 The game of paintball is won on seconds and inches; small mistakes can have dramatic
effects on the outcome of games. Scenario or tournament players can use the information
that I am about to share; the secret of intimidation. What is intimidation? It is the ability
of a player to make his opponent feel scared, doubtful, or worried even before they step
onto the playing field.How can a player use intimidation, and what advantage can this give you or your team? Let me give you an example: Your playing in your first 5-man tournament and getting ready to walk on the field, you look across the field and see your opponents all decked out in matching uniforms and covered in sponsor stickers from head to toe, they all have dark angels and are chanting their team name over and over. How does this make you feel? Scared, doubtful, worried, or all the above? You may not break as far down the field, your intimidated, you may not make a move to get a better angel on your opponent, your intimidated, you may hesitate when firing you marker, you are intimidated. What do all these things have in common; you will probably loose the game.  Now that you understand the dramatic effect intimidation can have on your opponent's
mental game, lets find out how to use this tool. Similar to the example, a team must look
intimidating. Your team needs to have matching uniforms; this gives the impression that
your team plays as a unit. It also helps to have numerous sponsors with their logos and
stickers on your markers and uniforms. This tells the other team your tournament proven
and have the support of the industry on your side. Next, you need top of the line
equipment, this illustrates you are serious about the sport, and money takes second place
to performance and durability. Along with a great looking banner, packs, tubes,
squeegees, and mask you are now a very intimidating looking team. Like the saying goes,
"If looks could kill". We all know that just looking like you can play paintball only goes
as far as the "game on" signal, from there you and your team need to have the skills to
backup the look!Now that you have the other team doubting their very manhood, let's get inside their head a little. When you arrive at the field keep a positive attitude and walk around like a rooster in a hen house. Don't slump and mope around like you just lost your best friend, be confident and KNOW your team is going to win. Your mental confidence will be picked up by other teams and puts a seed of doubt in their heads. Remember that games are won and lost on mental mistakes and breakdowns, if you can get in the head of your opponents; you are half way to victory. Our team has gone so far as to bring all of our trophies and plaques to the tournament and display them on a table under our canopy. Teams will come by and say, "Wow, I hope we don't have to play you". With a smile I'm always thinking, we have already won the mental game, and normally the actual game follows suit.  With today's teams being so evenly matched, any advantage can take a team to the top. If
you break paintball down to it's basic form, anyone can shoot a marker and everyone can
learn the basics of not being hit. So what makes a team better than another? Luck,
practice, dedication, and mental sharpness separates the big boys from the rest of the
crowd. Luck, as I call it, has a way of evolving into skill over time. Paintball is won by
inches and seconds, so give yourself every advantage for each of these factors. Mess with
the minds of your opponents and watch your scores sore all the way to the finals.
Intimidation can cripple a team's mental outlook and give your team a quick max on the
score sheet. So keep practicing your Jedi mind tricks and hope you never see Sudden
Impact on the other side of the field!ICEMAN Sudden Impact SuddenImpact.org Return to Articles Thanks to PaintballChaos.com for Pictures © 2001 DirectPaintball.com |
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