Paintball is a sport where people from all professions and walks of life can compete against each other, on teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by shooting them with paint-filled pellets fired from a compressed gas powered gun. It is an extremely popular sport for individuals of all ages and is considered to be one of the safest extreme sports in modern times.
The origins of the sport date back to the early eighties when a group of 12 enthusiasts first played paintball in Sutton, New Hampshire. The original name for the game was “National Survival Game.”
Unlike other sports where the size and strength of participants are determined by their physical prowess, paintball emphasizes intelligence, tactics, and determination over size and strength. It also focuses on teamwork as players work together to achieve a common goal.
Types and goals of games vary, but may include flag capturing, opponents’ elimination, defending/attacking a particular point or area, or capturing objects of interest concealed in the playing area. Depending on the variant, a game can last minutes to hours or even days in “scenario play”.
A paintball marker is an air-powered firearm that shoots spherical paint-filled pellets at the player using a high-pressure stream of compressed gas. The barrel is usually made of plastic or metal, and the tube is covered with a paint-repellent coating.
Players often use helmets and protective clothing to avoid direct paintball hits to their heads, which can result in abrasions that may cause concussions or other health problems. They must also wear barrel-blocking safety equipment and must obey all safety rules, including the use of a safety switch, in order to participate.