| To the untrained eye, a paintball match looks like a | | | | The floater (also sometimes called the "roamer") |
| random bunch of players running around, hiding behind | | | | doesn't really have a beginning spot on the team. As |
| various items as cover, shooting at one another, with | | | | his name suggests, his role is to roam around the |
| no real plan in mind. While it may look chaotic, the | | | | battlefield providing support to his teammates and |
| players are actually fulfilling specific roles and positions | | | | taking over in case one of them is hit. For this reason, |
| within their teams and have very specific goals in mind. | | | | the floater should have some experience playing all the |
| Thus, each position has unique responsibilities that are | | | | various positions as he may be expected to do so at |
| coordinated with his teammates, ultimately that fall | | | | any moment. He needs to be fast, like the frontman, |
| within an overall strategy. This article will help you gain | | | | but more flexible in his ability to play offense AND |
| a better understanding of the various positions on a | | | | defense. Mentally, this position is tough because there |
| paintball team, the associated responsibilities and the | | | | are lots of options the floater may have to deal with |
| best-suited equipment and paintball gun for each | | | | during the game. |
| position. | | | | Just like the position itself, the floater's marker needs to |
| The Backman | | | | be well equipped for most situations. It wouldn't make |
| Since paintball requires an offensive and defensive | | | | sense for this position to have a sniper rifle or a small |
| strategy, the backman's (sometimes also called the | | | | pistol-style marker. Instead, the floater needs to be |
| "back player") job is to provide a protective front for | | | | extremely adaptable in both his strategy, his position |
| the team's flag and players who are advancing further | | | | and his shooting abilities. |
| into the battle field. As you might imagine, this is a | | | | The Mid Player |
| critical role and requires a LOT of shooting. Whether it | | | | The Mid Player controls the field in between the |
| is cover fire for his team members or fire toward | | | | Frontman and the Backman. He must be a skilled |
| possible enemy team members to make their | | | | player though, because he is the first one called on to |
| approach more difficult, the backman will use a lot of | | | | take the place of any downed position. Basically, the |
| paint in a short amount of time. Thus, one of the most | | | | mid player is the fill-in man. Because of this, he will |
| critical things for this player to do is have the right | | | | move up and down the field throughout the game; so |
| marker and know how to use it. The backman needs | | | | he must be well conditioned for constant running, sliding |
| to be able to fire lots of shots quickly and accurately, | | | | behind bunkers and shooting constantly. If the backman |
| and be able to reload rapidly and with little advance | | | | or frontman/tape runner is eliminated, the mid player will |
| notice. Requiring lots of firepower means two | | | | take over their positions. The mid player is also called |
| important things: lots of ammo and lots of air supply. If | | | | the 'Insert' player, the 'Rover' or support players. |
| the backman runs out of either one, the game is | | | | Another key role of the mid player is he is the |
| almost certainly lost. The backman will need a way to | | | | information center of the team, relaying codes and |
| carry this extra equipment without impeding his ability | | | | commands to the front and back players. It is also the |
| to shoot quickly and accurately and move as needed. | | | | responsibility of the mid player to protect and provide |
| The backman also needs to be someone competent | | | | cover for the frontman. Considering this, it's smart for |
| in the overall team strategy and be able to make good | | | | the mid player to carry a lot of paintballs. His paintball |
| solid decisions. For this reason, the team captain often | | | | gun should be smaller and lighter than the backman's |
| plays this role on the team. | | | | so he can move quickly with it, however not so small |
| The Frontman | | | | it's range may be limited, effecting his ability to take |
| The Frontman, also known as the 'Pointman' is a very | | | | over the backman's position if necessary. Some mid |
| high profile position; he's in the front with the most | | | | players use remote lines on their paintball guns, allowing |
| action and has the most aggressive spot on the field. | | | | them to carry their air tank on their back. This frees up |
