New Professional Rules for the PSP: no early layout, CAPPED semi-auto, no coaching



At the request of numerous Pro players and teams, on the Pro Champions and Pro Challengers fields only, communication between spectators and players will be prohibited on both sides of the field. This change applies to all games played on each field, including divisional finals games.



While layout for the divisional fields will continue to be released in advance, the field layout for the Pro Champion and Challenger fields will no longer be released prior to the event. The two fields will first be set up Thursday morning and available for Pro Champions and Challengers teams to walk starting at 11 AM Thursday. Following each event, the Pro field layout will then become the Divisional field layout for the next event. The divisional field layout for the 1st event of the season will be released approximately three weeks before the first event. Divisional teams playing Finals on Sunday on the Pro Champions field will be given an opportunity to walk the field before play. PSP will continue to use the same set of bunkers and type of layouts you come to know and enjoy.



Players on Pro Champions and Challengers teams will be shooting semi-auto guns for 2015. To ensure guns are operating in the correct mode, all Pro Champions and Challengers players will be required to use manufacturer-stock boards with manufacturer-provided semi-auto-only software. Multiple enforcement mechanisms will be in place to ensure players adhere to the semi-auto standard. Semi auto is classified as 1 full pull and release of a trigger with 1 paintball fired.



PSP believes these changes will provide Pro players with exciting new opportunities to exhibit the skills that make them the best players in the world while simultaneously providing fans with more exciting contests between the best teams in the game.





TLDR: 2015 Professional Rule Changes Semi-auto only - explained here

No coaching

Layouts released at events

Read here for divisional changes:





Quote: John Originally Posted by







PbNation: We’ve seen the new rules, but we would like clarification on one rule before we even start: will pros be playing at a capped rate of fire or uncapped?

Tom Cole - We have not capped the ROF as of now.



EDIT: This has changed. New rules for semi capped are here: https://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=4582745





That sounds like it could change, but thanks for clearing that up. We should start by saying we don’t actually know why there are new rules. What is the PSP trying to accomplish through these rules changes with the pros?

Tom Cole - We are trying to showcase the skill of the Pro paintball player. A player that has made it to the Pro ranks should be able to shoot on the run and left handed without a enhanced trigger.





How long were these changes discussed? Who came up with the idea?

Tom Cole - I think we have been discussing this topic since electronic markers first came out. Every year the PSP looks at what we think is best for the players and the sport of paintball. We think the game will be more fun to play and watch.





Was anyone worried about the similarity to the old NPPL rules?

Tom Cole - The NPPL does not really come up in PSP meetings.





Were any of these changes play tested? By what teams?

No answer





How do you plan to enforce “no coaching?”

The PSP declined to answer any of the coaching questions at this time, but we had to try.



What will the sidelines be allowed to do? To not do?



What’s the penalty if someone violates those rules?



Is there a team penalty too?

Tom Cole - The changes to the coaching rules are a work in progress, so I don't have specific answers to those questions yet.





How do you intend enforce semi-auto?

Tom Cole - We will employ several extreme high speed cameras that we can watch as the game is played and track that players are shooting semi-automatic.





How do you plan to punish players caught with guns not shooting semi-auto?

Tom Cole - We are currently working on penalties to be added to the 2015 rule book





Will there also be a team penalty that extends further?

Tom Cole - If we feel that a team is trying to beat the system we can issue a team penalty.





Will you be able to test fast enough to penalize during the game or will it be a punitive penalty?

Tom Cole - We will be able to test the ROF while the players are playing.





How about if the board is deemed factory? Is there a penalty for the manufacturer?

Tom Cole - We are currently working with the manufactures to create a workable program.





Is the intention to filter any of these pro changes down to the lower divisions?

Tom Cole - Not at this time.











And does anyone at the PSP have data on how much paint was shot at PSP events in 2009 when the divisional players shot ~10 BPS? Was it more or less?

Tom Cole - We do not have any real paint use data from back in 2009.





If not, what’s the thinking behind teams at the highest level playing a different game than the rest the league?

