[EAV]

Does anyone has in place any type of control, in regards to people visiting your field, with the only intention to look around ?
Do they need to fill out a waiver ?
Thank you!

[Andocommando]

We have been teetering on this as well. We usually have 200ish players a day, but another 40-50 spectators that come with the groups to just watch. There is a possibility that these people could be injured while on our premises. Its gonna be tough to get everyone to sign though. Hopefully some wise field owners will chime in

[eforce]

If they leave the staging area, they sign a waiver. An easy way to control this is to use wristbands. Anybody outside of the staging area without a wristband gets ejected from the premises.

[Horizon]

We have netting all around our staging area and as long as they are in there, we just let them be. We also offer letting them go out on the field to watch on occasion in which case we have them sign a waiver.

[Yankee Paintball]

Originally Posted by Horizon

We have netting all around our staging area and as long as they are in there, we just let them be. We also offer letting them go out on the field to watch on occasion in which case we have them sign a waiver.

Same here.

[Reddawg]

Check with your insurance company to see if they are covered.

[ThomasUSPN]

Originally Posted by Reddawg

Check with your insurance company to see if they are covered.

Yeah I would do the same.

As well as we do wristbands to make sure people do not wonder on to a field.

Staging are should be fine.

The only thing is if you have a speedball field paintballs can and will fly over the netting.(Bounces)

That being said what do you guys feel about that? I know a bounce should not but anyone but could somebody sue on those guidelines?

[sal briguglio]

I think part of making the determination has to do with how your field is set up. i.e. if you have netting around all of your fields and don't let spectators enter your fields, that would be a part of the equation.

The other determining factor is how cautious are you as an owner? While we have netting around all of our fields, don't allow spectators to enter the fields, etc. I really don't see a problem with making everyone who might, for instance, trip and fall on your property while spectating, complete a waiver.

[pbamike]

We often had random visitors showing up at our field. We are located next to a 4x4 trail. Sometimes these people would get curious about our setup/field.

We make them sign a waiver and provide a rental mask for free. If we have a ref/staff available, we'll give them a tour of the place or let them watch a few games. They always have to be accompanied by a staff member in order to enter the playing field. Also, we don't let them enter the staging area without being accompanied (to prevent theft).

If they seems to be scared/worried (and it's not a very busy day), we would gear them up (mask/rental gun/air) and let them shoot a few balls in our firing range for free. That will often get them hyped up and you might see them come back as paying customers.

Visitors = future players. If you treat them like crap, they might not come back.

[rdlvenom]

Originally Posted by Andocommando

We have been teetering on this as well. We usually have 200ish players a day, but another 40-50 spectators that come with the groups to just watch. There is a possibility that these people could be injured while on our premises. Its gonna be tough to get everyone to sign though. Hopefully some wise field owners will chime in

Our field makes everyone who goes down to field spectator or player, sign waiver, no exceptions.

[Andocommando]

I guess it really just depends on the layout of the park as well. We have one speedball field that is netted, which is in the staging area essentially. All the rest of the fields require a short hike out to. So it's usually pretty easy to see a random person walking towards the fields. We will grab them and make them sign a waiver

[MstrKey]

It's all about the layout. It really doesn't take a lot to make safe zones for spectators to watch though. I would just make them a box of netting(top and sides)....with some benches or chairs at each field. Have a ref guide them to the proper spots. It never hurts to give them goggles and an orange vest to be safe as well.

The best layouts I've seen have the playing fields directly attached to a central staging area. This means visitors can watch any field from the staging area. It just makes things easier to control. Obviously this design isn't always possible. I do suggest you use at least 20 foot high nets( 30 is better) anywhere paint may fly towards unprotected people.

It never hurts to ask your insurance company what they require though.......because let's face it. They're your protection from law suits.