Paintball is a team sport in which players shoot dye-filled balls at each other in an attempt to eliminate them. It was invented by Charles Gaines, a bodybuilding expert. He formulated a marker that broke on impact.
The first paintball field opened in Rochester, New York in 1982. The field grew quickly and by the 1980s, over seventy thousand people played paintball in the United States every weekend.
In 1984, the first indoor commercial paintball field opened. By the early 1990s, church groups and executives were on paintball excursions.
Today, paintball has evolved into a multi-faceted sport that incorporates different types of games. Players can take on an opponent in a scenario game or capture the flag. They can also play speedball, which involves using hundreds of paintballs in a single game.
Another version of the game is bunker warfare. This is played on a small field with limited obstacles. Teams need to create cover and watch for other lanes being occupied by opponents.
A team can also gain control of the field by being the first to an advantageous obstacle. However, players are forbidden from moving bunkers and other parts of the field.
When a player is hit, they must raise their arms and then call “Out” to the referee. The referee will then acknowledge them and they are out.
Paintball is a great way to release tension and stress. It also helps develop leadership and teamwork skills.
Paintball is a sport that can be enjoyed by beginners and pros alike. Some fields allow reincarnation, which allows players to return if they are eliminated in the first round.