Paintball Overview
By the Paintball Sports Trade Association - August 10, 2007
Paintball's worldwide popularity has grown exponentially in the past 25 years, and is now played on every continent, in more than 60 countries, with more than 10 million worldwide participants. Professional tournaments are televised on sports channels, and Hollywood has embraced the game in many popular films. With this much mainstream acceptance and participation, it is welcomed that the sport should receive heightened media attention as its popularity grows.
While Paintball is not a physical-contact or ìtackleî sport like football, wrestling, soccer, rugby or other school-sanctioned sports, responsible play requires the mandatory use of special protective equipment, just like other popular intramural and league sports. Nobody would consider playing hockey or tackle football without the proper protective gear, and Paintball is no different.
WHAT IS PAINTBALL?
Paintball is a game, just like football, hockey and soccer, in which opposing teams have a piece of "real estate" that is their "goal." In the more traditional sports, each team tries to put a ball or puck into a specific area of the other teamís real estate, while trying to prevent the opposing team from doing the same. To accomplish this task, opponents typically engage in physical contact, which is why players must wear safety equipment such as helmets, pads, and guards. While Paintball has various forms; the rules of all versions of the game expressly prohibit any physical contact whatsoever.
In Paintball's traditional game of "Capture the Flag", both teams try to grab a fabric ìflagî that is hanging on a line and then attempt to hang it on the other teamís line. Each player has a Paintball gun called a ìmarkerî that propels paintballs which splash on the opponents in a color that can be easily seen by the referees. The referees then call that player "Out!" just like a baseball umpire does at each base. When hit or splashed, that player goes to the sidelines, awaiting the start of the next game. His or her team continues without that eliminated player on their quest to capture and hang the flag. And so it goes, until all the players on one team are out, or one team captures and hangs the flag before game time runs out.
WHO PLAYS PAINTBALL?
People from every walk of life do - professionals, blue collar workers, your neighbors, fathers and sons, brothers and sisters (about 20% of players are female), parents, athletes and couch potatoes. Replacing the old fashioned company picnic, any corporations throughout the world use Paintball games as team building and stress relief exercises. Many groups book Paintball outings as birthday parties, bachelor parties, reunions and more. For over twenty years, the single biggest group-booking category at official Paintball Game Fields is church youth group outings.
WHAT ARE PAINTBALLS?
The paintballís outer skin is made of biodegradable gelatin, manufactured the same way as bath-oil beads. But instead of being filled with bath oils and pretty fragrances, paintballs are filled with a brightly colored, non-toxic liquid that is chemically similar to childrenís finger paint, so they can be easily seen by the referees when they splash on a player.
Paintballs leave the marker at speeds up to 280 feet per second, but they slow down very quickly because they are so lightweight. At a distance of 100 feet, the player might not even notice being hit, but at closer distances the player will feel the impact. Most people find that the combination of protective gear, loose clothing, and the big adrenaline surge from the pure fun of the game makes the momentary sting a non-factor, which explains the gameís massive growth over the past 25 years.
PAINTBALL'S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL BENEFITS
Paintball games teach communication and teamwork, which is one major reason that many corporations and organizations embrace Paintball as a team building exercise. To be effective, players must communicate and work together on strategies and tactics in order to operate as a team. These lessons translate directly to real-life for players from school age all the way through retirement.
Playing Paintball is physically taxing and is a great source of cardiovascular activity. Players typically finish the games quite tired, physically relieved, and mentally rewarded. Since the game is both mental and physical, it tends to be as fatiguing as snowboarding or skiing, while delivering the deep satisfaction of adventure and achievement. Paintball can deliver a world of positive emotional opportunities: to laugh and play with your friends, to shoot your boss without consequences, to reconnect with your son or daughter, or to really get to know your co-workers. Paintball has become a community of its own, creating lasting friendships that span great distances.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PAINTBALL
Paintball can be a tremendous source of fun as long as the rules of the game are carefully followed. Parents should learn as much as possible about the game and visit the local commercial Game Field. Professional, well-run Game Fields offer rental equipment, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) approved face masks, well-trained referees, and a thorough game orientation for all players. Commercial fields should follow the ASTM F1777 standard for proper Paintball field operation.
Paul Vinger, M.D., Professor of Ophthalmology at Tufts Medical School, "It's safer to play Paintball with protection on at an accredited Paintball field than it is to play badminton in your back yard". Doctor Vinger likens Paintball to fencing, saying, There are almost no eye injuries in fencing, but if you take the mask off, you're at high risk.
- All players and referees must wear masks and eye protection devices that are specifically designed for Paintball and meet the ASTM F1776 standard for eye protective devices. Players must never remove their masks in the designated Game Area to wipe off paint or sweat, or clean the lens, or for any other reason. Masks can only be removed in an officially designated area that is confirmed to be free from ready-to-shoot Paintball markers/guns.
- Except during play on the Game Field, approved barrel-blocking devices should be used at all times to prevent markers from accidentally discharging a paintball.
- Paintballs should not be fired at speeds over 300 feet per second. Allowable speeds may even be less depending on local Game Field rules. The speed is measured using a chronograph, available at any commercial Paintball Game Field. Any marker shooting faster than 300 feet per second must be adjusted to comply with this limit before use.
- Qualified referees should be present to enforce the rules of the game.
- At commercial Paintball Game Fields, written parental consent should be required for all players under 18 years of age.
- Proper barriers (such as ASTM-Specified netting) should separate the playing field from the spectator area.
- Youth players should play Paintball only under adult supervision at organized, commercial Game Fields. Minimum age restrictions may vary from 10 to 16 years of age based on insurance requirements, etc.
- Paintball markers/guns should not be used, fired, transported, or displayed in any public place other than a commercial Paintball Game Field.
- Common sense is critical. No matter where the game is played every player must follow the rules of the game.
CONCLUSION
Paintball is a fun and thrilling activity. Every week people enjoy the game at thousands of commercial Paintball sites around the world. While offering an unmatched level of excitement, Paintball emphasizes teamwork, communication, and other valuable life skills. Paintball can be played as both a sport and a game, and a player does not need to be athletic to excel - short or tall, fast or slow, thin or not, virtually everyone can enjoy the thrills of Paintball when played according to the rules and with common sense.
This information is not meant to be all-encompassing, but rather to provide general information for those who wish to learn more about Paintball. Neither the Paintball Sports Trade Association (PSTA) nor its individual members are engaged in rendering safety, legal or other professional advice. If the reader requires more information, a competent Paintball sports professional should be consulted. PSTA and its individual members disclaim any responsibility for any damages, liability, loss or risk incurred as a consequence of the use or application of the contents of these materials.