National Collegiate Paintball Association Divisions
Class A
This is often considered the more rigorous format in the NCPA because it features match-based competition, where two teams face off for multiple points over the course of two 10-minute halves. It closely follows Paintball Sports Promotions's Race-To X-ball format. The team that successfully hangs the flag on the opposing team's starting side earn that specific point, and the team with the most points wins the match. Coaching is permitted; teams may have one sideline coach at a time and players coaching from the pits. These games are fast-paced and intense. Players typically shoot a lot more paintballs in this division overall due to the nature of playing multiple games back to back in a given match and numerous matches in a tournament. It requires more athleticism, a larger roster, and experienced, competitive players.
Schools playing in this division pay the registration fee at the beginning of the season and then play 3-4 regular season conference tournaments. Top conference teams plus winners from Open tournaments advance to the single-elimination Class A Playoffs at the NCPA National Championships in April. ISU Paintball competed in this division from 2005-2009 and went undefeated in 2008 to take home the Class A National Championship for that season before dropping down to only Class AA due to a smaller competitive roster.
This division is webcast live worldwide during the NCPA National Championships, and the Championship match is broadcast on Fox College Sports, Hulu.com, and other outlets.
Class AA
This division is more suitable for smaller college teams. It closely follows Paintball Sports Promotions' Race-To-2 5man format. Teams will play a set number of teams in a bracket and face off in a best-of-three set, but these are not back to back games like in Class A. The team that successfully hangs the flag on the opposing team's starting side earn that specific point, and the team that earns two points wins that set. Coaching is permitted, but it is only on the sidelines. These games are just as fast-paced and intense those in Class A, but teams do not play as many consecutive games in a given time period. Each game played has a five-minute time limit, but games usually do not last that long.
Schools playing in this division pay the registration fee for Class AA tournaments they choose to participate in as events pop up during the season. Registration fees usually include five cases of paint with additional paintballs available to purchase if need be. Unlike Class A, there is no limit to the amount of teams a school can enter into a Class AA tournament. In previous years, ISU Paintball entered anywhere from 3-5 teams per Class AA event in the season. Team Rosters are capped at eight maximum. The NCPA keeps track of how many season points a school acquires while playing Class AA tournament throughout the season. This total amount of points helps determine overall seeding entering the NCPA National Championships in April. ISU Paintball has competed and still does compete in this division.