How do I get a D4 team up and running?

SweetsMcgee · 01-14-2013, 04:38 PM

Hey guys, i have been playing paintball or a while and i want to go to the next level! haha i have a small team, enough guys to play 5 mans well and i want to get like a season together for us play. really just looking for help or a place to start learning to manage a proper team =) any help would be great!!

SweetsMcgee · 01-14-2013, 05:06 PM

all of this is in the St.louis area

Bump_Pitch · 01-14-2013, 09:36 PM

Well all you basically have to do is make an appa team account and sign up your team members. Then register and play for tournaments. Have fun!

dps093 · 01-14-2013, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bump_Pitch

Well all you basically have to do is make an appa team account and sign up your team members. Then register and play for tournaments. Have fun!

Yup, all there is to it.

pbbliss · 01-15-2013, 09:05 AM

you can go to:

www.paintball-players.org

and they list all the tourneys that will give you APPA rankings.
just scroll down for ones around your area.

Of course a lot of local and regional tourneys don't use APPA and therefore you won't get any ranking up to D4 BUT you still get the experience so play those too.

I've played over 100 tourneys and less than half are on APPA.

simple_condolences · 01-15-2013, 11:39 AM

Throw a hornets nest at them.

kyle4236 · 01-15-2013, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbbliss

I've played over 100 tourneys and less than half are on APPA.

Isn't that annoying? I did 5 years of tourneys mostly locals and a few nationals and on APPA I barely have jack to show for it. Oh well I guess it doesn't matter lol.

SweetsMcgee · 01-15-2013, 04:33 PM

haha thanks guys!! ill check out that Appa, and whats your guys thought on sponsorships ?

kyle4236 · 01-15-2013, 04:45 PM

Don't approach a sponsor until your team proves itself to be one worth sponsoring. You definitely don't want to go out there with a sponsorship and look like a jackass to your sponsors if you have your first sponsored event be a bad one

SweetsMcgee · 01-15-2013, 04:56 PM

Very true, thanks for the advice!

kyle4236 · 01-15-2013, 05:08 PM

No problem. Are you looking for a general guide to how to completely run/manage a team or just the tidbits of info you're getting in this thread

SweetsMcgee · 01-15-2013, 05:45 PM

A general guide would be most helpful

Bump_Pitch · 01-15-2013, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SweetsMcgee

A general guide would be most helpful

check the tournament series stickes

GanjaPalooza · 01-16-2013, 05:11 PM

My first step would be to make sure you have AT LEAST 5 DEDICATED players, so you do not get shafted in the middle of the season and things fall apart (you can always pick up players on the Forums but you never know what you get).

Ways to do this:

-Personally contact players in your area that you know would be interested and financially stable to play competitively. If you have a few friends already, good, and have them help you find more. If Little Tom gets his dough from his parents then that's okay! You just need to make sure whoever can dish out the money when it's needed...... and by God in Paintball, it's needed.

-Get on your Regional Forums and post up the deal! You would be surprised how many people are sitting online waiting for a team to start-up in their area (I live in Knoxville, TN and have literally made all my connections in this city on the Forums). Not only that, you will be able to see who practices where and when. You NEED players to get a team started, and you have to get the word out if you need more.

Just my quick .02........ Work has been horrid today

PM me if you have any other questions

SweetsMcgee · 01-16-2013, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GanjaPalooza

My first step would be to make sure you have AT LEAST 5 DEDICATED players, so you do not get shafted in the middle of the season and things fall apart (you can always pick up players on the Forums but you never know what you get).

Ways to do this:

-Personally contact players in your area that you know would be interested and financially stable to play competitively. If you have a few friends already, good, and have them help you find more. If Little Tom gets his dough from his parents then that's okay! You just need to make sure whoever can dish out the money when it's needed...... and by God in Paintball, it's needed.

