East Coast Paintball League
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]
History
[edit]Establishment
[edit]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]
The announcement also stated that ECPL would follow the New Zealand Race Series in adopting X-Ball.[1]
2020 season
[edit]The opening round took place on 23 February 2020. Surge won the event, receiving 100 championship points.[2]
The league's published Champions Division table recorded six entries after the opening round.[2]
| Team | Round-one championship points |
|---|---|
| Surge | 100 |
| The Ponies | 94 |
| Ballistics Unit 1 | 88 |
| Ballistics Unit 2 | 84 |
| BOP Black | 80 |
| IDK | 76 |
The 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 further tournament was advertised for 22 November 2020.[3]
2021 season
[edit]The advertised 2021 calendar comprised three rounds at TECT Park:[4]
- Round one — 2 May
- Round two — 5 September
- Round three — 28 November
Expendables won the opening round, with Surge finishing second. The league's contemporary report also acknowledged participation by 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]
2022 programme
[edit]The league announced four rounds for 2022, scheduled for 20 February, 1 May, 18 September and 27 November at Bay of Plenty Paintball Club.[6]
Competition format
[edit]2021 rules
[edit]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]
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]
2022 rules
[edit]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]
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]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- East Coast Paintball League — League establishment announcement, Facebook, 8 February 2020.
- East Coast Paintball League — Opening-round results and Champions Division standings, Facebook, 24 February 2020.
- Bay of Plenty Paintball Club — ECPL Series: BOP teams hold their own, 20 September 2020.
- East Coast Paintball League — 2021 season dates and competition format, Facebook, 13 January 2021.
- East Coast Paintball League — Opening-round results, Facebook, 3 May 2021.
- East Coast Paintball League — 2022 season calendar and competition format, Facebook, 18 January 2022.