Starting a Paintball Club in High School, Part 3

Third and final installment:

6) The most important thing, however, will be finding a faculty sponsor that knows paintball and can help advocate for you. Above all else this can swing an administration that is “on the fence” about your club. Foster this relationship! Walk around school with a Paintball Magazine, anyone who loves paintball will say something to you about it (including teachers). OR Be straight forward and ask a teacher you like.

7) Check to see if any schools in your area have paintball clubs. I know of several in the Chicago land area.

8) No doesn’t mean never! If at first you get a no answer, ask why? It is probably because of liability. A 2003 study showed that more kids are injured in Track and Field than are in Paintball (This study is available on the High School Paintball Promotions Facebook Group). Also “no” just means the club can’t be official. Other clubs have this relationship: High School Hockey is generally considered an “unofficial” club in Illinois, but it doesn’t mean those high school teams don’t exist. Get your paintball friends together play once a month, volunteer as a club to help out at the school (clean, setup/breakdown before assemblies, etc.). Show the administration you can be a responsible, contributing member of the school.

BE PERSISTENT! This really is something worth working for!