Paintball is a team-oriented, tactical sport in which players use a gun to fire paintballs at opponents and hit them without getting shot themselves. The goal is to eliminate all of the opposing players. Games typically last from 15-20 minutes, although larger games can be up to hours long. Paintball has no set age or gender restrictions; people of all ages and professions play, and are not limited by physical fitness, skill or strength.
To compete, players need to have three basic pieces of equipment: a marker, a hopper and a mask. Most paintball centers and fields will provide these items, as well as a safety briefing and a field of play. Players are also required to wear a mask, goggles, gloves and thick clothing. Players should also practice shooting their guns and reloading them before entering the field, to become familiar with the equipment.
The game of paintball requires effective communication between teammates to alert them of enemy movements and opportunities for attack, and to discuss strategy. This can include discreet hand signals, agreed-upon verbal codes, and debriefing after a game to identify areas for improvement and highlight successes.
The speed and force with which a paintball travels can be startling, especially to new players. To help prepare new players, the first time they fire a gun, they are recommended to stand behind cover and shoot at targets as far away as possible. This will allow them to get an idea of the accuracy and power of their gun, as well as how much lead is traveling with each round.