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**iamthelazerviking** · 03-07-2022, 05:33 PM

All of that sounds like hell. The bluetooth speaker thing I have heard of, not experienced, and is absolutely annoying to even think about.

An indoor field that is now shutdown had a lot of problems. The ref would hold a mask up to his face during gameplay but not in between rounds and when I called him out he said "my glasses are made for construction use so I will be fine". He didn't enforce masks/barrel covers so I was playing part time ref yelling at everyone. This place also never cleaned the turf so it was a slimey slippery mess.

Thankfully a group of guys I know have started up regular play on a private field and everyone's OG, safe, chrono enforced, even waivers are signed. BYOP and free air too.

**punkncat** · 03-07-2022, 06:02 PM

The absolute most unsafe field I ever attempted to play at outside renegade ball was Orbital in Florida. Most unsafe place in renegade was a place in Madison (GA) run by an at one time famous paintball guy that called himself "Blue". Funny enough, both cases of calling this out in online forums resulted in threats to my personal safety, particularly the post about Orbital. They are still there but it's my understanding that they have been under new ownership maybe several times since then.

At our local the experienced player group will walk on field without masks for the picking of teams and walk to sides. We specifically call "masks on" and verify, then call "live field" and it's explicitly stated to keep the mask on till off field and barrel cover on before going off field. It is that way mostly as a result of heat and/or fogging issues when super hot or conversely when really cold sometimes. We do not use this procedure for any rental or if there are new people in the group. We typically have net monitors as well who help out about players coming off field. Any time there is a dangerously blatant violation we call the game for safety and compliance.

**Cyberpyr8** · 03-07-2022, 06:03 PM

The refs not wearing masks or lifting their masks is very concerning. People (rec players) doing it on the field isn't uncommon but at fields I go to, they enforce it and will kick players out if it keeps happening. When I managed a field I gave them 3 strikes. First was a warning, second you sat out a game and the third was your last. You weren't allowed to play again and if you were renting a marker it was taken back. I had to kick a few players out. Mostly younger kids, but there were a few adults as well. I jokingly would tell people that talking smack with their mask on actually amplified it and was really the way you should do it!

My son used to use a barrel swab as a barrel plug and I would get on him all the time about it. It's just lazy. And a field not having a chrono should be shut down IMO. That's a safety feature to protect people. If I went to a field and they didn't have one, I would probably leave. I bring my own but they should have a working chrono unless it's all rentals. But even then they should have one to test their own markers.

I was walking on the field yesterday and a guy had a speaker on him (or his phone) playing music. He stopped it before they started playing but I thought it was odd. But a field we played at had a stereo system (it was an indoor field) and they would blast music while we were playing sometimes. It made it hard to communicate for sure.

**punkncat** · 03-07-2022, 06:08 PM

^ I do have to lol a bit about our early paintball experience in regard to a chrono. We were all shooting CO2, no one even knew what a chrono was, so typically everyone would stand in a line and shoot at a pine tree to see if (generally) the same amount of bark came off, and then would shoot distance to see if anyone was falling short before the others and adjust accordingly. One of the first few dozen games we played I had a guy shoot me in the head from about 10' apart and put a round hole in my stocking cap. Had one hell of a knot on my forehead.

**Cdn_Cuda** · 03-07-2022, 07:47 PM

My last time playing locally there was some major safety issues with the local Airsofters. The field was run safe for paintballers, but then the "commander" of the Airsoft players walked onto the live paintball field without masks or proper protection I called him out on it. It went as expected. No skin of my nose if you lose an eye, bro. I suppose you cosplay will look better with an authentic eye patch....

I understand airsoft has different rules and safety requirements, but it's going to be hard for the refs to yell at kids to get their masks on when a huge group of airsofters walk onto the field no masks and disregard all the rules. Pretty sure their insurance would have some issues with that as well.

**Toestr** · 03-07-2022, 07:55 PM

I do think you can contribute some of it to the field's proximity to an urban centre. Obviously not the lack of safety precautions by staff though.

