East Coast Paintball League: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:58, 1 November 2026

East Coast Paintball League (ECPL) is a New Zealand tournament paintball competition established in 2020 to develop regional participation in the upper North Island. Its documented programme includes tournaments at the Bay of Plenty Paintball Club field at TECT All Terrain Park.[1][2]

History

Establishment

On 8 February 2020, ECPL announced plans to establish a regional competition following the cessation of the New Zealand Local Series (NZLS).

The organisers intended to encourage participation by newer players, including through the involvement of experienced competitors. The announcement also identified X-Ball as the intended competition format, following the example of the New Zealand Race Series.[1]

2020 season

The inaugural tournament, 2020 ECPL Round 1, took place on 23 February 2020.

Surge won the opening round, earning 100 championship points. The league published standings for six entries in its Champions Division.[2]

Team	Points after Round 1
Surge	100
The Ponies	94
Ballistics Unit 1	88
Ballistics Unit 2	84
BOP Black	80
IDK	76

A third round was held at TECT Park on 26 July 2020. Bay of Plenty Paintball Club reported that two of its entries finished first and fourth. The club described the competition as the first tournament since the COVID-19 lockdown for many participants.[3]

Another tournament was advertised for 22 November 2020.[3]

Season championship trophy

A trophy from the historical collection photographed by Vince Knipmeijer in 2026 bears the ECPL logo and an engraved plaque reading "Season Champions 2020".[7]

Knipmeijer described the collection as consisting mainly of trophies and medals associated with BOP Blast and its predecessor TPC Blast.[7]

The trophy documents a championship award for the 2020 season. However, the inscription does not identify the winning team, and an official final championship standings table has not been recovered.

The relationship between the BOP Black entry recorded in the opening round and the BOP Blast team has also not been independently established.

2021 season

The published 2021 calendar advertised three rounds at TECT Park:[4]

Round 1: 2 May 2021
Round 2: 5 September 2021
Round 3: 28 November 2021

At 2021 ECPL Round 1, Expendables finished first and Surge second. The league also acknowledged the participation of Crisis Paintball Northland and Kaos Theory.[5]

The September and November dates were advertised in advance. Their publication does not independently establish that both events took place.

2022 programme

The league announced four tournaments for the 2022 season, scheduled for 20 February, 1 May, 18 September and 27 November at Bay of Plenty Paintball Club.[6]

Further information is covered in 2022 East Coast Paintball League.

Competition format

2021

The 2021 competition was advertised as three-player X-Ball with a 10.5 balls-per-second firing-rate limit and a two-point mercy rule.[4]

Entries were limited to twelve teams. Each team was guaranteed at least five matches before the knockout stages.

The entry fee was NZ$140 per team.[4]

2022

The 2022 format continued using three-player X-Ball, with seven-minute matches and a two-point mercy rule.[6]

The advertised rules included:

Maximum firing rate of 10.5 balls per second.
Paint allowance designated M500, comprising one hopper and two pods per player.
Ten-team entry limit.
Group matches followed by knockout finals involving the top four teams.
NZ$150 team entry fee.

These details describe the advertised 2022 rules and should not be assumed to apply to every previous ECPL season.

Documented results

Year	Competition	Result	Source
2020	2020 ECPL Round 1	Surge, 1st	[2]
2020	ECPL Round 3	Bay of Plenty Paintball Club entries, 1st and 4th	[3]
2020	ECPL season championship	Championship trophy documented; winning team not independently confirmed	[7]
2021	2021 ECPL Round 1	Expendables, 1st; Surge, 2nd	[5]

The table contains documented partial results rather than complete league standings.

