Paintball is a team shooting game in which players shoot at opposing players with paint pellets. The object of the game is to hit opponents and eliminate them from the field. Hits are recorded if the paintball leaves a solid mark of a specified minimum size (usually nickel or quarter-sized) on the player’s body or equipment. Players may also be eliminated from the game if they are caught by the opposing team in a “sneak attack” or if they commit a flag violation. Depending on the rules of play, the game can last anywhere from two minutes in NSG tournaments to twenty minutes in PSP events. Most games are played on established paintball fields and are organized by the leagues. Non-established or “renegade” play is also possible, but often lacks safety protocols and instruction.
Paintball was invented in 1981 by Charles Gaines, author of the bodybuilding book Pumping Iron; Hayes Noel, a New York stockbroker; and Robert Gurnsey, owner of a ski shop. They adapted an existing paint gun for shooting gelatin strips at steers for marking purposes. They used the markers for a survival game in the woods of New Hampshire and the sport quickly gained popularity.
Specialized playing fields and equipment stores sprung up all over the country, with Southern California alone hosting more than 50 venues. Teams range in size from six to 15 players, and people of all ages and professions enjoy the game. Paintball is considered a “safety-first” sport, and it requires intelligence and determination to win — not merely strength and speed.