| "Look out! You're about to be hit!" THWACK! | | | | Although Capture the Flag is the most popular game, |
| THWACK! "Run! Run!" THWACK! THWACK! These | | | | there are many others paintball enthusiasts can play, |
| are the sounds you might hear at the exhilarating sport | | | | too. One simple version is just a basic game of |
| called paintball. | | | | Elimination: in this game, once a player is hit, he is |
| If you are looking for an exciting activity that will give | | | | eliminated. The last player left standing is thus the |
| you an adrenaline rush, then try paintball, the sport | | | | winner. You aren't trying to work as a team to protect |
| where you try to eliminate your opponent by hitting him | | | | one another or steal your opponent's flag. You are just |
| with pellets of paint. Using guns powered by | | | | fighting to "stay alive." |
| compressed gas, you shoot those pellets of paint | | | | As with any sport, the game does have some |
| (paintballs) at your opponents. When a player is hit by | | | | hazards. After all, you are running and shooting - |
| the paintball, he is eliminated from the game. Because | | | | shooting pellets out of a gun propelled by compressed |
| the pellets are filled with paint, it is easy to tell who has | | | | air. When the pellets hit you, they do sting, but don't |
| been hit and is thus "out" of the game. | | | | typically cause real injury. If the hit is at close range, |
| Imagine the adrenaline rush of chasing after another | | | | you might be bruised; therefore, masks are typically |
| human being, your heart pounding as you dart your | | | | worn to protect the face and eyes. |
| eyes back and forth, scanning the surroundings for | | | | However, all in all, the game is less dangerous than |
| other opponents. When you shoot your paintball game, | | | | many other sports. |
| THWACK! THWACK! your paintball splatters against | | | | Since the sport began in the late 1970s, it has become |
| your enemy, spattering paint all across his uniform. You | | | | very popular. Most research shows that well over 5 |
| took out a man! | | | | million people play in the United States alone. In fact, |
| Eliminating your opponents and evading being hit | | | | there are organized competitions with regional |
| yourself makes this sport such a great competition. | | | | tournaments all around the nation. Paintball leagues and |
| The most popular game of paintball is Capture the | | | | professional games are also becoming more popular. |
| Flag. Two teams can play this game whose objective | | | | However, the sport is still most widely enjoyed at the |
| is to capture the flag at the opponent's base and bring | | | | recreational level by amateurs just looking for a few |
| it back to your own. When a member of one team is | | | | hours of fun. Men make up the majority of players, but |
| hit, he is out of the game, but the rest of his team still | | | | women are increasingly finding the thrill of the game as |
| plays. Whichever team can steal the other's flag, | | | | tempting as men. |
| through whatever strategy needed, and bring it back | | | | If you want to feel an adrenaline rush like no other, |
| to their own home base wins. | | | | then try a game of paintball. |