The basic rules of paintball

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by Ali Khan

Created on: June 29, 2009 Last Updated: July 04, 2009

Basic Rules of Paintball

You're ready to break out of your base, sprint to the nearest cover and blast pellets at the other team. But did you think of all the issues that could potentially transform your game from being one to be remembered to one which should have been avoided? This is where the rules of paintball come into play, helping avoid injury and misunderstanding to truly showcase the potential this sport has.

The first thing to do when beginning a game of paintball is to clearly define the area to be played in. Boundaries must be distinctly established and dead zones indicated. Dead zones are referred to the areas where the game is not played. When the game has ended, players can go to the dead zones to remove masks and remove equipment. The area used must be just the right size; if it is too large, the game will not be as intense, and if it is too small, there may be risk of injury. Bases for each team must be pointed out so there is no confusion at the start of the game.

Game rules must also be clearly defined. Rules are different for different types of game. Some of the popular types of paintball game are capture-the-flag, centre flag and elimination.

One of the most important points to consider in a paintball game is how long it will last. Time duration can be the difference between a long, tiring and arduous game and short, sweet and intense game. Games should be kept on the shorter side in consideration of the fact that the person who is out first will have to wait for the others.

Teaming should be clearly decided before the game starts. If there are some new players and some who are more experienced, a balance must be struck in dividing them and teams must consist of both skilled and relatively new players. Other factors that can be used to divide players into teams are sex, profession, hobbies, etc.

Once the game has been played, hits can be counted by looking for small marks on either the players' equipment or their body. 'Splatter' is the term used to describe the situation where the paint on a player's body or equipment is a result of paint splattering from a nearby impact. Thus, marks make better evidence and can be counted to reveal the number of hits in a game.

When a player has been hit, he or she must indicate so, for example by raising their arms or gun and shouting 'I'm hit!' so that the game stops only briefly if needed as the player rushes to the nearest dead zone.

When one team has accomplished the tasks required, someone must shout to indicate that they have won and that the game is over. A new game type can then be tried keeping the same basic rules in mind.

*Equipment Needed

Mask

Gun

Hopper

Air Tank

Paintballs

*Safety Precautions

Masks must be worn at all times.

Do not drink before playing.

Do not fire blindly.

Use barrel covers.

Use common sense.