References

External links

East Coast Paintball League – Official Facebook page

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''East Coast Paintball League''' ('''ECPL''') is a New Zealand [[paintball]] competition established in 2020 to develop regional participation in the upper North Island. Its documented programme includes tournaments at [[Bay of Plenty Paintball Club]]'s field at [[TECT All Terrain Park]].[1][2]
+'''East Coast Paintball League''' ('''ECPL''') is a New Zealand tournament [[paintball]] competition established in 2020 to develop regional participation in the upper North Island. Its documented programme includes tournaments at the [[Bay of Plenty Paintball Club]] field at [[TECT All Terrain Park]].[1][2]
 == History ==
@@ Line 5: / Line 6: @@
 === Establishment ===
-On 8 February 2020, the league announced that it intended to fill a gap in the social paintball calendar following the cessation of NZLS. Its stated aims included growing regional participation and encouraging existing players to introduce newcomers.[1]
+On 8 February 2020, ECPL announced plans to establish a regional competition following the cessation of the [[New Zealand Local Series]] (NZLS).
-The announcement also stated that ECPL would follow the [[New Zealand Race Series]] in adopting X-Ball.[1]
+The organisers intended to encourage participation by newer players, including through the involvement of experienced competitors. The announcement also identified X-Ball as the intended competition format, following the example of the [[New Zealand Race Series]].[1]
 === 2020 season ===
-The [[2020 ECPL Round 1|opening round]] took place on 23 February 2020. [[Surge (paintball team)|Surge]] won the event, receiving 100 championship points.[2]
+The inaugural tournament, [[2020 ECPL Round 1]], took place on 23 February 2020.
-The league's published Champions Division table recorded six entries after the opening round.[2]
+Surge won the opening round, earning 100 championship points. The league published standings for six entries in its Champions Division.[2]
 {| class="wikitable"
-! Team !! Round-one championship points
+! Team
+! Points after Round 1
 |-
-| [[Surge (paintball team)|Surge]] || 100
+| Surge
+| 100
 |-
-| The Ponies || 94
+| The Ponies
+| 94
 |-
-| [[Ballistics Unit|Ballistics Unit 1]] || 88
+| [[Ballistics Unit (New Zealand Paintball Team)|Ballistics Unit]] 1
+| 88
 |-
-| [[Ballistics Unit|Ballistics Unit 2]] || 84
+| Ballistics Unit 2
+| 84
 |-
-| BOP Black || 80
+| BOP Black
+| 80
 |-
-| IDK || 76
+| IDK
+| 76
 |}
-The [[2020 ECPL Round 3|third round]] was held at TECT Park on 26 July. Bay of Plenty club entries finished first and fourth. The club described it as the first tournament since the COVID-19 lockdown for many participating players and teams.[3]
+A third round was held at TECT Park on 26 July 2020. Bay of Plenty Paintball Club reported that two of its entries finished first and fourth. The club described the competition as the first tournament since the COVID-19 lockdown for many participants.[3]
-A further tournament was advertised for 22 November 2020.[3]
+Another tournament was advertised for 22 November 2020.[3]
+==== Season championship trophy ====
+A trophy from the historical collection photographed by Vince Knipmeijer in 2026 bears the ECPL logo and an engraved plaque reading "Season Champions 2020".[7]
+Knipmeijer described the collection as consisting mainly of trophies and medals associated with [[BOP Blast (New Zealand Paintball Team)|BOP Blast]] and its predecessor TPC Blast.[7]
+The trophy documents a championship award for the 2020 season. However, the inscription does not identify the winning team, and an official final championship standings table has not been recovered.
+The relationship between the BOP Black entry recorded in the opening round and the BOP Blast team has also not been independently established.
 === 2021 season ===
-The advertised 2021 calendar comprised three rounds at TECT Park:[4]
+The published 2021 calendar advertised three rounds at TECT Park:[4]
-* Round one — 2 May
+* Round 1: 2 May 2021
-* Round two — 5 September
+* Round 2: 5 September 2021
-* Round three — 28 November
+* Round 3: 28 November 2021
-[[Expendables Feilding|Expendables]] won [[2021 ECPL Round 1|the opening round]], with [[Surge (paintball team)|Surge]] finishing second. The league's contemporary report also acknowledged participation by [[Crisis Paintball Northland]] and [[Kaos Theory (New Zealand paintball team)|Kaos Theory]].[5]
+At [[2021 ECPL Round 1]], Expendables finished first and Surge second. The league also acknowledged the participation of Crisis Paintball Northland and Kaos Theory.[5]
-The September and November dates formed part of the published programme; they do not independently establish that those events were held.[4]
+The September and November dates were advertised in advance. Their publication does not independently establish that both events took place.
 === 2022 programme ===
-The league announced four rounds for [[2022 East Coast Paintball League|2022]], scheduled for 20 February, 1 May, 18 September and 27 November at Bay of Plenty Paintball Club.[6]
+The league announced four tournaments for the 2022 season, scheduled for 20 February, 1 May, 18 September and 27 November at Bay of Plenty Paintball Club.[6]
+Further information is covered in [[2022 East Coast Paintball League]].
 == Competition format ==
-=== 2021 rules ===
+=== 2021 ===
+The 2021 competition was advertised as three-player X-Ball with a 10.5 balls-per-second firing-rate limit and a two-point mercy rule.[4]
