The Wild World of TB!

At the time in 2002 people were all up in arms about judge punches, even more so for judge punches for people who were 1 fps over the limit. It was such a huge debate in scenario paintball on every forum at the time out there, that Viper made a statement in the magazine. It is here just as food for thought, and to realize that like all things out there today, new rules aren't needed, just enforcement of the old ones.


By Kerry ‘Viper’ Rosenberry

There seems to be a major issue with judge punches. I am making this statement to set the record straight so that there are no misunderstandings.

If a player does something to deserve a warning, we punch their card to show that they've been warned. It's not a permanent black mark on your record. It's not a fine. It's not ejection from the game. It's no different than when a cop issues a written warning for a traffic infraction. You don't have to go to court, pay a fine, go to defensive driving, have your insurance rates hiked, or anything else. It simply shows to his superiors that that officer informed you that you were breaking the law, but chose not to punish you for doing so. He simply gave you a warning. However, if the same person has twenty written warnings show up on the books for the same infractions, you can bet they'll look to do something about it.

The punch system is in place for a reason. It is to PREVENT players from receiving countless warnings from multiple refs. If I found out a ref was handing out warnings and NOT punching cards he would be in trouble with me, and no longer be a ref at my events. I've been judge-punched before. It doesn't happen for hot guns because I chrono about 15fps below the limit. If you push the limit, you take your chances. Not to mention that sometimes things happen and you will get a hot shot no matter how much you did to prevent it.

Some folks seem very preoccupied with the "1fps over the limit" issue. A limit is a limit. Over is over. There has never been a grey area here. The limit is 280. Not 281. If we only punch for 285fps, then 286 is only one more than that, right? So why not let folks go if it's 286. But then some guy has 287. "You didn't punch my buddy's card and he was shooting 286! So why punch my card?" You can keep pushing it and pushing it this way. I let the cops have their "5mph over before you get a ticket" outlook. At our events the limit is the limit. Over is over. Over (even by just 1) is against the rules.

When you break the rules you get warned. When you get warned you get a punch to show that the ref did his job to keep players safe, and within the rules. I would rather see a few extra punches than know that there are players risking their own safety, or the safety of others, or violating the rules, only to receive dozens of verbal warnings from multiple
refs. If someone is constantly 1fps over they are pushing the limit. I don't want every ref to tell them over and over. I want them to realize it and correct the problem the first time. If they don't get their card punched how many of these untracked warnings do you think it will take before they do something. If the speed limit is 55mph, how fast do you drive? Most folks will do 59-60 because they know that they probably won't get a ticket. If we tell players 280, but we don't punch unless they are 285 or over, how many do you think will be trying to shoot 284? The limit is 280fps. 281 is over.

I have played scenario games since the first one ever. in 15+ years I've had a judge punch here and there. It's gonna happen. Heck, some of em look for me just to brag that they punched my card because they caught "Viper" doing something wrong! I once wondered outside of a poorly-marked tapeline. I've lost my temper a couple of times and used inappropriate language. I think I even dropped a barrel plug once and came off the field without it. I've seen enough people get hot gun punches and I figured out that it's not worth it to me to push the limits. I give myself enough room for error, malfunction, and odd-sized ball, whatever. I obey whatever rules are in place to the best of my ability. If I break the rules I fully expect, and occasionally get, a judge punch. I apologize to the ref, tell him he's doing a good job, and remedy whatever problem existed.

But the point is simply this: A judge punch is just a warning. Don't make any more of an issue of it than it is. It just means you slipped. It can happen to anyone. Don't let yourself feel insulted or attacked if the judge punches your card. And don't try and make them feel any worse than they already do for having to do so. Thank him/her for their hard work and do your best to learn from it, to heed their warning, and remedy the problem if possible. Now go have fun and stop worrying so much!