as well, and when a rental goes down to the point it needs a part he gives it to a ref. I've amassed 3 or 4 piranhas and a few tippmanns.
So I guess waking up at 6 and coming home at 6 is worth it. We sometimes get other stuff too, random stuff lying around, we get all the tank O rings we want, and fill nipples. Any generic part thats cheap we can get at nothing almost, macro line, fittings. All that jazz. One downfall is he makes us bring our own squeegee's and swabs to clean the rentals stuff when the dig a trench with it, and I go through 2 or 3 swabs a month. He usually gives us one a month or so if we show him how bad ours are getting.
Its the best job, I've been working there forever. Its a real tight-knit bunch of guys, definetly better then anywhere else.
So field owners, keep it up. Every now and then you'll find a guy who will work for you constantly, keep a hold of him. Make sure to tell them no matter where they go, their representing the home field. I remember reffing a tournament and seeing a team from another field using ramp boards (back when they were illegal) and wiping a lot, plus hot guns. Everyone left that day thinking, "do I want to play at a field who's best team wipes, shoots hot and ramps?" Thats a very negitive impact. Make sure that you tell your staff to be promoting them. As far as their concerned, your field is the best field around.

[CIA356]

Well I ref at my local field. Pay is $8/hr cash or $10/hr Credit to spend there and we can divide our pay any way we like between the two. We get free air, and paint, guns, tanks etc... for what the owner pays. Oh and free food and drink when we are reffing.

[sp1365]

At the place i work.
Min age: 16 (I started at 15 with a workers permit but we have changed to 16)
We are all on the Payroll at 6.50/hr.
Perks include:
-Free entry
-Free air
-Discounted Paint (experience determines how much of a discount i.e. refs that have been around for 2 years get better price than someone who just started.)

We are on a schedule and you work when scheduled. Other than that not much. There are also some things that you do to help out like me being one of 2 PbNation reps for our field.

[Ionyou]

I work @ a field in Richmmond

Pay: 12$/h in store credit, they dont offer cash but since they are the only reasonable priced stuff around I dont really care.

Requirments:
age: 16
Must work 2 times a month

perks
free entry, Free air
Dont have to work if you have a tourny or practice
You get to Ref MXS and other events (the + about that) they love giving refs free stuff. I know my friend got a Ion last april just for reffing.
I think its either 8 or 10% of paint depends on which you buy.
Free Food and drinks

[FallNAngel]

minimum wage, ~9 hour days ... I don't think there really are any perks...

[rainmaker1]

I am a field manager and my refs are all tourney players who are sponsored by my field. They make $40.00 for a 3 hour group $50.00 for a 4 hour group.
They get free entry when they play at the field and a sizable paint discount.
They do pretty well, I actually had a ref make $170.00 in a day. $80.00 for open play $40.00 for a after hours private group and a $50.00 tip.

[Scootscr15]

$8/hour(10 hours a day/min age 16), free food (anytime they are there, working or not), free admission, discounted paint, wholesale pricing on ANYTHING they require for reffing (mask,pants, etc.) plus other discounts. If you offer that great of a package to teenagers, you will get the pick of the litter on refs. We have 37 refs currently. We only keep maybe 1 in 5 refs who tryout. Yes we have tryouts. 1 day of reffing, no pay, to see if you have what it takes to ref. Another key to keeping your refs inline is writing everything down that they need to do. Make is so a monkey could do it. That way if they screw it up, there is NO excuse. Also do NOT be afraid to fire refs. Once the other refs see/hear about this, they are sure to step up their work effort/attitude.

[srn2fun]

I believe that a person that knows about paintball and has a complete understanding of the rules, and knows the rules extensively would make a good ref.

I have only played once but I have lots of knowledge about the paintball game. I have read about paintball for several years on a regular basis.

I believe that I would ref a game really well, once I have taken some regulated industry workshop for referees.

I do not believe that a person had to have played on a team or be a member of a club, or even worked on a field to be a good ref.

[islandboi]

jeez, you guys got it tough. In wisconsin pretty much anything goes. I've been working since I was 12 at my field. We get payed cash, and we get 40 all day, but perks are amazing.
If you work there you and your team are automaticly sponsored. For tournaments (no matter where you play, even home turf) he pays entry and half of paint costs. As long as your there almost every weekend. We also get about a case or two of paint a week, we shoot/sell a lot of it and he orders it in skids, he almost ALWAYS has damaged boxes on the bottom of the skid, while the paint is still good, the box is crushed. So we get them. Thats a great perk. Plus we can play for 10 dollars w/ air and our own paint all day every day, as long as we worked 3 days out of that month. We get lunch and I get breakfast and a ride. We also get wholesale gun stuff and if a gun sits in a case too long, he puts it up for ref auction. Bidding starts at 1 dollar. We gather in the shed and get it going, he sold me an omen for 150.
One more perk is, Theres always a place to play. We can come in whenever we want, play for as long as we want (on non-opened days) and get our tanks filled and stuff. Then we just play some airball. As long as we clean everything up and put it back the way it was left, he doesnt mind. He has a motion camera on a pole focusing on the airball field (he keeps it up 24/7 so he has the camera so nobody walks off with the field) so he knows who didn't clean up last.
we have the tabs as well, and when a rental goes down to the point it needs a part he gives it to a ref. I've amassed 3 or 4 piranhas and a few tippmanns.
So I guess waking up at 6 and coming home at 6 is worth it. We sometimes get other stuff too, random stuff lying around, we get all the tank O rings we want, and fill nipples. Any generic part thats cheap we can get at nothing almost, macro line, fittings. All that jazz. One downfall is he makes us bring our own squeegee's and swabs to clean the rentals stuff when the dig a trench with it, and I go through 2 or 3 swabs a month. He usually gives us one a month or so if we show him how bad ours are getting.
Its the best job, I've been working there forever. Its a real tight-knit bunch of guys, definetly better then anywhere else.
So field owners, keep it up. Every now and then you'll find a guy who will work for you constantly, keep a hold of him. Make sure to tell them no matter where they go, their representing the home field. I remember reffing a tournament and seeing a team from another field using ramp boards (back when they were illegal) and wiping a lot, plus hot guns. Everyone left that day thinking, "do I want to play at a field who's best team wipes, shoots hot and ramps?" Thats a very negitive impact. Make sure that you tell your staff to be promoting them. As far as their concerned, your field is the best field around.

Wow, now that sounds like a deal.

[Rexx Havokk]

The staff are on a payroll, starting with minium wage as a staff referee, plus they may not ref, they may perform maintenance, construction
(if they can etc etc...)

One of the parks is open 7 days a week and one only weekends. the weekly park runs a weekly staff obviously but some from the other park are also on the weekly staff. So week days at one park and weekends at the other...

Field entrance for a buck, Discounts on equip and paint....