WE ARE BEING WARNED! We may lose our youth!

Just when we think that there are simple solutions to improve the paintball sport as a sport. And now we also know that we need to get the new kids out from playing with their Xbox games (the real threat to why lose in paintball revenue). We now face a campaign from the NFL that will help the youth to get back on their chubby feet and play-FOOSEBALL! (Waterboy)
If I was industry, I would certainly think that this is the opportunity to claim the youth in more paintball participation because it is good for them, correct? We should enforce more publicity on the greatness of paintball participation. Its sport, and its comrade-re. Maybe this will effect more properties to be used as fields like recreation facilities. Maybe the public including other sport industries will see paintball in a more lucrative light (This is the true fear of the paintball heavies to have companies like Nike or Oakley show up!)
• Paintball teaches respect – You will learn respect for field officials and other players.

• Paintball is a good source of stress relief and exercise – Everyone has stress, that is one of the main reasons I took up this sport. Paintball gives you an outlet and shows you a way to relieve it in a way that you get some exercise at the same time.
• Paintball teaches teamwork – learn to play with others as a group

• Paintball at the same time teaches you to work as an individual – many times we get stuck on our own and have to work through it.

• Paintball teaches decision making skills – you have to learn to think quickly on the spot or you’ll be tagged before your opponent.

• Paintball teaches sportsmanship – Most paintball players dislike a bad sport. Cheaters are quickly ostracized by there peers and you will see first hand the consequences of being a cheater or bad sport.

• Friendship – I left this until last because I think this is the biggest point I wanted stuck in your head’s. This is what I love most about the sport. Paintball is one of the few sports where you can get along with anyone regardless of age. I am 32 and I get along with the 15 year olds as well and respect them the same as anyone else on the field. If a 15 year old bunkers me I compliment him afterwards as most of them will to me is the role is reversed.


U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services And Ad Council Join NFL To Combat Childhood Obesity
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Ad Council and the National Football League (NFL) will join to launch a new series of national public service advertisements (PSAs) designed to combat childhood obesity by encouraging physical activity among children. The new ads, which feature NFL players Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints), Antonio Gates (San Diego Chargers) and Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys), urge families to "get up and play an hour a day." The PSAs will be unveiled this morning during the NFL's United Way Hometown Huddle Event in New Orleans,part of the NFL's national day of service. The ads will also air during NFL games throughout the football season.

"A healthy amount of physical activity can be fun, and kids can do it with games -- on the playing field or in other ways,'' said Acting Surgeon General RADM Steven Galson, M.D., M.P.H. "Seeing some of America's elite athletes promoting these good health habits could encourage American kids and families to be active, too.''

The "Be a Player" multimedia ad campaign, which encourages children to "get up and play an hour a day" is an extension of HHS' Obesity Prevention campaign that launched in 2004 and the Ad Council's Coalition for Healthy Children initiative. The campaign message is also an important part of the NFL's "Play 60" youth health and fitness initiative, a multi-year campaign which launches today to encourage youth to achieve 60 minutes of activity a day. The PSAs are available in both English and Spanish and were created pro bono by the NFL and Curious Pictures.

The PSAs are being distributed to media outlets nationwide this week. Per the Ad Council's model, all of the new ads will air and run in advertising time and space donated by the media. To start, the PSAs will appear throughout NFL games beginning in the middle of October. Additional media outlets, including USA Today and Sports Illustrated have committed to support the campaign during the next few months.

The new PSAs aim to reach children ages 6-13 to communicate the message that physical activity is fun and easy, and that you don't need to be an athlete or join organized sports to stay healthy. In addition to the NFL players, the ads introduce new animated NFL characters, Mike "Good Manners" McMannis (a referee who flags kids for "lazy penalties") and Wanda (a superhero-like cheerleader), who join the players in urging children to "get up and play an hour a day." The characters will be featured in upcoming NFL youth fitness initiatives throughout the season.

The new PSAs encourage youth to visit http://www.NFLRUSH.com and http://www.smallstep.gov for fun and interactive experiences to get healthy and be active. Both sites include information to keep kids fit, including NFL player blogs, games, wallpapers, and activities.

In addition to the new NFL spots, Ad Council continues to promote the "Be a Player" physical activity message, along with communications focused on portion control and energy balance, through its Coalition for Healthy Children. The coalition harnesses the combined strengths of major marketers, media, non-profit and government partners to combat childhood obesity through the dissemination of consistent, research-based messages to parents and children. This unique collaboration utilizes a national research study to evaluate progress and determine the effects of Coalition members' initiatives.

For more information about the Childhood Obesity Prevention campaign, and to learn how adults and children can lead a healthier lifestyle, log on to http://www.smallstep.gov