National Professional Paintball League

The National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) was one of three American paintball national tournament series that travel throughout the United States each year, and the largest professional seven-man paintball league in the world. It declared bankruptcy in 2008 and the name was taken over by the USPL in 2009. The name was later changed back to the NPPL and they ended the hiatus in 2010. In February 2014, the NPPL announced that the series would not return for 2014 in order to restructure and reorganize and has now disbanded.

History

The NPPL held four events throughout the United States each year. Registration was open to any team in any division except in the professional division which consisted of 18 franchised professional teams. The three lowest-ranked professional teams at the end of a season were relegated to the semi-professional division, and the three highest-ranked semi-professional teams were promoted to the professional division. Teams competed according to skill level classified into separate divisions. Divisions were distinguished in ascending order as: Division III (D3), Division II (D2), Division I (D1), Semi-Professional, and Professional. Cash prizes were given out to the top four finishers in each division. The season generally started in March and went through October with a tournament being played about every other month.

Bankruptcy and reorganization

On December 2, 2008 the NPPL filed for bankruptcy, after the NPPL's 2008 San Diego tournament - ending a short season, due to a hurricane cancelling the Houston event. In 2009, the remaining professional teams contacted former NPPL President Chuck Hendsch and formed the USPL. In late 2009, the USPL obtained the rights to the NPPL namesake for the 2010 season. The name was eventually changed back to the NPPL and they were able to hold three more seasons before they called another hiatus in 2014. The series is closed indefinitely after a failed merger attempt.

General regulations

A regulation NPPL field is 180 feet (55 m) long by 100 feet (30 m) wide. Inflatable bunkers of differing shapes and sizes are placed on the field in mirrored symmetry. Each end of the field has a start box with the team's flag on it. Each team consists of seven players.

At the beginning of a match, the head referee raises his hand and announces the start of the silent ten-second countdown. At the end of the silent countdown, the game is commenced with the head referee yelling "Go, go, go!" When the game commences, a seven-minute countdown is started. The game ends when either all the players on both teams are eliminated, time runs out, or a flag is hung. Points are awarded for hanging the opposing team's flag on your start station, pulling the opponent's flag from their start station, eliminating opposing players, and for live (unmarked) players at the end of a match.

A player is eliminated when they are hit by a paintball that breaks on any part of the body or equipment. Upon elimination the player must place their gun behind their start station and go to their team's deadbox, located in their back corner of the field. If a player fails to acknowledge a hit they run the risk of being penalized with a "one-for-one." This penalty consists of a referee pulling out the eliminated player and the closest friendly player.

Past venue locations & results

Teams

The following is a list of teams to have played in the National Professional Paintball League.

Professional

• Bob Long’s Ironmen (2002)
• Ground Zero Black (2002)
• Ground Zero Gold (2002)
• Fusion (2002)
• Jax Warriors (2002)
• Lockout (2002)
• Miami Rage (2002)
• Pittsburgh All Americans (2002)
• San Diego Dynasty (2002)
• SC Ironmen (2002)
• St. Louis Avalanche (2002) - originally San Francisco Avalanche (Now New England Avalanche [2012])
• Strange (2002)
• Ton Ton Flingueres (2002)
• Brass Eagle Allstars (2003)
• New England Hurricanes (2004) - Played as Redz Hurricanes in 2004
• Nexus (2003)
• OC Bushwackers (2003) - Bushwackers International Lost spot in pro Division end of 2006. Regained spot in 2008 placing top 3 in Semi Pro taking Las Vegas LTZ’s spot
• Portland Naughty Dogs (2003)
• Russian Legion (2003)
• Pasadena Bad Company (2003) - Lost spot in Pro Division 2007 to SD Aftermath
• Phoenix Contact (2012) - Took Indianapolis Mutiny's spot after they dropped out of the league
• Portland Uprising (2011)
• Philadelphia Energy (2013)
• Joy Division (2003) - Withdrew at end of 2007 season due to referee issues. Stockholm Sweden team.
• Los Angeles Infamous (2004)
• Sacramento XSV (2004)
• Sedition (2004)
• Chicago Legend
• Chicago Evil changed name in 2007 to Chicago Farside (2003)
• Oakland gang bangers (2005) - originally Oakland Empire
• Fort Wayne Outlaws (2013) - Trademygun.com team
• Vancouver Vendetta (2011) - Debuted in vegas?
• Los Angeles Ironmen (2006)
• DC Arsenal (2007) - also played as Dallas Elite
• Edmonton Impact (2007)
• Montreal Image (2007) - originally New York NRG
• San Antonio X-Factor (2008) - Took over Las Vegas LTZ’s spot by placing 4th in semi pro and A-Team the first place finisher no longer being a team.
• SD Aftermath (2008) - Took over Bad Company’s spot by placing top 3 in semi pro.
• Tampa Bay Damage (2008) - Purchased Jacksonville Raiders spot in the pro division
• Jacksonville Raiders (2007) - Also known as Doc’s Raiders Sold pro spot to Tampa Bay Damage for 2008 season
• Las Vegas LTZ (2007) - Lost spot in pro division end of 2007 to San Antonio X-Factor
• Orange County Flashpoint (2013)
• CRUsh (2013)

See also

• Paintball Sports Promotions

References

• Results for 2003-2006 seasons
• Results for 2007-2008 seasons
• Team entrance into NPPL
• Regional Paintball League Website

External links

• NPPL Official Site