Paintball Dads / Moms stories

iceman_PS · 02-28-2010, 07:47 PM

We played again yesterday. 7 kids (ages 12 - 13, 4 boys, 3 girls) and 2 adults.

About 2 feet of snow and still snowing!

Temperature - approx 32 degrees

Lots and lots of fun!

Most of us will be at EMR Castle Conquest

NickThePumpPlaya · 03-05-2010, 05:07 PM

hmm im 16 straight up paintballer and honestly my mom/dad has never even seen me play just wanted to say all of you dads playing with your kids i would settle for my mom/dad just waching a couple times.

in other words good job your all great dads/moms.

w4qa · 03-08-2010, 10:21 AM

It would be nice to send a message to all the parents that are not currently very involved with their kids' paintball (beyond possibly bankrolling it) -- that they are missing a wonderful opportunity to get closer to their children through a game rich with teaching / leadership opportunities. (The irony is, parents that are not that involved with this are probably not reading this post! But...if there is good stuff here, feel free to pass it on...). As a parent of three teenage sons (16, 15, 13), I take every opportunity to play with them -- discuss the game -- and work on their equipment together. I've found it to be not only a heck of a lot of fun, but a way to drive home those values that we hold high in our family and suppress those that could head a young person in the wrong direction. Every now and then a new barrel or a pair of pants can be a great motivator as well...

Related to this, parental involvement can really help in addressing the problem that the sport / industry has with attracting, keeping, and growing new players. I've seen too many young kids (from 12 on up) just dropped off at the field with a wad of cash or a credit card who, in need of some direction and good old fashioned leadership, just start emulating the worst behavior of some older players in order to gain acceptance. The trash talking, the overshooting, the attitude that looks down on a new kid with rental gun -- all of this can really have an impact on a young person still developing their life skills and building their character. After all, life is going to throw kids a lot of curves as they mature -- games like paintball are a great way for them to learn how to handle pressure, how to encourage team mates, what "honor" and "integrity" is all about, that character is ultimately Gold and just being cool is not what it is cracked up to be... The question is, who are they going to learn these skills from? Who do you want them to learn from?

My personal feeling is that the industry / sport will not grow at the potential rate it could -- in a large part because the "bad behaviors" that seem all-too-tolerated are allowed to flourish, and in some cases actually encouraged. Ultimately, it is up to the individual player ==> but, we parents and field owners as well have a real responsibility to raise-the-bar on what is acceptable behavior. This would improve the experience of *everyone* on the field and would translate into newer players sticking around longer and bringing their friends, etc.

I'd encourage all parents to give it a try -- even if you just go and watch....your kids will be closer to you as a result, I'll guarantee that.

SBPA5 · 03-08-2010, 01:17 PM

My father and I have been playing together for 13 years. Some of my best memories together with him have been us playing paintball. Its great to see parents becoming involved with their kids in this great sport.

oldskool50 · 03-08-2010, 03:27 PM

I really enjoyed reading this. My guys now 24 and 21 got me involved in the sport many, many years ago. it was one of those things that dads and kids can do together. Today we (the family) own High Performance Paintball. the weather was totally awesome this week end and it was great to ref the dads and their kids out playing. Dads don't understand what they are missing. I enjoy watching them talk between games almost as much as watching them play. Even after all these year I still love to watch my boys compete at tournaments. Some times they even let me fill their pods.

PBTriChick · 03-14-2010, 05:04 PM

Ok, so I had not even ventured into this forum, but a thread on the newbies forum prompted an invite so here I am.

I am a divorced mom to 2 boys....I have always been an athlete, and my sons are athletic too - I was a downhill ski racer in H.S. and college, played all different sports through middle school and high school and then in college added fencing. That last bit being the only thing even vaguely similar to paintball. After my divorce I started wanting to be back to being an athlete, and for the last 3 years have been competing in triathlons. My boys are involved in that, and love that mom is an athlete - the younger son swims, the older son is a great runner (though he does not love it) and they both bike here and there... the boys played baseball from a young age until this year, now they will be doing lacrosse as their spring sport. Winter is basketball and swimming and skiing...

