The game of paintball is a team-based sport in which players compete against each other to eliminate opponents by shooting them with spherical dye-filled gelatin capsules that break upon impact. The paintballs are propelled from a compressed gas powered gun, known as a marker, by a small burst of air. It is considered safer than sports such as tennis or soccer because players are usually wearing protective masks, although it is still a contact sport that can cause injuries, especially if the player is hit multiple times.
A player’s ability to use the entire field and create cover in order to conceal themselves and avoid being spotted is vital, as is a keen sense of observation and listening for enemy movements. It’s important to conserve your ammunition and only shoot when you see a target that is close enough to hit, and have a good chance of doing so. Also, try to stay low and move around when not firing as this will make it harder for the opposition to see you.
Different variations of the game exist, including woodsball, in which teams play on natural outdoor environments, and speedball, which is played on smaller indoor arena fields at a faster pace. There are also a number of scenario-based events, which incorporate other elements such as storyline and character roles into gameplay.
Safety is of paramount importance to us at Modern Combat Sports, which is why all our games are overseen by qualified referees and are run in accordance with the latest game rules. In reality, there are less than a dozen paintball-related injuries a year worldwide so as long as common sense is exercised and the rules are followed, paintball is perfectly safe.