Paintball is a team shooting game in which players tag opponents by hitting them with spherical dye-filled gelatin capsules called paintballs that break upon impact. It can be played on indoor or outdoor playing fields of varying sizes. The sport can be played for recreation, but it is also a formal sporting event with organized competition and major tournaments. Various game types and goals are possible, such as capture the flag (CTF), elimination or defending or attacking a specific point or area.
The equipment used includes a marker, which is a gun-like device that expels the paintballs and an air tank for propelling them. Markers may be manually or electronically powered. Players wear clothing to protect them from splatter and other injuries. Players often wear masks to keep the face and eyes protected from direct impact or ricochets.
If a player feels that they have been hit, they may raise their arm over their head and walk towards the dead zone to indicate this to other players. This indicates to the other players that they can no longer shoot them and they should not be shot again until a marshal or player tells them it is safe to do so.
Conserving ammo is essential as it’s easy to run out on the field. Only shoot when you have a clear shot at an opponent, and try to avoid shooting at their heads or faces as this is dangerous and unsportsmanlike. It is important to always have a defogger on hand to keep your mask clear as it can fog up quickly when you’re moving around and breathing hard.