Leading Players on the Woodsball Field

1. A general must know tactics. A leader must know how to launch on attack, prepare a defense, assault a flag. A team leader must also know how to set an ambush and when to surround the enemy. All special weapons like smokescreens or paint grenades are available; a leader must know when to deploy them. A team leader has knowledge of the game plan, and when to move his players into particular formations, and where his teammates are at all times. A leader and skilled tactician must understand enemy movements in front of him and how to move his players into alignment accordingly.
   
   
2. A leader has an intuitive situational awareness. The U.S. Naval Aviation Command School defines "situational awareness" as the degree of accuracy by which one's perception of his current environment mirrors reality. In other words, is your tem leader aware of everything that is going on the field? Can your leading player recognize what its enemy is doing and move his players accordingly. A leader possessing a keen situational awareness will recognize an inevitable enemy assault on the flag and quickly move his players into a defensive position.
   
   
3. A leader must know his paintball guns & gear. A leader must know the strengths and limitations of his own paintball marker and equipment as well as that of his teammates. His gun and gear include the players markers, CO2 tanks and paintballs. A leader must make sure that all the markers are tested for speed and accuracy. If the leaders are formulating a game plan that includes snipers and long range shooters, they should not be put into positions where they can't take high percentage shots. A sniper with a lot of shots and misses means that they are wasting paintballs and giving away their own position. If the teams equipment includes scenario game gear such as grenades, launches, and even tanks, the leaders must make sure that all players know how to deploy them properly and safely.
   
   
4. A team leader must know every position and to play any position as needed. Though the teams leaders position in usually naturally up front, he or she should be able to drop back into a different position as needed, especially in the event of a player elimination. A leader must now how to play every position. By walking in the shoes of a defensive player, for example, a leader will know what strengths are ideal for that slot and move layers around accordingly.
   
   
5. A team leader does not take unnecessary risks. Though one image of a team leader is that of one charging down the field with his backers behind them, this strategy is not usually the most effective one in paintball game competition.