[Little_PB_Newb]

First off, Congratulations are in order. You're about to make the transition from the weekend warrior rec player, to a badass competitive tourny baller. However, you may be a bit nervous or unsure of what you need to do to prepare for this big event.

Preparation

First off, you'll want to pack your gear at least one day before the event. You're going to be so excited that you might forget something, so I suggest making a check list. I always keep a check list on top of my gearbag and even before practices I go over it to make sure I'm not forgetting anything. It's a lifesaver for anyone at any competitive level.

You'll also want to have a meeting with your team at your favorite diner or social environment to make sure that everyone is clear of how much money to bring, where to be, what time to be there, etc etc. Nothing worse than thinking you're all ready then getting to the field and realizing you're the only one from your team who's there.

The Big Day - Morning

Good morning! You're now hours away from your first paintball tournament! You're probably pretty anxious, and also a bit scared. That's nothing to be ashamed of it happens to everyone.

What you want to do now is eat. If you're anything like me you aren't going to feel very hungry at all, in fact you might feel a bit sick to your stomach. This is all part of the wonderful world of anxiety. Even though you don't feel up to it you need to eat something, even if it's light. I suggest a glass of orange juice and a bowl of your favorite cereal, but if you absolutely cannot stomach that at least force yourself to take a few bites from an apple. If you don't you'll be feeling it in a few hours and it's going to hurt your performance on the field.

Now get dressed, have a shower, brush your teeth, all that jazz, then go over your checklist again. Like the builders say, measure twice, cut once. Do anything else you need to do and then get in the car and head to the field.

The Big Day - At the Field

Sooo close!!

Now what you want to do is look for your team, if you're the first one there find a table or pit area, your team is going to want to keep their gear all together. Once everyone is there, first walk the field, check the angles, see where's good to be and where you want to stay away from, then go and get your paint. You're going to want to bring enough money for at least 2 cases of paint per person, but start with one per person for now.

Next, get your team to gather all their pods, fill them up, and put them on the table. Everyone grab the paint they need. This is called team paint. Instead of everyone buying their own paint, the team splits it and people take what they need, this is to make it fair for your back players, since they're the ones laying down all the paint and it's not fair that the front guys should walk away only paying for a bit of paint.

There's nothing left to do now but chrono and wait for the games to start. Make sure everyone's gear is working and if it isn't start asking people to loan you their backups, no but seriously, don't go to a tourney without knowing your gear is working.

The Big Day - Playing

This step is short and sweet.

1) Get on the field
2) Wait for the buzzer or go signal
3) Play Paintball
4) Try not to get caught cheating (a good way to do this is just not cheating, but to each his own)
5) Be Respectful to ref's and players
6) Have fun!!

I promise you all that anxiety will be gone the second your first game starts.

The Big Day - After The Tournament

Pack your gear, use the checklist to make sure you have everything. Divide up the extra paint evenly with your teammates, and some fields will allow you to return any unopened cases for a refund.

Help your teammates get their gear together if you finish before them, go pay the field if you built up a tab, and go home.

You're now officially a tournament paintballer. Whether you came first, last, or anywhere in between. The only thing between you and future success is practice, so you better be at the field next weekend!

[pbkid949]

Nice job on this thread

I didnt eat anything the night or morning before a tourney once and I was dehydrated and almost past out during the 3rd game.

[Little_PB_Newb]

yeah, my first...I guess it was 3 or 4 tournaments I couldn't eat or drink anything and I ended up getting tunnel vision and weakness right before lunch. Once I started practicing more and got over the anxiety all that was left was the excitement and I was able to do a lot better and have a much more enjoyable time.

[biggums]

good write up u forgot to put in on the big day morning make sure to check in at the field to let them know you are there and to walk the field so everyone knows what their jobs are that day... i never had a problem with breakfast i had a problem eating lunch when i first started so i died out at the end of the day during semis and finals

[Little_PB_Newb]

I thought that was a given but I'll add the field walk, usually the field knows you're there when you get your paint.

[Babyspice7]

Also when your on the field, be super aware of your hits or if your hit call a reff. I know it seems common sense but I saw many teams at a tourney two weeks ago get called because they wouldn't call a ref when they were hit, thus getting 1-4-1s. BTW good job on the guide

[Little_PB_Newb]

that's how to play paintball, if you don't know how to play you aren't ready for a tournament in the first place.

[Slimjim12]

I actually do almost the opposite when it comes to eating. I eat a bunch the night before and morning of because I can never get myself to eat during a day of paintball, I wind up feeling really slow and lazy. So I eat a big supper and then something like 2 bowls of cereal and a bagel in the morning so I dont have to eat again until 6 or 7 PM.

[Darthdoug]

Great post! Two additions.

1) Remember to bring extra o-rings, extra batteries, any consumables.
2) Get to the field EARLY. Someone will be late, someone's gun will not be working, something will go wrong... being really early means you have time to fix all that and not rush.

[Little_PB_Newb]

Originally Posted by Darthdoug

Great post! Two additions.

1) Remember to bring extra o-rings, extra batteries, any consumables.
2) Get to the field EARLY. Someone will be late, someone's gun will not be working, something will go wrong... being really early means you have time to fix all that and not rush.

I cover the working gear issue in my post.

[Invert99]

I usually have a bunch of drinks and snacks like snack bars and things like that. Anything lite and fast between games. But make sure to drink plenty of water or Gatorade to help keep you hydrated. Good guide

[Im at school 23]

Sticky Worthy

[William M]

Dont eat Chillie befor a turny OMG you well have the craps like crazy happened to me on sunday

[LiAM.68]

Great post, def. Sticky material.

[yumyumgetsome]

sticky great advice ill take ill use it all for my first tournament july 18th

[PandazDreamPaintball (Banned)]

nice!

[Draxxus5577]

sticky

[Nategotskillz]

Nice write-up. It helped a lot.

[nipps07 (Banned)]

Nice!!! You have a lot of extra time.

[Little_PB_Newb]

Originally Posted by nipps07

Nice!!! You have a lot of extra time.

Not really, I wrote this in about 20 minutes.

[ExplicitBallin (Banned)]

this helps alot!