WikiPaintball:Contributor guide

Welcome to WikiPaintball! WikiPaintball is a collaborative encyclopedia dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of paintball worldwide.

Anyone interested in paintball history can contribute by improving articles, adding references, correcting errors, identifying historical photographs or documenting subjects not yet covered.

This guide explains how to navigate WikiPaintball, create and edit articles, contribute historical material and work with other contributors.

Before contributing, please read WikiPaintball:Editorial standards. Contributors using artificial intelligence should also read WikiPaintball:Using AI to write articles.

Getting started

Creating an account

Creating an account allows contributors to build an editing history, monitor articles and participate in discussions.

To get started:

Select Create account if registration is available.
Choose a username and complete the registration process.
Log in to begin contributing.

Existing users can access the login page.

Some editing features may require additional permissions.

Finding articles

Use the search function to find articles about paintball players, teams, tournaments, fields, manufacturers and organisations.

Other useful ways to explore WikiPaintball include:

Categories – Browse articles grouped by subject or location.
All pages – Explore the encyclopedia alphabetically.
Recent changes – See recent contributions and updates.
New pages – Discover recently created articles.

Internal links connect related subjects. Links to existing pages are normally blue, while links to pages not yet created are normally red.

Editing an existing article

Improving existing articles is one of the easiest ways to contribute.

You can correct spelling, add missing historical details, improve formatting, update tournament results or provide additional references.

To edit an article:

Open the article you want to improve.
Select Edit or Edit source, depending on the available editor.
Make your changes.
Add references supporting any new factual information.
Use Show preview to check the result, where available.
Enter a brief edit summary explaining your changes.
Select Save changes or Publish changes to complete the edit.

Button names may vary depending on the editing interface.

Avoid deleting existing, sourced information without good reason. When correcting a factual error, provide supporting evidence whenever possible.

Creating a new article

Before creating an article, search WikiPaintball to make sure the subject has not already been covered under another name.

New articles should document a specific subject with a clear connection to paintball.

To create an article:

Search for the intended article title.
If the article does not exist, use the available creation link or an appropriate red link.
Research the subject and gather reliable sources.
Write a concise introduction explaining the subject's connection to paintball.
Add relevant history, results or other verified information.
Include internal links, numbered references and appropriate categories.
Preview the page before publishing.

Not every subject requires a lengthy article. A few paragraphs supported by credible historical sources can be a valuable contribution.

Use clear, consistent article titles and check existing naming conventions.

Basic WikiPaintball formatting

WikiPaintball uses MediaWiki formatting, also known as wikitext.

Headings

Use the following syntax to organise articles:

== History ==

=== Early years ===

== Tournament results ==

== References ==

Only create sections when there is relevant information to include.

Internal links

Internal links connect WikiPaintball articles.

[[Paintball]]
[[National Professional Paintball League]]
[[Article title|Displayed text]]

Use internal links for relevant players, teams, tournaments, equipment and organisations.

Bold and italic text

'''Bold text'''
''Italic text''

The subject's name should normally appear in bold in the opening sentence.

References

WikiPaintball uses manually numbered references.

Place citation numbers immediately after the information they support.

The team participated in the 2005 tournament.[1]

== References ==
# [https://example.com/source Source title]. Publication, 2005.

The example URL is a placeholder, not a real source.

Each citation number must correspond to a genuine source. Reuse reference numbers when citing the same source multiple times.

Do not use citation templates or automated reference tags.

Adding photographs and historical material

Historical photographs, event posters, equipment catalogues, tournament programmes and magazine advertisements can be valuable additions to WikiPaintball.

Where uploads are enabled and the contributor has permission, files can be submitted through Upload file.

When uploading material:

Use a clear, descriptive filename.
Identify the photographer or original creator where known.
Include the date, location and subject where verified.
Explain the source and copyright or licensing status.
Add a factual caption when inserting the image into an article.
Never claim ownership of material created by someone else.
Only upload material when you hold the necessary rights or have appropriate permission.

Historical images should not be used as evidence for identifying individuals, teams or events unless those identifications can be established reliably.

Contributing historical information

Paintball history is often preserved through personal collections, old websites, photographs and the memories of people involved in the sport.

Contributors are encouraged to share historical records, particularly material documenting regional and amateur paintball.

Useful contributions include:

Original tournament results and event programmes.
Historical team photographs and verified player identities.
Archived manufacturer websites and product catalogues.
Paintball magazine articles and advertisements.
Historical field locations and operational records.
Contemporary reports documenting leagues, clubs and organisations.

Personal recollections can provide useful research leads but should not automatically be presented as verified facts.

Where possible, corroborate recollections with contemporary records.

Using artificial intelligence

AI tools such as ChatGPT can help research historical subjects, organise information and format articles.

However, AI systems can invent facts, confuse historical subjects and generate inaccurate references.

Contributors must independently check AI-generated information before publication.

For practical guidance and reusable instructions, see WikiPaintball:Using AI to write articles.

Reviewing changes and correcting mistakes

WikiPaintball maintains revision histories so contributors can review previous versions of articles.

Use the View history tab to examine earlier edits, compare revisions and identify changes.

Incorrect edits can be corrected through a further edit. Where supported, the Undo function can help reverse an earlier change.

When making substantial corrections, provide a clear edit summary explaining the reason.

Contributors should approach disagreements constructively and use article discussion pages where available.

Do not repeatedly overwrite another contributor's work during a disagreement. Discuss contested information and evaluate the available evidence.

Working with other contributors

WikiPaintball is a collaborative historical resource, not a platform for personal promotion.

Contributors should:

Treat other editors respectfully.
Focus on evidence rather than personal opinions.
Avoid promotional or self-serving edits.
Credit original photographers, publications and other source creators.
Respect copyright, privacy and intellectual property.
Preserve useful historical information wherever possible.
Help improve incomplete articles rather than dismissing them.

Articles about contributors themselves, their teams or their businesses must meet the same standards as every other article. Personal involvement does not establish historical significance or factual accuracy.

Keeping articles up to date

An encyclopedia is never finished.

Existing articles can be expanded as new sources, photographs and historical information become available.

Small improvements are welcome. Correcting one date, adding one verified tournament result or identifying an undocumented historical photograph can make a meaningful contribution.

The aim is to build a reliable and accessible historical record of paintball for future generations.

Further guidance

WikiPaintball:Editorial standards – Requirements for accuracy, sourcing, writing and formatting.
WikiPaintball:Using AI to write articles – Guidance for researching and drafting articles with AI.
Recent changes – Follow activity across the encyclopedia.
Categories – Browse WikiPaintball by subject.

External links

Every contribution matters. Whether adding an article, correcting a historical detail or sharing an old photograph, contributors help preserve the history of paintball.