Paintball entered our lives when my now 14 year old came home from camp having tried it once. He desperately wanted his birthday party to be a paintball party. Well the local field (Boston Paintball) has 10 as a minimum age, so I told him he would have to wait until his brother turned 10 (he is now 12). Their birthdays are 3 days apart.

So 2 years ago, when they were turning 10 and 12, we had a paintball birthday party. I played (their dad did not) and we had a blast.

A year later, my older son had his bar mitzvah, and I rented the whole place for a party for his whole class - and again I played and again their dad just sat (did not even watch).

I think there was one or two more days when we played, some other days that I dropped my older son off to play, and that he went with others....he got his first gun for his bar mitzvah (from my uncle) and then traded up....

He started about a year or so ago talking about tournaments - I asked who was going to drive (and pay....). I thought paintball was a fun game but not much more.

Then in december (2009) yet another birthday - only this time I had been noticing a used Ego 08 in the shop - and at the end of the evening I bought it (and paintball pants...)

I think it was January before we had a chance to go play - me using my new toy

and wow what a difference. Open play was so much more fun than rental rounds....my older son was THRILLED that I was getting into it with him.

Well then I got an email about an event called the Combine in February at Boston Paintball - essentially an introduction to tournament ball, with drills, and various forms of team play (including X ball). Knowing that my son would love this, I signed us up.

Well not only did he love it, I did too (and I won a mask). We came out of that night CERTAIN we wanted to do tournament play. When I started looking at the 3 man junior league, there are 2 divisions - one for players under 15 and one with no age limit. I suggested he and his school mate get one more and go in the U15 league, but my son wanted to play with me....

and then we both got invited to a new 5 man team starting up - so we will play in both leagues...my younger son will be our alternate on the three man and probably pit crew for the 5 man team....

I have since bought us a scuba tank for air at home, and 2 bunkers for the backyard for snap shooting, and set up targets for drills.....

While we have always done things together, this has been a great bonding experience - and I cannot believe how much I like it!!!

My first reaction the first time we went to Boston Paintball and I saw people all geared up was to laugh - I could not believe people took it so seriously - but now here I am - geared up head to toe (even got turf cleats...) and every time I see parents I tell them they should play too....

cjlovi · 03-14-2010, 07:55 PM

Now thats a mom every paintball player needs. LOL! Welcome to the sport.

DSDM · 03-14-2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjlovi

Now thats a mom every paintball player needs. LOL! Welcome to the sport.

Some of us Paintball Dads could get use to a wife like that! LOL

PBTriChick, Welcome to the wonderful world of paintball!!!

cjlovi · 03-14-2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSDM

Some of us Paintball Dads could get use to a wife like that! LOL

PBTriChick, Welcome to the wonderful world of paintball!!!

PBNation Match.com I see coming. LOL! Good point about the dads though!

PBTriChick · 03-14-2010, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjlovi

PBNation Match.com I see coming. LOL! Good point about the dads though!

lol. I did add paintball as one of my top 3 on Fitness singles.....no one has asked me about it yet....Just when I go to swim everyone comments about the bruises on my legs and asks if I am safe ha ha!!! I am getting slider shorts in hopes of a bit less looking beat up

Now you know why my team gave me the name Cougar.....

DSDM · 03-14-2010, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBTriChick

lol. I did add paintball as one of my top 3 on Fitness singles.....no one has asked me about it yet....Just when I go to swim everyone comments about the bruises on my legs and asks if I am safe ha ha!!! I am getting slider shorts in hopes of a bit less looking beat up

Now you know why my team gave me the name Cougar.....

Yeah, I tell people when they see all the bruises, "my wife beats me up".

luffy221 · 03-14-2010, 10:09 PM

coolest mom ever!

