| ules of a paintball match may vary depending on the | | | | painful than shots from a distance. You should offer |
| rules of the house where the paintball field is located. | | | | surrender to any opposing player within twenty feet if |
| There are nuances to rules governing the number of | | | | you have a shot on them. |
| players, how a flag is captured, time limits, and other | | | | Keep paintball velocity in check. |
| game details. | | | | Keep the velocity under 300 feet per second (FPS). A |
| However, there are universal safety rules that should | | | | good rule of thumb is around the 280 range. At 280 |
| be followed no mater what kind of paintball game you | | | | FPS a paintball can cause a small bruise; a paintball |
| are playing, and on no matter what kind of field you | | | | traveling faster than that can cause more damage |
| are playing on. | | | | including severe welts and broken skin. |
| Plug it up. | | | | Common safety takes some common sense. |
| Paintball guns come with a barrel blocking device, or | | | | Finally, most problems can be avoided with the best |
| plug. Use it. The plug should be inserted into the barrel | | | | piece of equipment that doesn’t cost a dime |
| whenever you are not on the playing field. | | | | – common sense. It should go without saying, but |
| Wearing a mask is macho. | | | | some people need to be reminded to not shoot private |
| Your mask must be worn at al times during the game. | | | | property, don’t shoot from a moving car, |
| There are no exceptions to this rule. Don’t take | | | | don’t look down the barrel of a gun, |
| it off for any reason until all the barrel plugs have been | | | | don’t hand someone else a loaded gun, etc. |
| placed back on all the guns. The most severe paintball | | | | Paintball is meant to be fun and exciting. Following |
| injuries occur when a mask is removed at the wrong | | | | some basic safety rules can help you ensure your day |
| time. | | | | ends in good times, and not a trip to the emergency |
| Your gun should be loaded, not you. | | | | room. |
| This is a simple one to remember - Do not drink and | | | | It is interesting to note that paintball is considered to be |
| play. Do not play paintball if you are under the influence | | | | one of the safest extreme sports in the world. While |
| of any substance; illegal or prescription. You need to be | | | | there are safety hazards and rules that prevent |
| fully coherent to dodge those paintballs whizzing by | | | | injuries, paintball is actually a very safe sport when |
| your head. | | | | compared to others like “running with the |
| Do not blind fire. | | | | bulls.” |
| Only shoot it if you can see it. Do not stick your gun | | | | Paintball sometimes gets a bad reputation because |
| out and fire without looking. You could accidentally | | | | guns are being used when playing. Don’t let the |
| shoot players and other things you shouldn’t. | | | | equipment influence your choice to play the game! Get |
| Offer surrender. | | | | out there and play! |
| As you can imagine, close-range shots are a lot more | | | | |