| The game of paintball is won on seconds and | | | | goes, "If looks could kill". We all know that |
| inches; small mistakes can have dramatic | | | | just looking like you can play paintball only |
| effects on the outcome of games. Scenario or | | | | goes as far as the "game on" signal, from |
| tournament players can use the information | | | | there you and your team need to have the |
| that I am about to share; the secret of | | | | skills to backup the look! |
| intimidation. What is intimidation? It is the | | | | |
| ability of a player to make his opponent feel | | | | Now that you have the other team doubting |
| scared, doubtful, or worried even before they | | | | their very manhood, let's get inside their |
| step onto the playing field. | | | | head a little. When you arrive at the field |
| | | | keep a positive attitude and walk around like |
| How can a player use intimidation, and what | | | | a rooster in a hen house. Don't slump and |
| advantage can this give you or your team? Let | | | | mope around like you just lost your best |
| me give you an example: Your playing in your | | | | friend, be confident and KNOW your team is |
| first 5-man tournament and getting ready to | | | | going to win. Your mental confidence will be |
| walk on the field, you look across the field | | | | picked up by other teams and puts a seed of |
| and see your opponents all decked out in | | | | doubt in their heads. Remember that games are |
| matching uniforms and covered in sponsor | | | | won and lost on mental mistakes and |
| stickers from head to toe, they all have dark | | | | breakdowns, if you can get in the head of |
| angels and are chanting their team name over | | | | your opponents; you are half way to victory. |
| and over. How does this make you feel? | | | | Our team has gone so far as to bring all of |
| Scared, doubtful, worried, or all the above? | | | | our trophies and plaques to the tournament |
| You may not break as far down the field, your | | | | and display them on a table under our canopy. |
| intimidated, you may not make a move to get a | | | | Teams will come by and say, "Wow, I hope we |
| better angel on your opponent, your | | | | don't have to play you". With a smile I'm |
| intimidated, you may hesitate when firing you | | | | always thinking, we have already won the |
| marker, you are intimidated. What do all | | | | mental game, and normally the actual game |
| these things have in common; you will | | | | follows suit. |
| probably loose the game. | | | | |
| | | | With today's teams being so evenly matched, |
| Now that you understand the dramatic effect | | | | any advantage can take a team to the top. If |
| intimidation can have on your opponent's | | | | you break paintball down to it's basic form, |
| mental game, lets find out how to use this | | | | anyone can shoot a marker and everyone can |
| tool. Similar to the example, a team must | | | | learn the basics of not being hit. So what |
| look intimidating. Your team needs to have | | | | makes a team better than another? Luck, |
| matching uniforms; this gives the impression | | | | practice, dedication, and mental sharpness |
| that your team plays as a unit. It also helps | | | | separates the big boys from the rest of the |
| to have numerous sponsors with their logos | | | | crowd. Luck, as I call it, has a way of |
| and stickers on your markers and uniforms. | | | | evolving into skill over time. Paintball is |
| This tells the other team your tournament | | | | won by inches and seconds, so give yourself |
| proven and have the support of the industry | | | | every advantage for each of these factors. |
| on your side. Next, you need top of the line | | | | Mess with the minds of your opponents and |
| equipment, this illustrates you are serious | | | | watch your scores sore all the way to the |
| about the sport, and money takes second place | | | | finals. Intimidation can cripple a team's |
| to performance and durability. Along with a | | | | mental outlook and give your team a quick max |
| great looking banner, packs, tubes, | | | | on the score sheet. So keep practicing your |
| squeegees, and mask you are now a very | | | | Jedi mind tricks and hope you never see |
| intimidating looking team. Like the saying | | | | Sudden Impact on the other side of the field! |