Paintball

1
Paintball

• The Basics

BY M. Thomas Sanford
2
Contents

• Paintball 101
• History
• Equipment
• Rules
• Safety
• Field Requirements
• Links

3
Paintball 101

• Paintball is a team sport which can be played
  with various amounts of players and in many
  formats.
• The basic objective is to eliminate your
  opponents by marking them.

4
Whats Marking?

• You mark your opponent by hitting them with a
  paintball fired from a paintball marker (a.k.a.
  gun).
• Players that are marked must leave the field
  until the next game.

5
What are the formats?

• Capture the Flag
• Teams work to gain control of and return a flag
  to their base
• Elimination
• Teams play until one teams is completely
  eliminated
• Scenario Games
• Teams work toward a certain goal like capturing a
  base or holding territory
• Plus Many More

6
Why Play Paintball?

• It is an exciting game for people of all types
• It emphasizes teamwork, good sportsmanship, and
  strategy
• It also allows individuals to shine and gain self
  confidence

7
History

• Paintball started in 1981 with air powered
  pistols
• First public field was opened in Rochester, N.Y.
  in 1982
• Advances in safety and firepower gained the sport
  international recognition in the early 90s
• Is now a 3 billion dollar a year industry with
  magazines, videos, international tournaments, and
  thousands of publics fields across the world

8
Equipment

• Markers (Guns)
• C02 tanks (norm. 9-20oz)
• Hoppers (paintball holder)
• Barrel Plugs (safety device always in barrel
  when not playing)
• Mask / Goggles
• Worn at all times on and around the field
• For face and eye protection
• Gloves and Jerseys optional
• Not Pictured

9
Rules pt.1

• Tape Line
• Boundaries not to be crossed by players
• Hits
• Players call themselves out when a hit breaks on
  them. They raise their hands above their heads
  and walk to designated area off the field
• Time Limits
• Most games have time restrictions
• Proximity Rules
• Some fields have restrictions on shooting
  opponents in a close proximity to the shooter
  (usually 5 to 10 feet of shooter)

10
Rules pt.2

• Referees
• Patrol the field to watch for rules/safety
  violations. They hold the power to remove any
  player from the field
• Chrono
• Before players begin playing for the day their
  ball velocity is measured to make sure it doesnt
  exceed limits (usually between 250-300 feet per
  second)

11
Safety

• Paintball prides itself on being an extremely
  safe sport
• Ball speeds are monitored to maintain safety
• Goggles, facemasks, long sleeve shirts, and long
  pants are worn at all times
• Barrel plugs are kept in markers when they are
  not in play to stop any accidental discharge
• Optional safety equipment includes gloves and
  knee pads
• Referees control the intensity of the players and
  make sure all rules are followed

12
Field Requirements

• What Every Field Needs
• Referees
• Chrono
• Boundary Lines
• Bunkers and/or Barriers
• Bonus amenities
• Fill station for CO2 tanks
• Place to purchase balls
• Shaded area
• Water / Refreshments

13
Links

• www.paintball.com
• www.thepaintballstore.com
• www.paintball-online.com
• www.pbplanet.com
• www.paintball.org