| It all started in 1984. A young man walked onto a paintball field and never looked back. Today that man is the commissioner of the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL); his name is Chuck Hendsch.
 “I have always loved strategic games, but the adrenaline rush that accompanies paintball really pushes it over the top when it comes to sports I love,” says Hendsch.
So, it was no surprise when Hendsch opened his first store at the ripe-old age of 22. Armed with a business administration degree with a concentration in recreation from San Jose State, he was ready to take on the world of paintball.
While Hendsch enjoys the team work and camaraderie involved in the game of paintball, he finds it equally compelling when it comes to personal strategy.
“Often, paintball is like a game of chess. You have to plan your moves and look ahead to see where your opponent may likely move,” he adds.
Hendsch has done everything there is to do in paintball. He has worked for every major paintball company out there. Now his goal is to make the NPPL the best that it can be.
The Future Looks Bright The NPPL is player owned – 13 owners; and 7 divisions.
“Our mission is to create a stage for the players,” says Hendsch. “We want players to feel good about playing.” We also want to be open to many players of all skill levels. We want to be accessible.”
He adds that the NPPL really cares about its players. They provide an ID-card system that tracks players; they offer a fair league; and strict ref policies.
The NPPL will continue to recruit, train and tryout referees. They will also continue to work with local fields and leagues to host sanctioned events.
“We are more organized than ever,” touts Hendsch. “We are focused on putting on amazing events and plan to make changes that will make it easier for the public to get into an event and to watch their favorite teams from the grandstands. Also, by having a live web broadcast, more people can feel a part of the game and follow their favorite team(s) even if they can’t attend.” Save the Dates The next two events are: - August 6-8: DC Challenge at Pev’s on Aldie, Virginia
- October 8-10: World Paintball Championships at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas
Hendsch Fast Facts A Day-in the-Life: Traveling to cities, working on sponsorships, marketing, consulting – basically promoting paintball anywhere and everywhere!
Favorite marker: War Games Pump Gun – Gat customized.
Favorite style of play: I used to play semi- auto, but pump play has a certain “calmness” to it.
Sports and hobbies: Surfing, sailing, rock climbing, snowboarding, and the list goes on…
Where do you live? On 34-foot Catalina (sailboat) in Long Beach, California
Pets: Yellow Lab named Kody
Married? Negative | 