I'm always amazed at the purportedly safe track record of paintball when so many of the patrons do not have a healthy level of respect for the equipment.

If you take a first time shooter out to the range, I usually find them listening to instructions intently and asking for guidance throughout the whole process. They treat the firearms with the respect they deserve because they understand the stakes. I find so many first time paintball players not listening to instructions, fingers on the trigger (at least in the guard), not watching muzzle direction ("It's on safe", "It's not loaded"), and trying to take off the barrel bag as soon as they pick up their equipment from the counter. They don't understand the stakes; and I blame marketing to children for this. People assume the consequences aren't that dire if they trust children to be relatively unsupervised (ie not 1 on 1) with the equipment. Say what you want about Delta Force's business practices, but I like that they don't allow guns in the safe zone (at least for renters).

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**Chuck E Ducky** · 03-07-2022, 08:03 PM

Oh we got fields in our area that are like that Packers. It’s just how some fields are run.

**Euphie** · 03-08-2022, 03:29 AM

I played at KC Crusaders last weekend and twice someone took their mask off on the sidelines and the game was immediately ended (for everyone) and the refs had a talk with them. I just assumed that level of safety was everywhere but, clearly I should be thankful I play where I do.

**AnarchicArctic** · 03-08-2022, 08:12 AM

Wild. It’s a different world down there. I’ve played a lot of outlaw below the mason dixon. Guys playing with masks lifted so they could smoke a cigarette, kids playing in chemistry goggles and caged batting helmets. No chronos, “kill shot only” eliminations, potato guns loaded with newspaper and paintballs, general mayhem all around.

**ATBen** · 03-08-2022, 08:25 AM

We didn't even run our high school outlaw field thst poorly. We did the barrel swab thing, usually a straight shot, when a plug (pre BBD days) was forgotten or lost.

The masks up/off thing is inexcusable. We eventually got a chrony, but most of us played once a month at a real field so they were usually close enough for us, I don't think I ever saw anything over 305.

Is this a newer operation? I cant see them lasting long, sounds like it's only matter time before someone gets hurt.

**Chuck E Ducky** · 03-08-2022, 08:26 AM

Canada let’s you do stuff that would never fly in the US. I guess there culture is less sue happy and or fields liability is less. Not so much player safety like masks and netting. But jumping in and out of broken windows dark buildings with wet floors and stairs. Shooting up and down hallways. It was a lot of fun in a good way.

Back when I played Xball we use to use a squeegee for barrel plugs all the time. Those old reds ones that worked really well you cant find anymore.

**glaman5266** · 03-08-2022, 10:51 AM

Originally posted by packersrule729 View Post

- Players walking through the netting onto the field without a mask on

- No chronograph...

Went to a local-ish place last November. Pretty large place, so there was some walking to get to the fields, but hardly anyone put their mask on 'til we got to the spot we were going to play. The ref was good about making sure people had their barrel covers on, but still.

And there was no chrono. The owner had one, but it wasn't out. One of those guys who chronoes the rental markers and doesn't do it again (should be done every time). I pulled out my handheld chrono & he said "You won't need that. I can eyeball it for you." I walked to the chrono station with mine anyway. He did eventually offer to get it but I was full-on ignoring him at that point. I fired my first shot & he shouted "272!" I barked back at him "262!" This guy obviously had his head up his arse.
I realize it was the end of the season & the staff/owner was probably getting lazy, but that's no excuse. Between that & their paint-buying policy I was not impressed. I'll admit I did have fun, but I'll never go back.

**Ecapnation** · 03-08-2022, 11:59 AM

This sounds exactly like Florida but distilled down to a paintball field.

**SignOfZeta** · 03-08-2022, 02:22 PM

I don’t get why you’re traveling to Florida and then complaining about how Florida it is. It’s Florida…where deadbeat stepdads go to fake their deaths, not a place where rules are highly regarded.

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Paintball & safety - an observation from a recent experience

Paintball & safety - an observation from a recent experience

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