The Proper Way To Treat Newbies

How To Treat Newbies

by Durty Dan

Publication Date: March 2001

You might be considered a "newbie" now, but someday you'll be an experienced player. When the roles are reversed, no matter how YOU were treated, you should always treat newer players well. They are the future of the sport.

All of you experienced players were once newbies. You enjoyed your first playing experience and you stuck with it. You contributed to our sport's future. Now it's your turn to help other people secure the future of this sport. Treat newbies with respect. If you mistreat newbies, you'll just come off looking like an idiot. They will judge all paintballers by your actions towards them. They will play again, or NEVER play again, according to how you treat them.

Newbies think all the stuff we have is really neat. Explain how your marker works. Tell them why you need the kit you're lugging around. Set them at ease and give them the information they want to know. Answer all their questions with patience and understanding.

Show newbies how to shoot. Show them how to operate the field rental markers and how to get the most out of them. Tell them about goggles and barrel plugs. Pass on things you have learned about camouflage, movement, shooting, safety, sportsmanship and the rules of the game.

Give them tips while you're playing. Point out where the opposition is and what they're doing. Get them to follow you and help back you up. Let them know if the move they are going to make is a bad one. "Don't go to that bunker on the left, or the guy in the far bunker can hit you." You know the game, you know how accurate some of the markers are, you know the other experienced players, you may even know the layout of the field. Help as much as you can. If you get eliminated while you're trying to help, that may just impress them. "Hey, he took a shot for ME."

When you're playing, don't leave an inexperienced teammate to handle experienced players who are on the opposing team. Team up with them and lend a hand. Don't just use them for cover or for "bad guy detectors."

There was a newbie with me behind a bunker. I pointed out the player I wanted to move on and asked him to cover me. I moved, he covered me, and I got the player in question. At noon, I heard him relating the story to one of his buddies. It seems that he felt quite proud to state that he actually helped an experienced player. His buddy didn't quite believe him. He pointed to me and I confirmed his story by saying, "Yep, I'm not saying I couldn't have done it without him, but he made it a heck of a lot easier to do." He liked that. It made his day. As you can see, it doesn't take much, does it?

Call them a few days later. Ask them if they had fun and if they'd like to come out again. You may just have another person on your team.

Play hard! Play fast! Play safe!

Durty Dan is in reality Dan Leger, a free-lance writer for numerous paintball magazines and websites. For more information on Durty Dan and paintball, contact him at http://www.durtydan.com