Paintball

Paintball is a game in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with a paintball launched from a device called a paintball marker more commonly referred to as a paintball gun. Paintball capsules are composed of a non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble dye with a gelatin shell outside. The game is regularly played at a sporting level with organized competition involving worldwide leagues, tournaments, professional teams, and players. Paintball technology is also used by military forces, law enforcement, para-military and security organizations to supplement training.

Games can be played on very hard floors in indoor fields, or outdoor fields of varying sizes. A game field is scattered with natural or artificial terrain, which players use for tactical cover. Game types in paintball vary, but can include capture the flag, elimination, ammunition limits, defending or attacking a particular point or area, or capturing objects of interest hidden in the playing area. Depending on the variant played, games can last from seconds to hours, or even days in scenario play.

Paintball is played with a potentially limitless variety of rules and variations, which are specified before the game begins. The most basic game rule is that players must attempt to accomplish a goal without being shot and marked with a paintball.

Basic Equipment

The paintball equipment used may depend on the game type, for example: woodsball, speedball, or scenario; on how much money one is willing to spend on equipment; and personal preference. However, every player will utilize three basic pieces of equipment:

Paintball Marker: also known as a "paintball gun" or "marker" is the primary piece of equipment used to tag the opposing player with paintballs. The paintball marker must have a loader or "hopper" attached to keep the marker fed with paint. Modern markers require a compressed air tank or Co2 tank.

Paintballs: The ammunition used in the marker are spherical gelatin capsules containing primarily polyethylene glycol, other non-toxic and water-soluble substances, and dye. The quality of paintballs is dependent on the brittleness of the ball's shell, the roundness of the sphere, and the thickness of the fill.

Mask: Masks are safety devices players are required to wear at all times on the field, to protect them from paintballs. Modern masks are derived from skiing/snowboarding goggles, with an attached hard shell that completely covers the eyes, mouth, ears and nostrils of the wearer.

Additional equipment, commonly seen among frequent players, tournament participants, and professional players include: pods and pod packs, paintball jerseys and pants, elbow and knee pads, gloves.

Enforcement of game rules

Regulated games are overseen by referees or marshals, who patrol the course to ensure enforcement of the rules and the safety of the players. If a player is marked with paint, they will call them out, but competitors may also be expected to follow the honor code; a broken ball means elimination. Field operators may specify variations to this rule, such as requiring a tag to certain body locations only – such as the head and torso only. There are game rules that can be enforced depending on the venue, to ensure safety, balance the fairness of the game or eliminate cheating.

Masks On Even when a game isn't in progress, virtually all venues enforce a masks-on rule while players are within the playing area.

Minimum Distance – When being tagged, depending on the distance from where the shot was fired, getting marked directly can cause a bruise. Because of the pain associated with being hit by a paintball we enforce a minimum distance rule of 15 feet, whereby players cannot shoot an opponent if they are closer than this distance.

Overshooting – players are discourage from overshooting (also regarded as bonus balling, "overkill" or lighting up), which is to repeatedly shoot an opposing player after they are eliminated from the game.

Non-contact - Players are generally prohibited from physically contacting other players, such as colliding with them, physically restraining them, and especially using fists, feet, protective gear or the markers themselves to hit other players.

Paintball is a games for fun and good sportsmanship should always be shown.