| Perhaps the most important component of a | | | | opponent. |
| successful paintball match is teamwork. This can only | | | | 5. "Full-speed" training |
| be accomplished with clear communication and | | | | This type of practice is more like a scrimmage. You |
| practice. Under the umbrella of teamwork fall the | | | | will take to a paintball field as if you were playing |
| many other components of success, such as | | | | against real opponents. Some teams find that |
| communication, effective practice sessions, and | | | | full-speed practice on a speedball field is a good way |
| different types of training. | | | | to rehearse your team's strategies. Some teams also |
| 1. Communication | | | | do a full-speed practice in the woods. |
| Communication takes many forms in paintball strategy. | | | | 6. Knowing your environment |
| Movements planned ahead of time and practiced will | | | | If you have the opportunity, study the terrain where |
| help teammates know what to do and where to go | | | | you will be playing and look for any advantageous |
| by watching the other players. Silent communication is | | | | positions, such as behind little hills. Look around to see |
| important, too, because you don't want the opposing | | | | where your opponents might be. If you will be playing a |
| team to know your tactics. Each team should have a | | | | variation on Capture the Flag paintball, you should look |
| leader from whom all the other players take their cues. | | | | for positions where you can hide behind trees yet still |
| This person should have experience, intelligence, and | | | | be ready to move. Some paintball enthusiasts will climb |
| courage. | | | | trees and surprise the opponent from above. Not all |
| 2. Preliminary team discussion | | | | paintball venues allow this, so be sure and ask first if it |
| When it is time for your paintball team to practice, a | | | | is OK. |
| good first step is to go over strategies with respect to | | | | 7. Know how to move effectively |
| the type of game you will be playing, the environment | | | | Sure, you need to be swift to minimize the time you're |
| in which you will be playing, and the strengths and | | | | exposed to your opponents' fire. But you also need to |
| weaknesses of the opposing team. This discussion | | | | consider other things like how much noise you're |
| should include thinking ahead to things that might go | | | | making. If you're playing in the woods, particularly in |
| wrong, and how to deal with them. It is vital that before | | | | winter, you will make crackling noises every time you |
| anyone on your team takes the field that they all know | | | | put a foot down in crunchy, dry leaves. Snapping twigs |
| what is expected of them. | | | | tend to make noise as well. Make sure you are |
| 3. "Dry" training | | | | wearing shoes that you are comfortable moving |
| This is a basic walk through of strategies. You don't | | | | around in. Some players wear hiking boots, some wear |
| have to do this on an actual paintball field, but you can | | | | football cleats, and some wear shoes made just for |
| practice in someone's backyard if necessary. It is a | | | | paintball. Scope out as best you can where there is |
| good idea to inform neighbors of what you're doing | | | | uneven terrain or muddy patches. |
| first. During dry training, you won't actually use paintball | | | | Teamwork is the key to a successful paintball |
| guns. | | | | strategy. Learning to communicate with each other, |
| 4. "Half-speed" training | | | | practicing movements and hitting targets, and then |
| This type of practice is a step up in intensity from dry | | | | rehearsing strategies before the big game will help |
| training. You will use paintball guns in half-speed training. | | | | tremendously when the real game starts. Different |
| What you do is, you walk through all your paintball | | | | types of practice will improve different aspects of the |
| strategies slowly. Do not rush through this. You can | | | | game, so it is important to cover many different |
| use soda cans as targets, because if your aim is good | | | | techniques during practice. |
| enough to hit a soda can, it's good enough to hit your | | | | |