| Paintball is a recreational sport in which players | | | | the game. |
| compete, either individually or in teams, in a combat like | | | | Due to the nature of the game, paintball can be |
| environment. As opposed to using deadly weapons, | | | | somewhat violent and injuries can occur. Paintballs |
| this game uses specialized guns which fire | | | | leave the gun a speed fast enough to cause welting |
| marble-sized pellets that are filled with paint. Paintball is | | | | on a person's skin or cause significant eye damage. |
| a relatively new sport, but has become exceedingly | | | | Because of this, all participants are required to wear |
| popular ever since it was first introduced in 1981. | | | | certain paintball accessories while playing. To play, |
| The game of paintball has numerous amounts of | | | | most facilities require participants to wear gloves, |
| games which can be played. The most common | | | | proper shoes, long pants, and long sleeves. Facilities |
| game played is Capture the Flag. In this game two | | | | also require all participants to wear proper paintball |
| teams, of 5 to 10 players each, compete against each | | | | gear which will protect the head in case of a fall and |
| other with the attempt being to capture their | | | | the eyes in the event a player gets shot in the face. |
| opponent's flag. To win the game, a team must steal | | | | Most facilities provide guns and required accessories |
| their opponent's flag and return it to their territory | | | | for all players. |
| without being hit by an opponent. Depending on the | | | | While most participants play paintball as a recreational |
| rules of the game, if a person is hit, they may be | | | | sport, there are several professional leagues where |
| required to sit out until the game is over. | | | | teams are sponsored and the players receive |
| Another popular game is known as survival. In this | | | | compensation. These competitors are highly skilled and |
| game, all players are playing individually against | | | | rely on the use of more advanced paintball guns. The |
| everyone else. The purpose of this game is either to | | | | paintball guns used by professional players are much |
| be the last person standing or to have the most kills | | | | more efficient than the guns which are used by |
| throughout the game. When playing this game, many | | | | recreational participants. These guns shoot at higher |
| competitors have strategies which involve forming | | | | speeds, can fire more rapidly, and can shoot much |
| alliances with other competitors to ensure they are | | | | more accurately than the guns which are used by |
| among the last players standing towards the end of | | | | most recreational participants. |