WHAT IS PAINTBALL

What is Paintball?
   In less than a decade, paintball has become recognized as one of the world's most exciting participation sports. In fact, Paintball is the fastest growing sport in the 90's. Paintball is played in over 35 countries by millions of men and women of all ages and life styles. Whether homemakers or high-school students, professional or retired, all paintball players share in common a love for adventure and a strong competitive spirit. It is a sport in which men and women compete equally, and age is not dominated by youth. Size and strength are not as important as intelligence and determination. Like a game of chess, being able to think quickly and decisively is what makes you a star in paintball. Paintball is also a character-building sport. Paintball Players learn the importance of teamwork and gain self-confidence while developing leadership abilities. But, above all, paintball is fun! Once the adrenalin starts pumping you can't help but love the thrill of the game!

   Paintball is a team sport and is similar to many other "ball" oriented sports, in that you have 2 or more teams striving to achieve a goal or objective. Paintball has rules, a scoring system, referees, leagues and international tournaments. Paintball is a combination tag, hide and seek, cops and robbers and human chess. The sport of Paintball is a non-contact, action-packed, physical and mental activity and is the most fun you will ever experience...

Paintball does not:

• Promote violence • Glorify war • Teach people how to shoot a gun • Prepare you for the military • Make you feel invincible

Paintball does:

• Teach you the importance of teamwork • Allow you to gain self-confidence• Helps you develop basic leadership skills • Make you realize that any real combat zone is definitely not the place you want to be

History of Paintball

   Paintball is considered a very young sport. Paintball came into being in 1981 when the U.S. Forestry Service invented a dye marking pistol for the purpose of marking trees. The Cattlemans' Association adopted this idea of dye marking, and applied it to cattle as an alternative to branding. It is believed that the first game of paintball was between cowboys who, while sitting around the campfire one night, decided to shoot each other with the dye marking pistols.

   Paintball has evolved considerably over the past years. The most important changes have been in the adoption of rules and equipment designed to make the Paintball game safe for all to play.

Paintball Games

   Paintball is a combination of childhood "tag" and "hide and seek", but it's much more challenging and sophisticated. Although there are many different game formats, typically a group of players will divide into 2 teams to play "Capture the Flag". The number of players on each paintball team can vary from 4 or 5 to as many as 500 on a side, limited only by the size of the playing field. Indoor paintball arenas generally have two teams of 10 to 20 each side. The object of this game of paintball is to go out and capture the other team's flag while protecting your own. While you are trying to capture a flag, you also try to remove the opposing paintball players by "tagging" them with a paintball expelled from a special CO2 or air-powered paintgun. Outdoor Paintball games can last for hours, while indoor games range from 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the scenario. Between paintball games players take a break to check their equipment, reload paintballs and refresh themselves while recounting the thrills of victory and the (usually funny) agonies of defeat. Win or lose, everyone has a great time playing paintball.

Paintball Equipment

Paintballs:

A paintball is a round, thin-skinned gelatin capsule containing a colored liquid. Paintballs are very similar to large bath oil beads. The filling inside is non-toxic, non-caustic, water-soluble and biodegradeable. It rinses out of clothing and off skin with mild soap and water. Paintballs come in a rainbow of colors and when a player gets "tagged" with a paintball, the thin gelatin skin splits open and the liquid inside leaves a bright "paint" mark. The player is then eliminated from the game for a specified period of time.

Paintball Guns:

Paintball guns come in a variety of shapes and styles. Some are small paintpistols, powered by little 12-gram CO2 cartridges that require changing after 15 to 25 shots. Other paintguns are rifle-like, with larger air tanks and paintball storage "boxes". They range from simple and inexpensive (under $200) to sophisticated and expensive (up to $1000) for the tournament or competition grade paintball player. All are limited to their power and range. Even at maximum elevation a paintgun can only lob a paintball about 60 yards in the outdoor models to 60 feet for some indoor units. Paintballs won't hit hard enough to cause an injury as long as proper safety gear is worn and procedures are followed; like in any intensive sport.