| the game or sport of paintball is familiar to most | | | | safe, fun and a great way for kids and adults to gain |
| people, many have never played the game and don't | | | | the benefits of exercise while enjoying the action and |
| know what it really is, other than people running around | | | | strategy of the sport. Believe it or not, there are rules |
| shooting each other with globs of paint. But paintball is | | | | to playing a game of paintball and breaking them is |
| so much more than that, and is great fun as well. | | | | frowned upon. Sportsmanship is valued in this game, |
| The object of playing a game of paintball is to eliminate | | | | and sore losers generally don't fare well. |
| your opponents in a 'field of battle' by hitting them with | | | | The object of a game of paintball is to 'shoot' all the |
| a paintball. A paintball is made of a round capsule that's | | | | members of the opposing team. Paintball fields are |
| filled with non-toxic and wash-out substances, more | | | | available with both indoor and outdoor settings and |
| scientifically known as polyethylene glycol, or what is | | | | cost only about $10-$80 a day if equipment is rented. |
| officially described in the American Heritage dictionary | | | | For those who choose to purchase their own paintball |
| as, 'any of a family of colorless liquids with high | | | | gear, including paintball 'gun', tanks, and protective |
| molecular weight that are soluble in water and in many | | | | headgear and clothing, prices range from about |
| organic solvents and are used in detergents and as | | | | $100-$1,000 depending on what you want. However, |
| emulsifiers and plasticizers.' Let's just call it paint for | | | | depending on your skill level, a game of paintball can |
| simplicity's sake, shall we? | | | | last minutes or hours, so you may opt for renting the |
| A game of paintball is played in a special location with | | | | equipment until you get better at the game. Paintball |
| plenty of landscape to provide a pretend battlefield for | | | | equipment can be purchased at most sporting goods |
| participants that includes trees, obstacles, bunkers and | | | | stores, or online through a paintball supply outfit. |
| trenches, among many other landscape features. A | | | | The game of paintball was first introduced to the |
| game of paintball is generally played between teams, | | | | American market in the mid 1970's. The game was |
| though participants can play individually if they want, | | | | first called 'Survival' and the first article about the game |
| and if the paintball facility allows for that. Paintball | | | | appeared in a 1980 issue of Sports Illustrated. Since |
| facilities are scattered throughout the United States | | | | then, the popularity of the game has steadily increased |
| and around the world, providing hours of fun for those | | | | until it's reached the worldwide popularity it enjoys |
| wanting a little more excitement than other more | | | | today. Whether you participate in the game or sport of |
| traditional sports. Over ten million people play paintball in | | | | paintball as a player or as an observer, one thing is |
| the United States alone, and proponents claim that it's | | | | certain. Paintball is a blast, and is here to stay! |