Female players have been a part of the sport since it went "commercial". Sure, the vast majority of players have typically been male, but over the years more and more females are getting out on the field. Heck, every time I go to a commercial field females are seen all over the place. It is not uncommon for a good percentage of "groups" that come to have at least one female with them up here.
Now with all that said, I get aggravated when they are treated special or given more "props" for being female and playing the game. I have had a problem with this from day one and still do today. Players are players, PERIOD.
A female team that can't play well is not somehow better because they are all females (yet we have seen them treated as super stars over the years), and a female team that does play well should not somehow be raised to "Goddess" status simply because they are girls (yet we have seen this happen time and again over the years). And what really chaps my rear is that guys who have been playing hard for 10+ years get ignored (by players and the media) in favor of fawning over some chick with nice breasts and a pretty smile who has been playing for a year or so and who may not even be playing 5 years from now.
I also get annoyed at the sexism that both males and females capitalize on concerning female players and paintball "models". I know it happens in all sports and "activities", but I still think it objectifies the women (and they do so willingly) and has nothing to do with the sport... no more so than having a half naked woman posing with a wrench has anything to do with auto mechanics. So let's call a spade a spade shall we?
So my "props" go out to all the women over the years who have played the sport for the sake of playing the sport and have not felt the need to dress provocatively or use their "assets" to gain any special treatment or attention. You are welcome on my team any time (and I often team up with females, young and older)... just like any other player.
