Editing Dave Youngblood (section)

== Early involvement in paintball ==

Youngblood first played paintball in Southern California in 1984, when he was 14. A high-school friend, Greg Nay, introduced him to the game after obtaining parental waivers through his older brother. Youngblood initially played at commercial fields including [[International Strategic War Games]], Sad Sack's War Zone and Tactics.[1]

He joined a team called the Terminators in 1985. To make regular play more affordable, he worked as a referee at Tactics on Saturdays in exchange for free play and discounted paint on Sundays. By late 1986 he had become one of the field's head referees and had joined Havok.[1]

After Tactics relocated and the original Quest field in Malibu closed, Youngblood began playing at Conquest. There he became associated with Sudden Death, whose members played team challenges against opponents including the Bushmasters, Havok, the Beerborn Rangers, KMA and the Fighting 69th.[1]

A 1990 ''Los Angeles Times'' report identified DeHaan as a referee trainer from Lawndale, California, who worked for Carter Machine. The report also documented his use of the name Youngblood and his already distinctive practice of playing in a formal suit.[2]