Paintball is a team-based ball game in which players use a gun to mark opponents with a colored puff of air. The game can be played at a recreational level or at a formal sporting level with organised tournaments and professional teams. Games can last for minutes or hours, or even days in “scenario play” where the aim is to capture points or other objects hidden on a field.
When playing paintball, you will be issued with a set of overalls and possibly body armour, a face mask, and a paintball gun complete with hopper (the container that holds the paintballs ready for firing). It is important to familiarise yourself with your gun before heading out onto the battlefield, and it is highly recommended that you practice on a suitable backstop until you are confident with your ability to hit a target consistently.
It is essential to know the rules of play before you head out on the field, and most centres will provide a quick run through before sending you off to battle. One of the most basic rules is that once you are hit, you must leave the field and go to the dead zone (a specific area off the field where players head to when they have been eliminated). If you don’t want to risk being called out of the game, simply raise your hand and shout ‘paint check’ to let other players know that you have been marked.