| He makes all the dangerous moves at the front of the | | | | their marker, making it lighter and easier to move with. |
| field, like bunkering and attacking the enemy flag. As | | | | The Sniper |
| soon as the game starts, the frontman usually moves | | | | The Sniper position is often the Backman's job but |
| as far as he can off the break; he spends the most | | | | sometimes there is a designated sniper position. His job |
| time at the enemy's end of the field. The frontman's | | | | is to pick off key players from the opposing team and |
| primary job is to move up the field, dart from bunker to | | | | provide cover fire for the other teammates in front of |
| bunker and position himself to accomplish the team | | | | him accomplishing the mission. Sometimes the sniper |
| objective. He must be fast to run and respond to any | | | | will stay in the back field as long as they have the best |
| fire, as he is closer to the enemy than any of the other | | | | vantage point to make the most accurate shots. |
| players. In most situations, the frontman is supported | | | | Having the best view of the field is a key element in |
| by a position called 'the lockman' who covers him with | | | | the sniper's game plan, so the sniper position should |
| fird and takes over his position in case he gets hit. | | | | move accordingly to keep finding more advantageous |
| Unfortunately, because of his position on the field and | | | | spots to shoot from - remember, your targets are |
| the dangerous proximity to the enemy, the frontman is | | | | always on the move too! |
| usually one of the first players to get hit. He should be | | | | The best gear for a sniper is obviously some type of |
| backed up by several of his teammates... the lockman, | | | | sniper paintball gun - something with a longer than |
| sniper and even the backman. The frontman should | | | | average barrel (16-18"+) and maybe even some type |
| also be an experienced player, a natural team leader; | | | | of optics/scope or sight to hone in on specific targets |
| someone who can predict the moves of the | | | | better. Decide on how powerful your scope should be |
| opposition before they happen and make last second | | | | based on the size of field you're playing on. Scenario |
| decisions about changes of his position or the enemy. | | | | games may have much larger fields and more |
| The best frontmen are thrill seekers who take the | | | | powerful optics may help for longer shots or to seek |
| most chances and aren't afraid of getting hit - because | | | | out the opposition from farther away. Speedball fields |
| they will be where the most paintballs are flying around. | | | | are much shorter and a less powerful sight (like a Red |
| The frontman will cover a lot of ground on the field | | | | Dot) would work fine if you even need anything at all. |
| and do the most running, so he should be well | | | | Precision shots is what the sniper is all about, but |
| conditioned for this. His paintball marker should be ultra | | | | remember their other job is also to provide cover fire |
| light, smaller and easy to wield considering how much | | | | for the mid and front players - so they should carry |
| diving, rolling and sprinting this player will do. The | | | | enough paintballs to be able to do this. The sniper |
| frontman fires the least amount of paint and uses the | | | | doesn't move quite as much as the other players, so |
| smallest air tank. | | | | carrying around more ammo is not as much of a |
| Another name for the Frontman position is the 'Tape | | | | problem. |
| Runner'. In Capture The Flag type games, the tape | | | | Whatever position you think you want to play, try it. It is |
| runner/Frontman is the player that will actually 'capture' | | | | actually a good idea to play all the positions on the field, |
| the flag. This player is also often called on to bunker | | | | even though you may not have the specific equipment |
| someone, or even to sacrifice himself for the good of | | | | needed to do so to the fullest potential. You'll still get an |
| the team. As the tape runner, it is wise to get as far | | | | idea of how the position works, the mindset needed to |
| up the field as possible right out of the gates, secure a | | | | succeed in that role and the thrill-level associated with |
| bunker and find a key vantage point to shoot down | | | | the position. As with any other sport, the key to |
| the opposition. This will give the mid players an | | | | success is definitely PRACTICE. As you try a new |
| established spot to take over so the frontman can | | | | role, try it more than once. Try to become comfortable |
| move on - closer to the opposing team's backman and | | | | with the role and feel it out before moving on to the |
| flag! | | | | next one. |
| The Floater | | | | |