Mentors

[Diesel]

The AOSC is starting a mentor program. If you are interested in helping first time players at their first game, please PM me. I will give you all the info then.
The mentors will help show new players the ropes and generally help them through the first part if the games.
This will help new players have an enjoyable experience, and also help the new players to meet older experienced players and learn from them.

[Felix]

Just saying, i bring new players almost every game, and it would be really helpful if someone other than me shows them how its done.  I wouldnt mind being a mentor if you need one Diesel

[IronChef]

jsut give em a gun, facepro, water..bb's and make em take POINT!!!!

[GREEN NINJA]

This is an excellent idea,
imho mentors should be proven soldiers and have at least a year in airsoft and have a good relationship with the airsoft community. Must be HONEST, humble, and knowledgable in all aspects of the sport if you want to bring people in properly.

[Diesel]

Ninja, you hit it exactly on the head. Those are the kind of players I need to help me with this.

[D.Smitty]

I would be willing to rent guns out to players at a discount as a part of this mentor program.  The main reason that my prices are so high is that I don't want to hand a gun to a player only to find out later that they will do things like hold down the trigger when the gun doesn't feed, drop it, or otherwise misuse it.

I think this would qualify as a reduction in risks, something like a "safe driver" discount.  However, I realize that many who would mentor also have spare guns, so I might not even be needed.

[GARRETT]

I am willing to help in whichever way possible, as long as I am not tied up with admin.

And Smitty, I wouldn't stop with the rrntals yet. I have a few spares, but every time I have loaned them they have come back broken. So from now on I have no loaners.

[82dcustomer]

Great idea Diesel.  Did you come up with this on your own?  And when did you become a Mod?

[Diesel]

It is not completely my idea. A field in Ga has talked about it, and are trying to work on it. I decided to not talk and to do it instead. As for a mod, that happened last week.
We got to make sure the new players enjoy themselves while also learning the rules. This will make sure the rule part is covered.

[Trig]

My NROTC unit does something similar to this, we call Old Salt/Young Salt. 

Perhaps you should start another topic where people could sign up if they are interested in being a mentor.  I would be willing to do this given if I'm able to attend the games.

[BigMan23]

I'd be more than happy to mentor younger players if needed...and if there's any other way myself and my team can help, let me know.

[stuckmojo]

great idea geno...i wish i had a mentor when i first came into the sport. plus one for doing this and also btw congrads on becoming a mod

[UF_Jester]

It is not completely my idea. A field in Ga has talked about it, and are trying to work on it. I decided to not talk and to do it instead. As for a mod, that happened last week.
We got to make sure the new players enjoy themselves while also learning the rules. This will make sure the rule part is covered.

The field Diesel referenced is the field I play at. The main problem that we are encountering down here is that not every new player wants to be "babied". That, of course, is not the intent of the program, but people look at it that way.

I am actually one of the people trying to push for the idea to happen and I really hope it works up there as well. I see so many experienced players complain about the way new players play and I know that would change if someone would take the new guy under their wing and help them. Ideas like mentor programs would really help to improve the quality of the games for both new and experienced players.

[Diesel]

That is why we are not mandating it for new players. It will be purely a volunteer basis on the new players. I do want to urge any player 14-17 to take hold of the great opportunity, but we will see how it works out soon enough.

[Doublewolf]

If there's any way I can help, I will; although, being one of the younger players myself, and living in GA, that probably won't be very much.