Noobies are always welcome at the Ward. There are a few things you must know before playing, though.
Please read the Safety Rules section completely. If there are any questions, be sure and ask them.
Clothing-
Camo is essential for playing ball. There are some guys who think it's good not to wear camo, but anything but natural and subdued colors will make you stand out like a flag, and that means you'll be easier to find and shoot at. If you do not have camo, wear clothing that is brown, dull green, or black. Wearing lots of clothing isn't always a good idea. It can make you overheat and that can help fog up your goggles or glasses. Though a down jacket or lots of loose layers will make balls more likely to bounce and will help prevent bruises from forming on your delicate skin, at a certain point, wearing "bullet-proof" clothing becomes a type of cheating. I prefer to wear a light long sleeve t-shirt and a very light mesh-like camo shirt unbuttoned. I place my harness (with extra ammo) under the mesh shirt, which allows it to be less noticible, and it puffs out the shirt which then borders on becoming a bullet-proof set up. I've been shot enough to know it's NOT a bullet-proof get-up, though. A down vest IS bulletproof, though!
High top shoes are better than low tops, in that they give some support to the ankles, but more that they protect your feet from sticks and stuff getting into the shoe. Good tread is essential, but a lighter pair of sneakers may be more comfortable than a heavy hiking boot.
Gloves of some sort are a good thing to bring as well. I use those brown jersey material gardening gloves which cost 2 bux. They protect the hands from thorns, sticks, and handshot, and yet are flexible enough to not impede holding the gun or pulling the trigger. Fingerless workout gloves work fine, but if they are black leather, the dye may run staining your hands for a week.
A dark colored baseball hat or a camo bandana are good to wear. The hat or the bandana may be used for headcover, adding some protection to the precious noggin. The bandana can be worn around the neck which helps protect your throat from direct hits. If nothing else, the neck protection is a good idea.
Bug and Tick spray isn't a bad idea, though we've only had a couple of reported ticks over the years. There is poison ivy hanging around, so if you're allergic Ivy Block might be a good idea to wear. And of course when you get home, wash yourself thoroughly and check for ticks.
Food and Refreshments
Since there is no shop or anything at the Ward, it's a BYOeverything day. Some people need food during the day, and if you're like that, you'd be best off bringing some. There is a Pizza place on Bradley, as well as the Deli, and you may find someone who wants to make the run for food. I myself don't usually eat until later. Once on the field, it's hard for me to find the time. Sandwiches and powerbars are good ideas.
Regardless of the state of hunger, rehydrating is essential. I bring along a liter and a half sized thermos of watered down gatorade. Most of the time I drink all of it. I force myself to drink in between games and before the start of a new game. Hydrating will prove beneficial during the day and later at home.
In any case, bring whatever you want on to the field. I can't say that I've seen a lot of alchohol drinking at the Ward, most of the players there are more into playing ball than partying. And part of the thrill of Paintball would likely be lost if enebriated, and since Safety is always an issue, it's probably not a great idea to be stoned or drunk on the field.
Stretching and stuff
Hopefully you're in fairly fit shape cuz Paintball is all about physicality. If you have any issues of health, it's a good thing to let people know ahead of time. Previous injuries or conditions should temper your playing. If you're tired you can sit out a game, or just be more laid back on the field. You don't HAVE to run just cuz everyone else is!
We once played in Jersey and our boy John H. collapsed on the walk up to the dead zone. Jessie and I were scared that he was having a heart attack, and emergency steps were beginning to be taken. He lay back and Jessie asked him how he was, and John didn't answer. Jessie said, you better answer me John cuz I don't want to give you Mouth to Mouth unless I have to. That woke John up to the situation and he croaked out that he was ok. He recovered fine enough to play later in the day, but what a scare! This was a couple years ago, and John is in considerably better shape now. The point of telling that embarassing story is that you should be aware of your physical condition. Don't push yourself beyond what you can deal with.
Running in the woods is actually a lot different than running on flat grass or a track. So be more concerned with where and how you're running than if you're dodging paintballs well enough. I've seen two cases of bad enough knee injuries by noobies, one by a guy who just tripped and landed on his knee funny, the other by a guy who was running like a gazelle and put his foot in a bad place at a weird angle and he crumpled to the ground in pain. Kneepads are a good idea if you can get or borrow some.
Stretching out after the day can make your muscles feel a lot better the next day.
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