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![]() What
is Paintball?
Paintball is currently the 3rd most
popular Extreme Sport in the World,
with 12 Million followers. In 15 short
years, the sport of paintball has
become recognized as one of the world's
most exciting outdoor participation
sports. Paintball is played in over
40 countries by millions of men and
women of all ages and lifestyles.
Ebay reports more searches for paintball
items than for any other sports listing,
with spending on equipment and paraphernalia
topping $225 Million annually. Whether
homemakers or high-school students,
professionals or retirees; all paintball
players share in common a love for
adventure and a strong competitive
spirit.
![]() Capture
the Flag
Paintball is a combination of the
childhood games "tag" and
"hide & seek," but is
much more challenging and sophisticated.
Although there are many different
game formats, typically a group of
players will divide into two teams
to play "capture the flag."
The number of players on each team
in the NPPL can vary, but there are
only 7 players allowed on each side
of the field.
The object of the game is to go out
and capture the other team's flag
while protecting your own. While you
are trying to capture a flag, you
also try to eliminate opposing players
by tagging them with a paintball expelled
from a special airgun called a "marker."
Games run a maximum of 10 minutes.
Between games, players take a break
to check their equipment, get more
paintballs and have a snack or soda
while they share stories about the
thrills of victory and the usually
funny agonies of defeat. Win or lose,
everyone has a good time and there's
usually the next game waiting for
you.
![]() Paintballs
A paintball is a round, thin-skinned
gelatin capsule with colored liquid
inside it. Paintballs are similar
to large round vitamin capsules or
bath oil beads. The fill inside paintballs
is non-toxic, non-caustic, water-soluable
and biodegradable. It rinses out of
clothing and off skin with mild soap
and water and are even edible, although
we don’t recommend it!
Paintballs come in a rainbow of bright
colors: blue, pink, white, orange,
yellow and more. When a paintball
tags a player, the thin gelatin skin
splits open, and the liquid inside
leaves a bright "paint"
mark. A player who is marked is eliminated
from the game.
![]() Markers
Paintguns, also called "markers,"
come in a variety of shapes and styles.
They may be powered by carbon dioxide
(CO2), nitrogen (N2) or compressed
air. Many have power systems that
use large refillable cylinders called
"tanks" or "bottles"
that give hundreds of shots before
needing to be refilled. Some use small
12 gram CO2 powerlets as their power
source, each powerlet being good for
15 to 30 shots.
With pump-action paintguns (pumpguns),
each time you want to shoot a paintball
you first cock the paintgun by using
a pump, then you squeeze the trigger
to shoot the paintball; you must recock
the paintgun before you can shoot
again. Stockguns, using 12-grams,
have the most basic pumpgun configuration
(though they are becoming ever-more
high-tech within the constraints of
the configuration) and stock gun play
is in a class of its own.
With semi-automatic markers, the
first time you want to shoot you must
cock the paintgun (usually by pulling
back a cocking knob or handle), but
after you shoot the first paintball
the paintgun's action will recock
the paintgun for you; you simply squeeze
the trigger each time you want to
shoot a paintball.
With a full-auto paintgun, when you
squeeze the trigger for the first
time, the 'gun will begin to shoot
paintballs and will keep on shooting
paintballs as long as you keep squeezing
the trigger; when you release the
trigger, the 'gun will stop shooting.
Markers range from simple to sophisticated,
but what they all share in common
is a limitation on their power and
range. The international safety limit
on the speed (measured in feet per
second, "FPS") at which
a marker shoots a paintball is 300
fps. A chronograph is used to test
for speed limits, and all markers
can be adjusted to shoot under the
speed limit. A marker's range is limited,
too; even shooting 300 fps, at maximum
elevation with barrel pointed up into
the air, a marker can lob a paintball
only about 50 yards.
![]() Safety
For safety, paintball players always
must wear goggles specifically designed
for paintball to protect their eyes.
Goggles must be worn during a game
and at all times when a person is
in an area where shooting is permitted,
such as the target range or chronograph
area. A protective facemask is mandatory
nearly everywhere, and should be worn
regardless. A barrel plug is inserted
into the barrel of the marker when
not in use. Paintball is a very safe
sport as long as safety rules are
followed. Insurance statistics have
shown that paintball is safer than
golf, jogging, tennis, swimming and
many other sports.
Referees on the field enforce safety
and game rules. No physical contact
is permitted in the game, and players
are ejected from games or the playsite
for breaking safety or playing rules.
Fields have boundaries, and a player
who steps outside a field's boundary
is eliminated from that game.
![]() The
Game
Paintball is a sport played by people
from all professions and lifestyles.
It is a sport where women and men
compete equally, and where age is
not dominated by youth. Like a game
of chess, being able to think quickly
and decisively is what makes you a
star in paintball. Intelligence and
determination, not merely strength,
speed or agility, are key to success
in the sport.
Paintball is a character-building
sport. Players learn about teamwork,
gain self-confidence and develop leadership
abilities while having fun and getting
welcome stress-relief. Increasingly,
corporations are finding the benefits
of having their staff and management
participate in paintball games.
Paintball is an exciting sport, and
above all paintball is fun! It's a
chance to shake off your day-to-day
responsibilities and rekindle your
spirit of adventure. When the adrenaline
starts pumping, you can't help but
love the thrill of the game!
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