So, your son, daughter, or husband is begging for your okay to buy the latestpaintball equipment.
It’s surprising, but after only one or two trips to thepaintball field, folks just get hooked! While you’d like to share theirenthusiasm for the sport and give your much needed “go ahead,” you areconcerned with your loved ones shooting paintballs at other players and beingshot at. Don’t feel like you’re alone. These are common and serious concernsthat deserve a thoughtful response. The following paragraphs will hopefullyexplain why our sport is the fastest growing sport in the world and that itdoesn’t have anything to do with people hurting one another. Paintball has hadan astounding safety record.
Medical and insurance statistics show thatpaintball is safer than bowling! This is a strong testimony to the game and theyplayers who play it. Paintball is a safe sport as long as rules are followed. Insurance statistics also show that paintball is much safer than golf, jogging,downhill skiing, snow boarding, tennis, swimming and many other more commonsports. Safety is highly stressed at most fields. The majority of fields requiregoggles be worn at all times unless in designated areas.
In addition to thisfields also require that barrel plugs (plastic inserts that prevent projectilesfrom leaving your gun’s barrel) be used while players are in certain areas. Ignoring safety is a good way to get yourself ejected from a field. Men andwomen of all ages and life-styles play paintball in over 30 countries. Fromschoolteachers or high school students, professionals or technicians, allpaintball players share a love for adventure and a strong competitive teamspirit. Paintball is similar to the childhood games of “tag” and”hide and seek”, but much more challenging and sophisticated.
Thereare various game formats. Usually, a group of players will divide into two teamsto play “capture the flag”. The number of players on a team variesfrom four or five players, to as many as 100 players on each side, limited onlyby the size of the playing field. The object of the game is to capture the otherteam’s flag while defending your own flag station.
Players compete to eliminateopposing players by tagging them with a paintball expelled from an airgun. Gamesusually have a time limit of 20 to 45 minutes. Between 10 – 15 games are playedduring one day. Between games, players may check their equipment, reloadpaintballs or have a snack and share stories about the thrills of victory andthe usually funny agonies of defeat. Win or lose, everyone has a great time! Apaintball is a round, dime-sized gelatin capsule with colored liquid inside.
Paintballs are similar to large round vitamin capsules or bath oil beads. Theliquid is non-toxic, non-caustic, water-soluble, and biodegradable. It rinsesout of clothing and off skin with mild soap and water. Paintballs come in arainbow of colors. When a paintball tags a player, the gelatin ball opens andthe liquid leaves a “paint” mark.
A player who is marked is eliminatedfrom the game. Paintball guns come in a variety of styles. Some are small stockpistols, powered by small 12-gram CO2 cartridges that need to be changed after15 to 25 shots. Other paintball guns are rifle-like, with shoulder stocks andlonger barrels. These are powered by larger, refillable CO2 cylinders thatsupply hundreds of shots.
Some paintball guns are pump-actions. Each time youshoot, you must first cock the paintball gun by using a pump. Other paintballguns are semi-automatic, which re-cock automatically. Just squeeze the trigger!Paintballs won’t hit hard enough to cause an injury as long as proper safetyprocedures are followed.
Protective covering with multiple layers of clothing isrecommended. To protect their eyes, all players must always wearapproved-for-paintball goggles in every area where shooting is allowed, even atthe target range. Barrel plugs are required anywhere off the playing field. Professional referees on the playing field control the games, enforce the rulesof fair play, and monitor safety rules. Most paintball fields have a staff oftrained referees that allows them to conduct several games simultaneously. Paintball is a sport where women and men compete equally and where age is notdominated by youth.
Size and strength are not as important as intelligence anddetermination. Being able to think quickly and decisively are what makes a greatplayer. Paintball is a character-building sport where every decision and everymove counts. Players learn the importance of teamwork and strategy and can gainself-esteem while developing quick-thinking leadership abilities.
Paintball isan exciting way to shake off day-to-day responsibilities and take a chance on anew adventure. When the game begins, the adrenaline starts pumping, and allplayers, from the meek and mild, to the bold and brave, strive for theirresistible thrill of victory. BibliographySparks, Jessica. “The Sport of Paintball: Dangerous or Safe?”Action Pursuit Games (July 1999). 23-27 Sparks, Jessica.
“Paintball Gunsand Paintballs. ” Action Pursuit Games (September 1998). 11-13
