View source for WikiPaintball:Get involved


'''WikiPaintball is a collaborative project dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of paintball worldwide.''' From professional tournaments and international manufacturers to local teams, recreational fields and forgotten competitions, every part of paintball's history deserves an accurate record.

Much of the sport's history exists in old magazines, tournament results, archived websites, historical documents and the memories of people who participated. As websites disappear and records are lost, preserving this information becomes increasingly important.

'''You don't need to be a professional player, historian or experienced wiki editor to help.''' Anyone with an interest in paintball can make a valuable contribution.

== Ways to get involved ==

=== Write and improve articles ===

One of the most useful ways to contribute is by creating new articles or improving existing ones.

You can help document:

* Paintball players, teams and their histories.
* Tournament series, leagues and competition results.
* Paintball fields, clubs and regional organisations.
* Equipment manufacturers and historical products.
* Paintball magazines, websites and other publications.
* Important developments in paintball's history.

Before creating an article, search WikiPaintball to check whether the subject has already been covered.

New contributors should start with [[WikiPaintball:Contributor guide]] and [[WikiPaintball:Editorial standards]].

=== Share historical information ===

Some of paintball's most valuable historical records are held in private collections or have never been published online.

You may have information that could help preserve an otherwise undocumented part of the sport.

Examples include:

* Old tournament results, schedules and team lists.
* Event programmes, flyers and promotional materials.
* Archived team and manufacturer websites.
* Equipment catalogues and product documentation.
* Historical league standings and championship records.
* Local club records and regional paintball publications.
* Historical articles, interviews and contemporary reports.

Even a single tournament result or previously undocumented team roster can help establish an important historical detail.

Where possible, provide the original source, date and relevant context so the information can be independently verified.

=== Research historical subjects ===

Many paintball teams, manufacturers, events and organisations have limited information available online.

Contributors can help by researching historical subjects and finding credible sources.

Useful research includes:

* Locating tournament results and league standings.
* Finding contemporary reports about historical events.
* Establishing when teams and organisations were active.
* Researching former paintball manufacturers and their products.
* Identifying the organisers of historical tournament series.
* Comparing archived sources to establish accurate timelines.

Research does not have to result in an entirely new article. Adding a verified historical detail to an existing page is a valuable contribution.

=== Preserve disappearing websites ===

Many early paintball websites, forums and tournament databases have disappeared or are no longer maintained.

Archived copies may contain valuable information about teams, equipment, tournaments and businesses that is unavailable elsewhere.

Contributors can help by:

* Finding historical paintball websites through the Internet Archive.
* Identifying original articles and tournament reports.
* Recovering useful historical references.
* Replacing broken source links with relevant archived versions.
* Adding properly sourced historical information to existing articles.

The [https://web.archive.org/ Internet Archive's Wayback Machine] is a useful resource for researching defunct paintball websites.

=== Correct mistakes and add references ===

Not every contribution requires creating a new article.

You can improve WikiPaintball by:

* Correcting inaccurate names, dates or results.
* Adding missing references.
* Fixing spelling and formatting.
* Improving internal links.
* Adding appropriate categories.
* Creating useful [[WikiPaintball:Redirects|redirects]].
* Removing unsupported information.
* Updating articles when new evidence becomes available.

Small, well-researched improvements are just as valuable as entirely new articles.

== Help document your local paintball history ==

Paintball history is not limited to major professional leagues or internationally recognised teams.

Local and regional paintball communities have their own histories, including clubs, tournaments, fields, organisers and manufacturers that may never have received international coverage.

WikiPaintball welcomes contributions documenting the sport in countries and regions that are underrepresented in existing historical sources.

If you played paintball in a particular area, consider researching its early fields, local competitions, notable teams and organisations.

Local newspapers, tournament programmes, archived websites and historical records can provide useful evidence.

== Are you a former player or industry professional? ==

People who participated in paintball's development may possess records and knowledge that are difficult to find elsewhere.

Former players, referees, event organisers, field operators, manufacturers and journalists are encouraged to help preserve this information.

Firsthand knowledge can help identify research leads, correct mistakes and locate original documentation.

However, personal involvement alone does not establish historical facts. Information should be corroborated wherever possible, and contributors should avoid using articles for personal promotion.

== Can I help without writing articles? ==

Absolutely.

Researching sources, locating archived material, checking tournament results, reviewing references and correcting formatting are all useful contributions.

You can also help by improving links between related articles or identifying subjects that are not yet documented.

For inspiration, explore:

* [[Special:RecentChanges|Recent changes]]
* [[Special:NewPages|New pages]]
* [[Special:WantedPages|Wanted pages]]
* [[Special:Categories|Article categories]]

These pages can help identify existing work and subjects needing attention.

== Using AI to contribute ==

Artificial intelligence tools can assist with historical research, organising information and preparing articles in MediaWiki format.

However, AI-generated information is not automatically reliable. Contributors must verify names, dates, tournament results and references before publication.

See [[WikiPaintball:Using AI to write articles]] for instructions and a reusable article-writing prompt.

== Getting started ==

If you are new to WikiPaintball, the easiest approach is to start small.

# Find a paintball subject you know something about.
# Search WikiPaintball for an existing article.
# Gather reliable sources or historical documentation.
# Improve an existing article or create a new one.
# Check your information against [[WikiPaintball:Editorial standards]].
# Preview and publish your contribution.

Where editing requires an account, use the available registration or login options.

You can also use article discussion pages, where available, to raise questions or suggest improvements.

== Why your contribution matters ==

Paintball has a history spanning decades, countries and generations of participants. Much of that history was documented on websites, in magazines or through records that are no longer readily available.

Preserving it requires more than documenting the biggest teams and tournaments. The history of regional leagues, smaller manufacturers, local fields and amateur players is also part of the sport's story.

WikiPaintball aims to build a reliable historical resource that future players, researchers and enthusiasts can explore.

Every verified contribution makes that record more complete.

== Further reading ==

* [[WikiPaintball:Contributor guide]] - Learn how to create and edit articles.
* [[WikiPaintball:Editorial standards]] - Understand the site's accuracy and sourcing requirements.
* [[WikiPaintball:Using AI to write articles]] - Learn how to research and prepare articles with AI.
* [[WikiPaintball:Redirects]] - Help readers find articles through alternative names.

'''Help preserve paintball history. Whether you contribute an entire article, an old tournament result or a single verified correction, your contribution matters.'''