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Your team is at the top of their game... No one even comes close to the amount of firepower you rain down on enemy positions... You are at home on the field more than off... Why then can't you seem to bring home the win??? Communication No team can effectively play a scenario, renegade or woodsball game without communication. What does communication mean, let's take a look. Webster defines communication as - the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs. We often have a diificult time doing this without the stress and physical activity involved with paintball so how do we make communicating precise and effective? We break down the barriers listed below; 1. Perception - We try and fit what we hear into our existing patterns. If the information doesn't make sense we distort the information rather than rearrange the pattern. We can overcome this by having predetermined and clear objectives in our communication usage. 2. Incorrect filtering - Using third parties to transfer your thoughts. Use radios to bypass third parties. 3. Poor listening - A lack of attention on the receivers part. The most common problem in communication. 4. Differing emotional states - This is as simple as you are in a firefight and the person you are calling is sneaking through the field and has a differing set of priorities. 5. Equipment - Make sure you save your money and invest in a good radio, but even more important is an ear bud/PTT or Throat mic. that is comfortable, has clarity in speech and you can hear what is being transmitted. Make sure it can withstand the elements as well. We are in the Northwest so everything we have must be water resistant. Overcoming these issues comes down to one thing... Preparation Sit down with your team now, or at least as soon as possible and hammer out the details of what signals you will use, what stations you will be on, buzz words you will use, passwords, secondary channels, etc. We will be adding more to this page as time passes. We will be taking the principals of communication and applying them to PB to enhance your game. |