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Many years ago a company called Nelson produced a tree "Marker" that would allow forestry workers to tag trees without leaving their vehicles. It didn't take long for gamesmanship to take hold as the first markers were issued. With a simple challenge of, "I can shoot (mark) you before you can shoot (mark) me!" Paintball was born. Paintball is not a growing game. It is an emerging sport.

The legend of how the game got started is claimed by different groups. The forestry worker is just one. Another is the cattle farmers that used the oil based paintballs to mark cows that were sick or injured. Ranchers could mark the cows from horseback. Whatever the roots were it is apparent that the game took shape based on the "I can mark you before you can mark me" before it was adapted into a combat scenario format.

Physiologist will tell you that if you put a pile of sticks in the middle of a room of kindergarten boys and girls they will eventually pick them up and start aiming them at each other as if the sticks were a gun, sword or light-sabers. Why? Physical and emotional dominance plays a big role in our behavior. Male or female the urge to control some part of our environment and dominate the circumstances around us is part of our personality.

Modern sports are built on the foundation of domination. Playing games and sports help us understand how to win and how to lose. Paintball gives the tools to fulfill some of the deep urges that we all face as well.

Paintball is not for everybody but don't get the idea that paintball is only for a few fringe nuts. The modern sport of paintball is not just for those who like to run around in the wood and shoot each other. Most new players would not be caught "dead" (pun) in the woods. Some still play that way but it is not the trend. What started as a loosely organized simulated combat scenario game has developed into a multi-billion dollar sport. Rules, referees, national and international leagues, netted fields, grandstands for spectators and yes even pro paintball teams.

Equipment has advanced from co2 markers (guns) that would shoot 2 balls per second to electronic ones. These nitro/compressed air powered tournament markers can produce 25 balls per second! All current commercial fields restrict feet per second velocities to be under 300fps. Most are below that for recreation play. Safety is a must and strict guidelines are maintained at most commercial fields. This is an aggressive athletic sport but has fewer injuries than other contact sports like football, lacrosse, and others. The industry would like to keep it that way.

Playing fields are roughly half the size of a football field and are covered with evenly placed inflatable bunkers. No camo but bright colors and geometric shapes. Players are clad in matching team colors that would rival the most popular team sport jerseys. Names like Runt, Speed, Crush, Miki, Didi Rick and more are plastered on the back of each jersey. Its team, adrenalin filled, its fast, and you have lots of toys to play with. What else could you ask for?

The popularity of paintball can be seen every afternoon if you go to PBnation.com. Try to do a search and chances are you will be prompted to try again later because the maximum number of registered logged in users has exceeded 18,000! That is one site. How many fans and participants does water polo have? You can bet that the sport will continue to grow and develop. Look for it soon during the Xgames and I am sure that the Olympics are not far behind.

Learn more about this author, Farrell Walker.
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