Tom Cole - I think that has always been the case. This is true not just in paintball but in most sports.





Won’t that make the jump to pro even harder?

Tom Cole - Not sure ask Johnny Football





Did Chris Raehl's head explode when you informed him of the changes?

Tom Cole - His head did explode but we saved his brain and hooked it up to a computer so he can still argue on PbNation.





Thanks to Tom and Lane for taking the time to talk to us. We look forward to seeing how these changes impact the league. Tom Cole and Lane Wright of the PSP were kind enough to answer some of our questions about the new rules. It sounds like they are still dialing in the rule changes, so we appreciate the insight into their progress.Tom Cole - We have not capped the ROF as of now.Tom Cole - We are trying to showcase the skill of the Pro paintball player. A player that has made it to the Pro ranks should be able to shoot on the run and left handed without a enhanced trigger.Tom Cole - I think we have been discussing this topic since electronic markers first came out. Every year the PSP looks at what we think is best for the players and the sport of paintball. We think the game will be more fun to play and watch.Tom Cole - The NPPL does not really come up in PSP meetings.No answerThe PSP declined to answer any of the coaching questions at this time, but we had to try.Tom Cole - The changes to the coaching rules are a work in progress, so I don't have specific answers to those questions yet.Tom Cole - We will employ several extreme high speed cameras that we can watch as the game is played and track that players are shooting semi-automatic.Tom Cole - We are currently working on penalties to be added to the 2015 rule bookTom Cole - If we feel that a team is trying to beat the system we can issue a team penalty.Tom Cole - We will be able to test the ROF while the players are playing.Tom Cole - We are currently working with the manufactures to create a workable program.Tom Cole - Not at this time.Tom Cole - We do not have any real paint use data from back in 2009.Tom Cole - I think that has always been the case. This is true not just in paintball but in most sports.Tom Cole - Not sure ask Johnny FootballTom Cole - His head did explode but we saved his brain and hooked it up to a computer so he can still argue on PbNation.Thanks to Tom and Lane for taking the time to talk to us. We look forward to seeing how these changes impact the league. PSP is pleased to announce several changes for the 2015 season designed to allow players competing on the Pro Champions and Pro Challengers fields to showcase the individual skills developed over several years of training. In addition to highlighting each player’s talents in each individual skill, Pro players’ performance will also depend on their ability to execute several skills simultaneously. These changes, limited to the Pro Champions and Challengers fields, include elimination of spectator communication to players, field layouts released on-site at each event, and using guns in semi-auto mode. The combination will highlight each player’s and team’s creativity, understanding of the game, and gun fighting skills, allowing us to see who are the best in the world.At the request of numerous Pro players and teams, on the Pro Champions and Pro Challengers fields only, communication between spectators and players will be prohibited on both sides of the field. This change applies to all games played on each field, including divisional finals games.While layout for the divisional fields will continue to be released in advance, the field layout for the Pro Champion and Challenger fields will no longer be released prior to the event. The two fields will first be set up Thursday morning and available for Pro Champions and Challengers teams to walk starting at 11 AM Thursday. Following each event, the Pro field layout will then become the Divisional field layout for the next event. The divisional field layout for the 1st event of the season will be released approximately three weeks before the first event. Divisional teams playing Finals on Sunday on the Pro Champions field will be given an opportunity to walk the field before play. PSP will continue to use the same set of bunkers and type of layouts you come to know and enjoy.Players on Pro Champions and Challengers teams will be shooting semi-auto guns for 2015. To ensure guns are operating in the correct mode, all Pro Champions and Challengers players will be required to use manufacturer-stock boards with manufacturer-provided semi-auto-only software. Multiple enforcement mechanisms will be in place to ensure players adhere to the semi-auto standard. Semi auto is classified as 1 full pull and release of a trigger with 1 paintball fired.PSP believes these changes will provide Pro players with exciting new opportunities to exhibit the skills that make them the best players in the world while simultaneously providing fans with more exciting contests between the best teams in the game.Read here for divisional changes: https://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=4530505

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