-Get on your Regional Forums and post up the deal! You would be surprised how many people are sitting online waiting for a team to start-up in their area (I live in Knoxville, TN and have literally made all my connections in this city on the Forums). Not only that, you will be able to see who practices where and when. You NEED players to get a team started, and you have to get the word out if you need more.

Just my quick .02........ Work has been horrid today

PM me if you have any other questions

I totally agree! i have 3 Solid plays and like you said i got the B team, how dose the money work with sponsors? like what do they normally pay for and what can i be sure ill always be payin for?

kyle4236 · 01-16-2013, 10:06 PM

Each sponsor is different and will pay for what they agree upon.

MenosDaBear · 01-17-2013, 07:05 AM

If you are talking sponsors from the paintball industry itself, then don't expect them to "pay" for anything until your team has proven itself over and over. You will most likely simply get discounted merchandise. As for local sponsorships, you might be able to get straight money out of them, but I cant imagine it would be much, and you would definitely need a portfolio of what your team has done, and why you deserve their money.

phant0m0 · 01-25-2013, 10:23 AM

It takes a ton of patience in managing peoples problems. when you see the same guys week in and week out sometimes tensions rise. Learning to manage that is paramount. The rest is easy.

monkeyballer099639 · 01-25-2013, 12:47 PM

Like everyone has said, make sure you have a dedicated core of players that you know you can count on. Start practicing and playing local events to build up experience. Scrimmage higher level teams and learn from them.

Some teams want to spend a lot on money on matching equipment and jerseys right away. I agree with having matching jerseys, but get some basic longsleeve tshirts to start off and either screen print or fabric paint your team name on it.

As for sponsors, go talk to you local shop. Have a decent resume prepared and have a plan for the season. Have a bio on each player and have a list of events planned for the team. Also, have a rough idea of what you want to do next season so that they know you are in for the long run. See if they can start you off with a discount on practice and event paint if you buy cases in bulk. As you develop a good relationship with your shop, you will both benefit from each other. Make sure they know you are promoting them. You can also talk to local businesses about sponsoring you. My team currently has our local pro shop, a local sports grill, a local clothing company, and a photography company. We don't get much money form each, but we get free media coverage, free basic jerseys and Tshirts for our team, some money and some free food and meeting place, and good discounts on paint and gear. Just get out there and talk to people.

For your team, i would suggest you guys pool paint at practice and have everyone pitch in the same. This is where getting a discount on paint comes in handy. This makes it fair so that your back players don't break the bank and it keeps everyone together in one pit. Shoot basic grade paint for practice.

Good luck and have fun.

dps093 · 01-25-2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeyballer099639

Like everyone has said, make sure you have a dedicated core of players that you know you can count on. Start practicing and playing local events to build up experience. Scrimmage higher level teams and learn from them.

Some teams want to spend a lot on money on matching equipment and jerseys right away. I agree with having matching jerseys, but get some basic longsleeve tshirts to start off and either screen print or fabric paint your team name on it.

As for sponsors, go talk to you local shop. Have a decent resume prepared and have a plan for the season. Have a bio on each player and have a list of events planned for the team. Also, have a rough idea of what you want to do next season so that they know you are in for the long run. See if they can start you off with a discount on practice and event paint if you buy cases in bulk. As you develop a good relationship with your shop, you will both benefit from each other. Make sure they know you are promoting them. You can also talk to local businesses about sponsoring you. My team currently has our local pro shop, a local sports grill, a local clothing company, and a photography company. We don't get much money form each, but we get free media coverage, free basic jerseys and Tshirts for our team, some money and some free food and meeting place, and good discounts on paint and gear. Just get out there and talk to people.

For your team, i would suggest you guys pool paint at practice and have everyone pitch in the same. This is where getting a discount on paint comes in handy. This makes it fair so that your back players don't break the bank and it keeps everyone together in one pit. Shoot basic grade paint for practice.

Good luck and have fun.

Pooling paint saves so much money

FalconPunchKid · 01-25-2013, 04:25 PM

It may be beneficial to start at the D5 level. If it is available to you.