PBTriChick · 03-14-2010, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luffy221

coolest mom ever!

thanks. My son's classmates said that even before paintball....but I will take it!!!

Fastlearner · 03-16-2010, 11:29 PM

Riversplat Paintball
Field fees for 2...$40
1 Case of paint split between father and son...$55

Putting a ball on your old man for the first time... Pricele$$

Reference the picture....
The owner said I could bring my 9 1/2 year old son if I stayed with him. The hard core players were very generous and they all switched to pump. About mid-day nobody was ready, so the ref allowed a Father/Son 1v1. The ref was giving my son pointers. I was planning to bump up to the next bunker. Then I was going to charge my son and let him take me. I was comptemplating whether to go left or right. When I looked right my son caught a glimpse of me and snaked one in between spools.

Couple of games later we're playing Father vs Son / 2v2 at a castle assault field. I had his gun turned down to about 260 (Field limit 280fps) he gets to the upper level and drops paint like motar fire and eliminates me and my team mate with head shots in under three minutes.

Unfortunately, for all you kiddos with a Dad like me, I'll ground him from paintball. I won't do it because I don't want him to play. I'll do it because I know it's more effective than other "groundings".

DSDM · 03-17-2010, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastlearner

Unfortunately, for all you kiddos with a Dad like me, I'll ground him from paintball. I won't do it because I don't want him to play. I'll do it because I know it's more effective than other "groundings".

Great Story!

and......
You got that right, even with a 17 year old it is the most effective.

gwame · 03-27-2010, 01:44 PM

I wish my parent's were as supportive as your guyses. i told them i wanted to play and they were just like what ever but i have to pay for everything my self. i'm 15 so i'm too young to get a job. so for months ive been scraping together penny's to buy used junk. so far i got a gravity hopper i home modded to feed faster a mask 3 20 oz tanks got a real good deal 3 for 20.00 from my buddy. he does air soft now. i'm still trying to get a marker though, but i found this thing called pbgoods but i need to get more referrals, so if you could please click the link below and fill out a few surveys so i could hopefully get a marker and join this great sport. You would have no idea how much i would appreciate it. Pb nation wont let me post the direct link for some reason so click the one below which will take you to my website i set up where you can find the link videos and explanations. Thank you guys happy balling. And tell your friends to click on that link and do it too. Thanks again!!

JewTheory · 04-02-2010, 11:57 PM

I greatly support all the parents who spend time with there kids to go out and have fun paintball.. Wish mine where okay with me being able to paintball think I am going to get hurt.. Well you don't feel it till the next day lol!

Fastlearner · 04-03-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwame

removed referal scam/spam. Pb nation wont let me post the direct link for some reason so click the one below which will take you to my website i set up where you can find the link videos and explanations. Thank you guys happy balling. And tell your friends to click on that link and do it too. Thanks again!!

I do applaud your attempts to make money on your own. Too many kids rely on "mommy" and/or "daddy's" charge card. When it's time to leave home, you will have 2 good things many kids don't have...

The knowledge of the true value of a dollar
True knowledge of the word "industry"

Regarding your link. As an adult I am mainly conserned that this is similar to AMWAY which has a checkered past to say the least. No matter how well or poorly your internet site works, I would highly recommend looking for another source of income.

denji20 · 04-11-2010, 01:35 AM

I'm not a parent but I commend all of the parents on here who take their kids out and play paintball with them and support them. It's not about the paintball even though its awesome, just the willingness to actually be involved in your kids life. My team tries to gather up local kids that don't have much of a home life, or troubled kids and give them some gear and get them playing with us. I encourage other teams to do the same, not only does it help the sport grow but it could make the difference in someones life.

PBTriChick · 04-11-2010, 07:34 AM

We played our first tournament yesterday and took third - as you can see we had a blast

DSDM · 04-13-2010, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBTriChick

We played our first tournament yesterday and took third - as you can see we had a blast

Nice Job!