Just a quick update of happening around Singapore and the paintball world in general because there are some major changes happening...

First in Singapore - SPS Registrations were slow but surprisingly even after early bird discounted registration closed, a few more teams have added their names. I don't know whether this means they have paid or have simply said they will play, but considering we put up a $500 carrot to encourage more than 10 teams to enter last year's SPNS, it seems 2010 has seen an increase in local tournament interest. So far 19 teams have their names advertised on the Singapore Paintball Series in the 4 divisions and with more than a month to go I'd expect even more to be entering by the close of registration.

Singapore has had the honour to host the Youth Olympic Games these past few weeks. While the internet chatter has been pretty negative because of the massive amount the organisers had to spend over their initial budget forecasts, the spirit of the games for the athletes and their supporters has been high. Ok 80% of the live crowds have been local school kids conscripted to go and watch, but I'd rather be watching sport then doing school work wouldn't you? I have to admit I've been watching some hardcore youth athletes do battle on TV and the competition has been impressive and very exciting. At the end of the day that's what the YOG is all about. Maybe Jaques Rogge and the IOC should put a budget cap on all future YOG events so that the spirit of the games can continue to shine (in a less all thrills and trimmings sort of way) without the general population of the host country feeling like they've been financially inconvenienced.

Back to paintball. Seems NPPL may be looking at moving to a Race to format and will trial again during the NPPL World Champs. Speaking of NPPL, Chuck Hendsch the man behind the organisation is also rumored to be one of the partners in a new paintball manufacturing company called HydroTec. These new water based paintballs are hyped up to be as good as the veg oil versions we use now and much cheaper to manufacture. Expect more news on this soon.

I'm in the middle of writing some interesting articles for paintballnews.asia and for this blog. Hopefully will find to complete them over the weekend.

I was reading an interesting editorial by John Amodea, the Editor and Chief of Paintball X3 Magazine who makes an interesting observation that unless "you're 5' nothing, under 125 pounds and 19 years old" it's almost impossible to play paintball at its highest levels. Read the article here. Some would argue that as the sport has become more professional that more athleticism is required to play but this has also been caused by the increased bps of markers, the size of bunkers and fields and the field layouts themselves.

Check the latest field layout release for Millennium Paris 2010 (click on the image for an enlargement)

The design of this field really doesn't leave much options for the taller, slightly more robust player. The design is actually quite interesting because it forces teams to move forward and away from the starting gate, rather than camping at the back line. The lanes may look wide but the positions of the trees, M, brick and Maya at the 50's does allow for players to make it out to the edges. Even so there are few bunkers that the taller player can set up shop and start streaming paint from to defend his front players... so this field layout exemplifies exactly what John Amodea has pointed out.

Does it really matter at a professional level - I think not. Basketball is undoubtedly a tall man's sport as is volleyball. There are always players who through skill and athleticism can get away with being shorter in these sports and the same can be said for professional paintball and taller players.

What John fails to expand on is that for amateur level tournaments, sometimes field designers are copying these Pro field designs. Teams are having to change up the squads bringing in younger, shorter and faster players just like the pros to be successful. This leaves a vast majority of tournament players who don't fit the mold without teams and with no reason to continue playing. Whether you agree or not, I think John made some interesting suggestions in his article that would allow more 'types' of players to play tournament paintball.

Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP) have their Mid-Atlantic Open (MAO) event this weekend at PBC Sports Park, in Rock Hill South Carolina. As one of the two major league paintball promoters in the USA, PSP plays an X-Ball Race to format where teams play timed sessions and must win a certain amount of games against their opponents to take the match (depending on the division played) - penalties also are given against players for minor and major rule infringements which results in these players having to remain off the field for set periods of time, similar to a 'sin-bin' in ice hockey. While the rules can sometimes be confusing, the fast pace of the game is exciting to watch.

This weekend, PSP were forced to issue an advanced warning to players due to the extreme heat forecast for the event weekend, something that most Asian players are very used to every time we play.

The Pro Schedule prelims on Friday and Saturday threw up some surprise results with Aftershock failing to make it to Sunday only winning 1 out of 4 matches and Impact and Aftermath all going 2 out of 4 matches to make the Top 6. Boston Red Legion were unbeatable winning all 4 of their matches and Entourage, Tampa Bay Damage and the LA Ironmen all winning 3 out of 4 matches to progress to play Sunday in the top 6.

Singapore American School expat and former Red Sevens & Red West player Zachary Hagy played at the PSP's MAO event this weekend with team HuSTLe II in Division 2. Unfortunately they only managed 1 out of 4 game wins but I'm sure he had a blast playing anyway.

Meanwhile I've been busy interviewing the big wigs of Asian paintball for a PaintballNews.Asia article. Stay tuned for some interesting info on plans for tournament paintball in 2011.