Once the game is on, Always let your presence be seen and known on the field. Don't distract players during the game, but approach them from different angles during the game to let them know that you can and will be everywhere at once. Don't just hang out on the tape line, but roam the whole field (or your sector).

Approach a player (all sneaky like) from behind... Move into their peripheral vision (slowly)... They will be a little surprised, but move away (silently) right after you make eye contact. Try to move around a lot, and do this little trick as often as possible. This will get in the players head that "these refs can show up at any time, from any angle"... You won't ever have an issue with wiping once you are in the players heads.

NEVER BUNCH UP!

Look for players pulling up their goggles on the fields or walking around without their barrel plugs in safety zones.

HEAD REF TIP: "Remind newer players to keep there masks on at all time before every game, and any time you deem it necessary. If you see a player who likes lifting his goggles on the field, or walking around the safe zones with out a barrel plug give them a warning. then another warning. then sit them out for a game. Most players will not intentionally disobey the rules."

HEAD REF TIP: "New players, particularly younger players WILL take their masks off. Be ready. Use your body to shield their faces and get their masks back on ASAP."

Once play begins feel free to give advice to newbies. typical newbie advice is

Look for potential dangerous situations. The most common is a very close shot involving a bunkertag. Look for the potential and move to it. If you see a situation where a bunker tag is eminant, move quickly to the area and quickly stop both players after the bunker tag from shooting point blank. Advise the agressor in a soft voice, "dont forget about the surrender rule"

On occassion a player will bunker down, get shot, and then not want to get out of the bunker for being scared. Move to this player and call them out. Put your body in the line of fire and advise them.

HEAD REF TIP: "In my paintball reffing career, the number one issue I've had to deal with is overshooting and point-blank shooting. A player who feels abused WILL NOT be back. Make it a point to explain the procedure for what to do if you're eliminated. This one simple step will save you more grief than anything else I can think of."

In Mutual Elimination situations the Ref Says: Making the call for a near-mutual or true-mutual elim: Be very enthusiastic and say "Beautiful Mutual", several times if you have to. Of course the players will both want to argue, but you are complimenting them on something, which solves the argument before it happens. By the time both players remember that they want to argue, they will have barrel plugs in and be walking off the field. This is also a good way to keep players friendly with one another after a tense situation.

Frequently a game will include the opportunity or necessity for a players or group of players to make a stealth or flank move. Nothing gives away a move like this quicker than some orange vest moving through the woods. If you must follow a group, separate from the group by at least 120 ft, and then following behind and to the side - or if you know where they are going, move there first and wait. Be on hand for when they open up. Bird dogging is when you follow too close and give the players away. This also includes watching a hidden player, or paint checking a player at the request of the enemy player for the purpose of having you locate the hidden player. Veteran players DO watch the younger/ less experienced refs to see where the enemy is.

Once a flag starts moving, make sure a ref goes with it. It is ok to birddog a bit in this instance, unless the flag pull was very stealthy. Run with the flag until hung. If the player running the flag gets shot, pick up the flag and hang it on the closest tree in plain view.

There are two types of paintchecks - the first is where the players is taking a lot of splatter and is dug in. In this case, call "The Player is Neutral"
move between the player and the enemy and hold you arms up to provide a shield for the player and have then stand and turn. If clean, you can tell them to either run or to get back down in their hole. Then yell "The Mans Clean" or "Mans eliminated" and "Play On!!"

The other type is an instance where you may have seen something, and want to check it. Run to the player in question and tell them "keep playing - you are not neutral " and then avoid the field of fire and check the player without stopping play. Then yell "The Mans Clean" or "Mans eliminated" and "Play On!!"

If you feel sneaky and want to get even with abusive "paintcheck calls" feel free to go paint check a tree or pine cone and then call "player clean".

HEAD REF TIP:"When you make a paintcheck call on a player, be sure and point to the player you're making a call on. Especially when there are multiple players close by. It the heat of a game, it can be very hard for players to know who your call is on."

HEAD REF TIP: "Do not call players neutral for a paintcheck unless it is absolutely necessary, most of the time you can do a "drive by" paintcheck, let him know what you are doing, be thorough and not disrupt the game. Both players will appreciate the effort. .. Be LOUD when you make a call and use hand signals. This helps prevent confusion."

If you see a player purposefully wiping a kit, or playing with a goggle hit -call them out and give them a gentle warning. If you see the same player do it again, sit them out a game, and ask the field owner/manager to speak with them about why its necessary to wipe.

Find ways to dissolve conflicts before they happen. Never get in a confrontation with a player on the field. If a player wants to argue a call, move them off the field (out of bounds) to discuss the situation calmly    HEAD REF TIP: "Always be polite, calm and firm because if you get excited/angry the player will do the same. The more aggressive a player gets in discussion the calmer but firmer you need to be. When he sees he is not getting a "rise" out of you he'll calm down."