What is paintball? It is a team-based field game and an extreme sport with elements of strategy. No special skills are required for beginners—trainers will prepare and teach you everything you need to know. The classic paintball scenario involves two teams starting from opposite bases on the field, capturing a flag in the center, and planting it in the opponent’s territory. The main objective in paintball is to remain “unstained” while trying to hit players from the opposing team with a gelatin paintball shot from a special marker gun.
Structures on a paintball field can simulate any storyline, even from Starship Troopers.
Paintball FAQs
Do I need personal gear? No. For occasional visits to a paintball club, you don’t need to invest in a personal marker and mask—everything necessary can be rented on-site.
When is the best time to book a club? Paintball can be played both during the day and at night—the time of day will influence the game scenario and team missions. The season is also a matter of personal preference.
What is the minimum age to play? Players can start at 12 years old with written parental consent. In family teams with adults, there might be flexibility regarding age that isn’t specified in the contract. It’s advisable to discuss children’s participation in advance with the trainer, especially when organizing a paintball-themed children’s party.
Miniball for kids
Good clubs are increasingly offering children’s paintball, called miniball, with special equipment and gear designed for kids as young as eight, supervised by animators and instructors. A paintball party is the best celebration you can organize for a group of active kids.
Is it safe? Generally, paintball is a safe game even for beginners, though there is a risk of injury. A paintball shoots at a speed of 90 meters per second, so removing your helmet during the game is strictly forbidden. Another mandatory rule is to cease firing within a 10-meter distance. A “bullet” fired from 15-20 meters can leave a painful bruise, and a point-blank hit without a helmet may result in the loss of a tooth or an eye (if in doubt, search for eye injuries in paintball). More details on important safety rules are provided below.
Neglecting the rules can lead to such injuries in paintball.
What types of injuries are most common in paintball? Bruises, hematomas, fractures, sprains, and contusions—these can be avoided by being cautious on the field and wearing clothing made of thick fabric.
What are the main rules of paintball? If you’re hit, you’re out of the game. A paint spot the size of a coin, including marks on your weapon, counts as a “hit.” Additionally, if a player voluntarily leaves the field, they’re out as well. Interestingly, a paintball doesn’t always break upon impact, so don’t rush to raise a white flag—inspect yourself and check; you might be lucky!
Paintball Safety Guidelines
To get the most enjoyment and benefit from the game, it’s essential to follow simple safety rules. As a matter of fact, paintball is one of the least injury-prone sports: annually, there are 23,130 injuries in bowling compared to 2,111 in paintball (in the USA).
It is strictly forbidden to remove your mask while on the field or in the shooting area. Vision is more valuable than victory, so even if your mask fogs up or gets hit, do not remove it until instructed by a referee.
The referee is the ultimate authority, and their decision is final.
Before the game starts, check your mask for cracks and ensure the plastic is clear.
Always activate the safety on your weapon when leaving the playing field, and make sure a barrel blocker is installed. The blocker should only be removed upon the instructor’s command.
Firing outside of the game boundaries is strictly prohibited.
Enter the field only upon the referee’s signal.
Do not reuse paintballs that haven’t burst after being fired.
Never aim your weapon at an unarmored person, even if the marker is on safety mode.
Aiming at animals and birds results in a lifetime ban from the paintball gods. Seriously, stay humane.
Only load gelatin paintballs into the marker. Using improper ammunition is prohibited.
Aiming at the feeder guarantees the paintball will burst without causing a bruise.
Marker velocity should not exceed 91 meters per second.
Do not look into the barrel of a marker; only an instructor should address any problems with your weapon or gear.
The boundaries of the paintball field can be isolated with a net. You can only approach it closer than 3 meters while wearing a mask.
Adrenaline may lead to conflicts between players, but never let it escalate to physical altercations. In general, limit physical contact and control your speech.
Alcohol is permitted only after the competition ends and equipment has been returned.
The gas cylinder of a paintball marker is under pressure. Do not throw or drop the marker and cylinder, and avoid leaving the weapon in direct sunlight or near heat sources. If refueling is needed, contact an instructor.
Proper clothing is important. To avoid twisting your ankle, wear boots with high tops. All areas of skin should be covered.
The most informative infographic on paintball safety:
paintball safety infographic
By playing according to the rules and working as a team, you’ll gain plenty of positive emotions from paintball: exhilarating but free from injuries and equipment damage. We’ve covered the main points about paintball, and next, we’ll delve into the basics of equipment, clothing and masks , tactical secrets, and game scenarios.
