Paintball is a sport in which players compete against each other by shooting balls of dye (called “paintballs”) through a device called a marker. When the paintballs hit a player, they break and release the dye, marking that player as eliminated from the game. The game is often played as an organised competitive sport with leagues and tournaments for both professional and recreational players.
The game begins when both teams are set up at their bases and the referee shouts “Game On!” or blows his whistle. The teams then begin pursuing the objectives of the game while trying to eliminate their opponents. The team that dominates the other wins.
Players hide behind natural or artificial terrain and obstacles to avoid getting shot. They also use a variety of equipment such as masks, barrel-blocking devices and clothing to conceal themselves from the opposing team. The game can be played with a wide range of different game modes, including team death match and capture the flag.
In general, the game is non-contact. While tagging other players with paintballs is allowed, physically contacting players is not. Fisticuffs are dangerous to players and can lead to ejection from the field. In addition, referees are trained to respond quickly and aggressively to fights and to eject or ban the instigator.
Hitting other players marks them as eliminated from the game and is a common cause of fights between players. Some paintballs are designed to break when they hit a person while others remain intact until they reach the target. In either case, if a player gets hit with a paintball and the dye breaks off, they must immediately call themselves out of the game and exit the dead zone area, which varies by field.