| How important is the front middleman? Or | | | | Ever hear of the saying "killing two |
| better yet, how effective can he be? In | | | | birds with one stone"? Here is what you |
| the years that I have played paintball I | | | | can do. First set yourself on the bunker |
| have played all the positions on the | | | | in the center of the bunker. Position |
| field. The Middle Front is the most | | | | yourself so that you could shoot off |
| exciting. Many times the job of the | | | | either side but you still are out of the |
| middleman is to sprint to the flag | | | | fire lines. Basically set yourself just |
| station off the break and pull that | | | | inside of the two angles that the balls |
| flag. Often times if he succeeds, then | | | | are coming from. What you do now is snap |
| his job has been done. There is only one | | | | shoot with the Right Tape for 5 seconds. |
| flag pull in each game! | | | | Then switch to the Left Tape for 5 |
| One trick we have learned to help keep | | | | seconds. Then repeat until you out shoot |
| our middleman alive as he breaks for the | | | | one of them. Do you see what you are |
| flag is this: When the back players are | | | | doing at this point? |
| breaking they have the opportunity to | | | | You are keeping 2 of their players busy |
| see where the other team is breaking to, | | | | at the same time. They both think you |
| and one code we use to warn the | | | | are only shooting at them. Which means |
| middleman (lets call him the Flag Runner | | | | when you are snap shooting with the |
| since he is breaking for the flag) is | | | | Right Tape, the Left Tape is waiting on |
| "FLAG, FLAG, FLAG!" When a player from | | | | you to come back out and vice versa. |
| our team yells "FLAG, FLAG, FLAG!" that | | | | Hence, "Killing two birds with one |
| lets the Flag Runner know that he is | | | | stone". This will free up one or maybe |
| going to have company a player from the | | | | two of your teammates to move. Just be |
| other team is breaking for the flag too. | | | | careful- remember that when you switch |
| With this information our runner can | | | | that player is waiting on you. You might |
| decide what measures he needs to take to | | | | even catch him off guard if he got |
| protect him-self from this threat. Often | | | | impatient and started to shoot at |
| the other team's Flag Runner doesn't | | | | another one or your teammates! |
| even know that our Flag Runner is there, | | | | "Warning" do not get tunnel vision while |
| which gives him the advantage. When the | | | | playing in the Center. That is the best |
| other player is worrying about getting | | | | way to get bunkered! I remember one five |
| the pull he is not expecting a barrel to | | | | man game we lost. The count was three us |
| pop over and paint him! | | | | against four them. We had a player in |
| So, you made it and possess the "flag". | | | | midfield center position. We had a |
| You have done what was expected of you. | | | | player in our Back Left and we had a |
| Now what? Likely, if you don't find | | | | player in our Back Center. Our Back Left |
| yourself in the dead box shortly after | | | | player couldn't see a thing on the Left |
| you pull the flag, you find yourself | | | | Tape so he was pounding the Right Tape. |
| bombarded with paintballs. Don't panic! | | | | Our Back Center was worried about their |
| Remember you did your job. Now it's time | | | | Back Right and Back Center. Our Mid |
| to get tight and communicate. Ask or | | | | Center man was posted up on their Right |
| listen for the locations of the | | | | Mid Tape. Can you guess what happened? |
| opponents. It wouldn't hurt to just sit | | | | An opponent made his way up the left |
| there for a few seconds to let the | | | | tape and bunkered our Mid Center and |
| opponent find some one else to shoot at. | | | | Back Center Players, Leaving three on |
| Don't think of moving at this point. A | | | | one. Game Over! |
| lateral move would be unwise. Actually, | | | | If only one of our center players had |
| you are as far up the field as you can | | | | resisted the "Tunnel Vision" that |
| go until a push is possible. | | | | posting up on someone creates, (posting |
| Let's sit back and look at your | | | | up is very effective as long as you are |
| situation. You are as far up front as | | | | not in the hole or you know that the |
| you can be and you are in the middle. | | | | whole field is covered) if our Back Left |
| You are the opponent's biggest threat | | | | player had thought to communicate that |
| right now and you haven't even pulled | | | | he had the Right Tape and some one |
| the trigger. Chances are you are getting | | | | needed to cover the Left Tape, the |
| it from both sides. Shots from their | | | | bunkering would not have happened. |
| Right Tape, Shots From the Left Tape. | | | | The moral to the story is that a Center |
| Most likely it's not their Backmen, they | | | | player can support and free up his/ her |
| are too worried about your team members | | | | team member very effectively as long as |
| on the right and left tape! | | | | they work off of both sides. |