Is Paintball a Real Sport?

       This question has been following me for the past five years.  This isn’t really a very controversial topic in society but it seems that there is a select few that feel really passionate for something and there are people who will always fight you on your views if they conflict with theirs.  Paintball is in the same category as gymnastics, cheerleading, dancing and golf.  It’s usually split down the middle weather these sports are really sports or considered hobbies.  The beauty is in the eye of the beholder on these.  If you are involved in these then they are most likely to go with yea they are sports but if you are on the outside looking in then you don’t see it. 

                Let’s start with defining what a sport is. A sport is “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.” (Dictionary.com)  The only thing I would add to this is strategy and teamwork.  When we look at paintball closely we see everything and more than what a ‘sport’ should have.  You need to be agile, to avoid getting hit.  Quick whited, needing to change a strategy on a moment’s notice.  You need to be thinking ahead of the other team constantly.  Paintball is a very technical sport that requires a lot more than a lot of main stream sports.  When we look at our main stream sports, basketball, football, soccer, etc. you can be considered good at it when there really is no talent that needs to be there.  Basketball, you just have to be seven feet tall and you can be pro.  Football, if you’re 387 pounds and can run you can be pro.  Soccer, you need to run as fast as possible and be able to kick the ball.  We idolize these sports and never stop to think why we like the athletes so much.  Don’t get me wrong, there are so many athletes with more talent than anyone can ever imagine and they deserve all the credit in the world for getting there.  Just when you think of a sport today think deep about it and what you are really watching and what is considered a ‘sport.’