Physical TrainingBy: Paul Chia - Team Faction
Monday February 4, 2008
I remember when I first started playing paintball back in the days when no one did any physical training. I guess it was not important back then, or even nowadays. People do not think physical training is important. If you just started playing paintball, this is the best time to get in shape and practice your paintball skills. There are many ways to get in shape. You can do it on your own, with a partner, or even better, with a teammate. For beginners, you do not want to start with an advanced exercise. Most people fail because they try to start at the top instead of working their way up to it. You can’t just jump right into it. It’s like the first time you ride a bike after taking off the training wheels. The first time you usually fall. So start with one workout at a time until you build strength and stamina. There will be bumps on the road, but it will be worth it if you set a realistic goal and strive until you reach it. Discouragement will happen since it's hard at first, but if you can stick with it, results are truly rewarding. Trust me. I know.
This is where you should start if you are new to paintball fitness. Warm up with 15 minutes of jogging and continue with a 5-minute stretching routine. The first exercise is the hill or stadium climb. I like to alternate between the hill and stadium climbs so my body does not get into a routine of just one type of exercise. Begin by sprinting uphill for 40 yards, then rest for 3 minutes. Repeat for 4-6 sets. Same set of criteria for stadium steps.
Move on to leapfrog jumps. Set up cones. If you don’t have cones, use your paintball pods! You want to accomplish a minimum of 10 jumps from start cone to finish cone. If you can do more, do it. Try to push yourself a little further each week. You will also repeat this exercise for 4-6 sets. Then do all-out sprints. Line up your cones or pods 60 yards apart. Begin with half-speed sprints to about 20 yards and then increase to a full-out sprint the last 40 yards. Rest for 3 minutes and repeat for 4 more sets. Now reverse the sprints. Begin running the first 40 yards on a full-out sprint, finishing slowly the last 20 yards at half speed. Again, repeat for 4 sets.
The training schedule for today is complete. Remember: It is extremely important to stretch both after exercising and at the beginning. So allow yourself an additional 5-10 minutes of post-exercise stretching to allow your muscles to cool down. These exercises are just a sample of some ways to help you perform better on the paintball field. These are also great exercises for your general health. You can always add a little weight training to your workout routine. Try doing these drills 2-3 days a week and weight training on the other days. Weight training is a huge part of your physical ability, and by adding this you will see greater results. So get up off your butt and get out there.
Just remember that there is no one technique or training regimen that'll get you where you need to be. Only a combination of all the right conditioning elements together with a proper diet will help you reach your goals. Punish your body and become a better baller. You want to look good on and off the field, right? So get to it, and I'll see you on the field.
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