What I am writing about this time may be one of the most controversial articles I have written up to this point.  Stick with this article to the end because it is an important one to read.  You may have your own ideas as to what the most important position on the field is: some people might say the forward player on the speedball field or the player in the snake or some might think the back player laying down the cover fire.  Or you might be thinking the Sniper or the commander or the medic on the Woodsball field.  Although these are important roles they still don't match the position I am talking about.  Are you curious? 

The position I am talking about is the Referees.  I know at this point some of you are thinking about stopping and not reading any farther.  If you do that you would be justifying my entire article.  Like it or not this is one of the most critical roles on a field in any sport.  They keep the balance.  I know that right now you are remembering a bad experience or situation you have had with a ref.  What I want to do with this article is to show you the perspective of a ref and to help you respect the position more because with out them this sport wouldn't function properly.

 

If you have never been a ref, the first thing you have to understand is that they do what they do for your safety!  Paintball, if not properly conducted, can be dangerous.  If you get upset at a ref for yelling at you to keep your mask on, and you think it is their problem then FIND A NEW SPORT!  I am tired of the attitudes of some players that make every little thing the refs' fault.  If you are being unsafe I don't want to be on the receiving end of a dumbass move that jeopardizes my safety and the safety of others.  Seriously the refs can use your cooperation, if you want to make the refs more effective on the field follow the safety rules that is one less thing they have to police.  If you help the refs keep the field safe they can focus on the game.

 

Next you have to understand that they can't be everywhere at once and see everything.  Everyone is human, not God.  If you want a ref that can see everything and be everywhere the maybe you should wait to play paintball until you get to heaven so God can ref.  Now this article is not to discuss the existence of God, but I think all of us that play paintball can agree it wouldn't be Heaven with out paintball, enough said.  Refs do their best to see what they can and get to action where they are needed.  They are the first to a field and the last to leave; they might even be the ones cleaning up after you.  I have also seen refs finish the day with more paint on themselves than some players.

 

Now lets stop here real quick to say that I am not saying that all refs are good at what they do.  There are some bad ones out there, but I am writing this to help you understand that all of them are not bad.  Please if you take nothing else away from this article remember this, most refs are volunteering their time and energy for free.  They would much rather be playing with you than reffing.  Refs whether you like them or not they are there to enhance your playing experience.  They deserve your respect and gratitude.  If you only knew how much a ref has to deal with on and off the field you would respect them so much more for their sacrifice to help your day.  Look around some time and see how much arguing they have to deal with and how many bad attitudes they have to put up with.  I am not getting on my soapbox here to prove how great a ref is, I am simply trying to get you to understand the challenges they face, and to show you how important they are to you.

 

Lastly I do want to say if you have never been a ref please consider it.  It is a good experience to let you know what they go through.  It will help you be a better player.  If you think you are a great player already, I guarantee that you can improve your skill simply by being a ref.  I can't say how many times I think an event could have been so much better with just a few more refs.  One of the things that I like about my team is at least once a year the whole team will help ref an event, I strongly encourage other teams to consider making this idea part of their team's policy.  It not only will help you become a better team, it will also help people see your team as a valuable contributor to this sport.  In closing I hope that you read this article to the end, and I hope it made you think.  If you agree or disagree that is your opinion.  This is mine; give the refs some respect and thank them next time you play, cut them some slack and do your best to help them be the best they can be.