Oregon Armories

Paintball Field Postions – The Backman

On a paintball team, each player occupies a certain position on their team; each having their own roles and responsibilities in the game.  By learning and practicing different positions, you can become an extremely valuable player to your team.  The Backman is one of the most important players on the team.  His job is to stay in the back of the field and defend his team flag (in capture the flag type games), as well as provide cover fire for the other more forward players.    

In most cases, the backman does not move around the playing field much; he will stay in the back of the field and fire tons of paint.  He does this as an effort to keep the other team from moving forward and to defend his teammates from being shot so they can focus on capturing the other team’s flag.  If the opposing team breaks through your front lines, it’s the backman’s job to stay and defend the flag with all he’s got.

If the frontman is eliminated, it is also the backman’s job to inform the mid-players to re-position themselves on the field and take over the forward position.  In this way, he will control the movement of his team, so communication is key.  It’s also part of the backman’s responsibilities to advise the other team members of the placement/movement of the opposing players.  He should be able to make quick decisions about his own team movement if the opposing team positions dictate a change in strategy.  As this position is one of the most important, the captain of the team may sometimes take this position.

Because the backman must communicate with the more forward players on a regular basis, the size of the field must be taken into account.  Larger fields may force the “Backman” to yell repeatedly and may cause his throat to become sore.  Many scenario players utilize communication devices such two-way radios or even throat mic systems that will allow the entire team to keep in touch with a whisper or normal taking voice.  These systems are also great for keeping the opposition from hearing commands specific to your team and to keep from giving away your position if hidden.  

Constant cover fire from the backman is extremely important for his forward players to be able to stay on the move.  Choosing the correct weapon is important for this position as he will do the majority of shooting in a match.  This also means the backman will use the most ammunition during a game.  Wearing a harness or backpack capable of carrying a large amount of paintballs can be invaluable for this position.  Fortunately, the backman does the least movement on the field, so he can afford to be somewhat weighted down with equipment and ammo.

As the backman’s shots will have to cover the entire field, it is recommended that he use a paintball marker that is accurate with long distance shooting.  Most player’s gun style is dictated by the type of game they’re playing; speedball players use competition style markers, while scenario gamers typically use tactical military style paintball markers.  Either way, the backman will want a gun with a longer barrel to aid in longer distance, more accurate shooting, preferably 16-18 inches.  A Red Dot scope for better accuracy is also recommended. 

Paintball guns equipped with an electronic trigger offer the “Backman” a further advantage.  This provides the option of semi-auto, 3 round burst or fully automatic firing. These can be beneficial when holding down an opponent providing your front players extra time to move about the field.  An extra pod on your belt, harness or legs can provide access to extra paintballs.  A tactical vest is also equipped to carry extra ammunition along with a larger air supply/power for your paintball gun.

As the backman shoots the most in a match, he will also use the most air for his gun.  He should be prepared for this by carrying the largest paintball CO2 tank or be able to carry an extra.  Most tactical vests and pod harnesses offer an extra pouch that will hold a CO2 tank.  When choosing a vest or harness, make sure it will carry plenty of gear but is also comfortable to move in.  Even though he may not cover much ground, the backman will still need to maneuver quickly behind bunkers and change his position frequently for the best cover fire vantage points and to keep an eye on the enemy.

In deciding on which position suites you, one must assess his personality and physical prowess and match it to the roles and activity levels required.  The backman position requires someone who can think on his feet, make decisions quickly and communicate well with others.  He should be well versed in all the other positions on the team to know what players to put where when necessary.  He should also possess accurate shooting skills and have equipment that matches his responsibilities.  The backman will carry a lot of ammo, air and use a paintball marker that’s accurate in long distance shooting. 

About the Author

Dan Levesque is the owner and operator of a successful online paintball retail store, ChoicePaintballGuns.com.  He also owns and operates several other successful businesses and is the treating doctor at a full time chiropractic clinic.  He is also a professional powerlifter and trains several top level strength athletes.

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