High School Paintball Clubs

Allen Turner · 08-24-2004, 08:34 AM

With all the kids headed back to school I am wondering if we can start getting more active Clubs on the High School level and what it takes..

With the Chess club, debate club, Golf team and other "non-mainstream" clubs / teams it only seems fair for schools to support a paintball team ???

I have wanted to do a High School State Championship Tournament for a couple years now but the schools I have contacted have been very closed to the idea..

What do all you High Schooler's think about this..

GShort · 08-24-2004, 08:40 AM

Where were you 10-13 years ago 😉 .

Addicts · 08-24-2004, 08:46 AM

I also have attempted to get this going in schools. Every administrator I have talked to has been very uncomfortable with having a paintball club, let alone a school team. They are worried that paintball uses "guns." It's entirely a PR thing. If they actually knew more about our sport they may be more willing to cooperate with us.

It's going to take a lot of time to educate the general public on our sport. It may take paintball being in the mainstream media for quite some time before something like this is allowed in schools.

It is quite possible though. There are a lot of schools back East that have teams. Here is some info I found a while back.

http://apg.cfw2.com/article.asp?content_id=3190

http://www.college-paintball.com/hs/

Allen Turner · 08-24-2004, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Addicts

I also have attempted to get this going in schools. Every administrator I have talked to has been very uncomfortable with having a paintball club, let alone a school team. They are worried that paintball uses "guns." It's entirely a PR thing. If they actually knew more about our sport they may be more willing to cooperate with us.

Yea Travis thats been my experience as well the Administrators hear the word Paintball and you can see thier thought process which takes about 3 seconds for this to occur......

Paintball...............Guns!!!!!.........VIOLENCE!!!!...........COLUMBINE!!!!! PAINTBALL = EVIL !!!!!

What they say is "We will not allow a paintball club, it involves guns"

In fact there are some school administrators who have prevented kids form wearing paintball t-shirts "it promotes violence"

You are right it is a PR battle and we need to educate the "Enlighted educators" but Travis and I can't do it alone..
We need all you players who are in HS to lobby your local schools and districts, and to educate your teachers and administrators about paintball.

.

Bryce Eden · 08-24-2004, 09:25 AM

Uintah High has an active paintball club, I don't know if that example will help get more started, but its worth a try.

I used the Collegate paintball leage as an example and talked the admin into attending a local tourney, after that they where all for it.

Greg · 08-24-2004, 10:30 AM

I attended Ben Lomond high for a couple years, and their JROTC group has a shooting range in the basement of the school. I'm sure if you where to aproach JROTC admin they would be very open to the idea.

Stick-Boy · 08-24-2004, 11:13 AM

I had a idea last year in jr. high to start a club when i got to high school. If they say we play with guns i will politely tell them we play with markers 🙂 I might need some help with good ideas to persway them.

FrontPlaya04 · 08-24-2004, 11:21 AM

Me and my friends have talked about this for a while. I would love to try to start a club. I will try this year.

krispy · 08-24-2004, 12:22 PM

I tried in 98 to get a paintball club started at timpanogos High school in orem. They didnt let me quoting it was to violent, and to many people get hurt..hhahahahah

Go watch the Football games. If they allow that violent and beating the hell out of each other sport , why not one where there is no physical contact and people learn how to work together as a team and build friendships.......

Matt Mann · 08-24-2004, 02:44 PM

I tried doing a paintball club but you have to do it kinda like......hockey or lacrosse (at Viewmont at least) where it's not exactly a school team but it's a team that is all from the school and the school announces games and everything. They say they don't want someone getting hurt and sueing the school blah blah blah.......but you can get teams that are from a high school and they all have to show a school I.D. that shows that they're all from the same school or something like that, that way you can have the tournament in the spring or something and Viewmont High School will roll everyone!!!!!!