+Entries were limited to twelve teams. Each team was guaranteed at least five matches before the knockout stages.
+The entry fee was NZ$140 per team.[4]
-The advertised 2021 format was three-player X-Ball with a firing-rate limit of 10.5 balls per second and a two-point mercy rule.[4]
+=== 2022 ===
-Entries were limited to twelve teams, with each team guaranteed at least five matches before the semi-finals and finals. Entry cost NZ$140 per team.[4]
+The 2022 format continued using three-player X-Ball, with seven-minute matches and a two-point mercy rule.[6]
-=== 2022 rules ===
+The advertised rules included:
-The 2022 programme specified three-player X-Ball, seven-minute matches, a two-point mercy rule and a firing-rate limit of 10.5 balls per second.[6]
+* Maximum firing rate of 10.5 balls per second.
+* Paint allowance designated M500, comprising one hopper and two pods per player.
+* Ten-team entry limit.
+* Group matches followed by knockout finals involving the top four teams.
+* NZ$150 team entry fee.
+These details describe the advertised 2022 rules and should not be assumed to apply to every previous ECPL season.
+== Documented results ==
+{| class="wikitable sortable"
+! Year
+! Competition
+! Result
+! Source
+|-
+| 2020
+| [[2020 ECPL Round 1]]
+| Surge, 1st
+| [2]
+|-
+| 2020
+| ECPL Round 3
+| Bay of Plenty Paintball Club entries, 1st and 4th
+| [3]
+|-
+| 2020
+| ECPL season championship
+| Championship trophy documented; winning team not independently confirmed
+| [7]
+|-
+| 2021
+| [[2021 ECPL Round 1]]
+| Expendables, 1st; Surge, 2nd
+| [5]
+|}
-The paint allowance was described as “M500”, consisting of a hopper and two pods per player. The ten-team entry limit used split groups followed by knockout finals for the top four teams. Entry cost NZ$150 per team.[6]
+The table contains documented partial results rather than complete league standings.
 == See also ==
@@ Line 69: / Line 130: @@
 * [[Bay of Plenty Paintball Club]]
 * [[TECT All Terrain Park]]
+* [[New Zealand Local Series]]
 * [[New Zealand Race Series]]
-* [[Paintball in New Zealand]]
+* [[History of paintball in New Zealand]]
 == References ==
-# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/hi-teamswith-the-nzls-no-longer-running-we-have-decided-to-fill-the-void-left-in/100524221533348/ East Coast Paintball League — League establishment announcement, Facebook, 8 February 2020].
+# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/hi-teamswith-the-nzls-no-longer-running-we-have-decided-to-fill-the-void-left-in/100524221533348/ East Coast Paintball League – Establishment announcement, Facebook, 8 February 2020].
-# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/congratulations-su%D1%8Fge-paintball-team-hawkes-bay-on-taking-first-placealso-a-big-/115412863377817/ East Coast Paintball League — Opening-round results and Champions Division standings, Facebook, 24 February 2020].
+# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/congratulations-su%D1%8Fge-paintball-team-hawkes-bay-on-taking-first-placealso-a-big-/115412863377817/ East Coast Paintball League – Opening-round results and Champions Division standings, Facebook, 24 February 2020].
-# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/post/ecpl-paintball-series-bop-team-hold-their-own Bay of Plenty Paintball Club — ECPL Series: BOP teams hold their own, 20 September 2020].
+# [https://www.bayofplentypaintball.co.nz/post/ecpl-paintball-series-bop-team-hold-their-own Bay of Plenty Paintball Club – ECPL Series: BOP teams hold their own, 20 September 2020].
-# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/pfbid0E6ek9zZrnE8duK58Pjiix8pw117xMzp6ziZg5s84sxrJZg367afCVGGXZs4mNTuBl East Coast Paintball League — 2021 season dates and competition format, Facebook, 13 January 2021].
+# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/pfbid0E6ek9zZrnE8duK58Pjiix8pw117xMzp6ziZg5s84sxrJZg367afCVGGXZs4mNTuBl East Coast Paintball League – 2021 season dates and competition format, Facebook, 13 January 2021].
-# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/pfbid0215xTHnkmrAaZaXGn3ZN4QgjzgVG8HD2uBsLRCj6ZxgKaP5iDT1M6BWTRShDjVeml East Coast Paintball League — Opening-round results, Facebook, 3 May 2021].
+# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/pfbid0215xTHnkmrAaZaXGn3ZN4QgjzgVG8HD2uBsLRCj6ZxgKaP5iDT1M6BWTRShDjVeml East Coast Paintball League – 2021 opening-round results, Facebook, 3 May 2021].
-# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/pfbid0RfCg1cHAovuwRPF59U9cPGh7AoSdXijco4gz66Phbk7dsMHU1w9Em3rP63do2tXzl East Coast Paintball League — 2022 season calendar and competition format, Facebook, 18 January 2022].
+# [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/posts/pfbid0RfCg1cHAovuwRPF59U9cPGh7AoSdXijco4gz66Phbk7dsMHU1w9Em3rP63do2tXzl East Coast Paintball League – 2022 calendar and competition format, Facebook, 18 January 2022].
+# [https://www.facebook.com/share/1FXQVMms57/ Vince Knipmeijer – Photographic collection of historical paintball medals and trophies, including ECPL Season Champions 2020 trophy, Facebook, 2026].
 == External links ==
-* [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/ Official Facebook page]
+* [https://www.facebook.com/ECPLPB/ East Coast Paintball League – Official Facebook page]
-[[Category:Paintball leagues]]
 [[Category:Paintball tournaments in New Zealand]]
-[[Category:Paintball in the Bay of Plenty]]
-[[Category:2020s in New Zealand paintball]]

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