The Irregulators,
an evolution from a dream.

Years of playing recreational paintball across the west coast kept me busy! I tried everything I could. Indoor, speedball, woodsball…etc. Then while I was working in the greater San Diego, California area I had the chance to finally participate in a 2 day scenario event. Using the message boards and the convenience of the internet I managed to find a local team that opened their camp to me without question.  I drove the two hours to the field and parked next to a group of guys I had never met except for in the anonymity of online.  They were nothing but absolutely warm and welcoming throughout the weekend. I joined that team and while I was in that area for the next year I learned what I wanted from paintball. Team Stealth Possum showed me what I really found to be my main drive in paintball…scenario games!

When I had to leave that part of the country due to my work obligations at the time I was separated from that paintball family.  I kept playing, but there was just something missing.

I discovered paintball with a high school friend.  David Collett and I went to high school together and have stayed great friends since…a one in a million guy! While I traveled the west coast hitting every paintball place I could find, he played regularly with a group of dedicated players in the Sacramento area.  Being in the Air Force David found himself being transferred to the Tacoma, Washington area.

I left my job that kept me practicing a vagabond lifestyle and moved back to what I considered home…Post Falls, Idaho.

Both of us discovered a gapping void of good paintball.  We kept our taste alive with of course…the internet. We decided to return to the Sacramento area for a special event, not to mention the chance to take some time off from life at the same time.  We drove from our Pacific Northwest homes. 14 hours each way. Road trips seem to have the beautiful effect of inspiring imagination and creativity…especially between good friends

Our conversation lead to our reminiscing about the glory days of our paintball past.  And how it would be nice to see that again. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that group of buddies again?  I had been trying to figure out how to create a team before this, but having the time to really put the ideas to another person.  It would be nice. Perhaps a real team.

Over the course of the next few hours we bounced ideas back and forth.  I have always been fascinated with the seemingly lost art of chivalry in our society.  And I wanted a way to show it.  A coat of arms…yes.Of course the standards came to the front of the mind…Dragons, Lions, Eagles, crossed swords…which lead to crossed paintball guns…masks.  But none of it worked for me.  I wanted to show strength and honor. An armored fist, but I wanted different.  The back of an armored fist is defensive, an open palm, welcoming.  A fist holding a sword…offensive.  I went for a clenched armored fist , fingers facing forward.  My reasoning was that the team would be tough, offensive, defensive, and welcoming all at the same time. Place that on a shield and BAM!  Instant coat of arms!

The name came from not wanting any specific type of player.  Not wanting to shoehorn anyone into my personal view of the game.  The name Irregulators is a constant reminder that the team is a group of players that come from all walks of life with one thing in common…paintball!

The Irregulators were formed on that trip.  Everything was firmed up and we had a great weekend of top notch paintball.

I returned home with a goal. It was time to start finding the players that would fit the ideals of the Irregulators. First off, there is no real structure to the team.  WE exist off of our own version of team honor. The only rules in place, represent the sport and the team with honor.  Play hard, play fair, play safe and most of all….have fun! I don’t care what you do for a living.  It does not matter what kind of gear you use or what you wear.  There is no team ‘uniform’, no dues or mandatory games. To be apart of the team you need to be accepted by the other members.

So when I got back I started watching for these type of players.  Hand selecting the very first players and telling them of my idea of a team with no boundaries whose only existence is to play paintball! I started sharing my love of scenario games with the first few team members.  They started joining me in the long drives to distant games. Others in the team started to discover the scenario paintball bug.  And their excitement started to spread the word.

As our team grew we found others wanting to be apart of the group.  Up to this point every member had been hand selected.  Now people were asking to join, and we had no idea who they were or how they played!

So The Intern program was hatched!  Now when a person is invited to join the team they go through our probationary period that allows senior members of the team watch and more importantly get to know the new folks better.  Then when the time is right, Interns are brought to full team status.  Each induction ceremony is different and is done for the benefit of both the person joining the team and the team members themselves. These ceremonies truly bind the players to the group and have created more of a true family than a paintball team. 

We have come a long way baby!