| The following are the most basic and common | | | | facto standard at most commercial fields. |
| paintball rules. While there is little variation in safety | | | | Player Eliminations Players eliminate each other from |
| rules, variation in other game rules is quite common, | | | | the game by hitting their opponent with a paintball. |
| and players should ask about the specific rules where | | | | Players are generally considered 'hit', 'marked' or |
| they are playing.. | | | | 'tagged' when a paintball shot by another player strikes |
| Safety rules Like many sports, safe participation in | | | | and breaks on the player leaving a paint mark. |
| paintball requires observance of proper safety | | | | Depending on the specific rules in effect where the |
| procedure. When safety rules are followed, paintball is | | | | player is playing, the mark may need to be a particular |
| extremely safe, with an injury rate of only 0.2 injuries | | | | size to count (in the US, the size of a US Quarter is a |
| per 1,000 exposures. Injury rates for other common | | | | common threshold in recreational play, while any mark |
| team sports are much higher, including 12 times as high | | | | counts in most tournament play), or a hit with no mark |
| for soccer (2.4 injuries per 1,000 exposures) and 7 | | | | may count if the hit is observed by a referee. Once a |
| times as high for baseball (1.4 injuries per 1,000 | | | | player has been hit, they are eliminated from the game. |
| exposures). Put another way, a player who played | | | | If a player is uncertain whether a mark or strike they |
| paintball twice a week would expect to play for 50 | | | | have received is a valid hit or not, possibly because the |
| years before sustaining an injury. | | | | mark is from the spray of a paintball breaking on |
| Goggle System - The most important rule in paintball is | | | | another nearby object, or because they can not see |
| that all players must wear a protective goggle system | | | | the part of the body where they have been struck by |
| (or "mask") at all times when they are playing or near | | | | a paintball, or because the paintball may have been |
| other people who are playing. While paintballs will not | | | | shot by a player who had already been eliminated, the |
| cause permanent injury to most areas of the body, the | | | | player should ask a referee to determine whether or |
| eyes, and to a lesser extent the ears, are vulnerable to | | | | not the player has a valid hit. This request is commonly |
| serious injury if hit by a paintball. Paintball masks are | | | | referred to as a 'paint check', and is most often |
| specifically designed for the sport, with the goggles | | | | requested by the player yelling the words 'Paint Check' |
| being capable of withstanding a direct hit from a | | | | to a nearby official. Some game rules allow an official |
| paintball travelling at 300 feet per second. A mask that | | | | to call a player 'neutral' during a paint check so that the |
| protects the rest of the face and flaps that cover the | | | | official can more closely inspect a player. If a player is |
| ears are attached to the goggles. Most commercial | | | | called neutral, they must discontinue play while being |
| paintball fields require players to wear a mask | | | | checked, and opponents may also not fire or advance |
| designed specifically for playing paintball Paintball | | | | on the neutral player. |
| players must never remove their goggles during a | | | | Players may also be eliminated from the game for |
| game or when other people are playing nearby. This | | | | reasons other than being hit by a paintball, including |
| rule is zealously enforced at all commercial fields, and | | | | calling themselves out by saying "I'm hit!" or "I'm out!", |
| players that violate this rule are given at most one | | | | due to a penalty, from paint marks from paint |
| warning before they are sent home. Most commercial | | | | grenades or paint mines (in games where such |
| fields have a well-defined area, usually separated from | | | | equipment is allowed) or for game infractions like |
| the field with a wall or netting, where it is safe to | | | | stepping out-of-bounds. |
| remove the goggles. | | | | Because players who call themselves out are |
| If a player's mask falls off during a game, he or she | | | | eliminated even if they are not actually hit, players |
| should immediately lie face down on the ground and | | | | should always check to see if a paintball that has hit |
| cover his/her head. Any player who sees this should | | | | them has indeed left a mark. A paintball may simply |
| alert game officials and other players to stop the | | | | bounce off a player's body, which does not count as a |
| game until the player is able to replace their goggles. | | | | hit. Players may also call for a paint check on another |
| Paintball Velocity - In addition to the mandatory use of | | | | player if they believe they have marked an opponent |
| masks, paintball markers must not fire paintballs that | | | | to ensure the player is promptly eliminated from the |
| exceed a certain velocity. The industry standard | | | | game, especially if the opposing player may not be |
| maximum velocity is 300 feet per second (about 200 | | | | aware they are hit or may be attempting to hide or |
| miles per hour). Paintballs traveling faster than 300 fps | | | | remove a hit. Removing a hit and continuing to play is a |
| will leave large bruises and can potentially break the | | | | severe form of cheating commonly known as 'wiping' |
| skin or even fingers. Many commercial paintball facilities | | | | and can result in severe penalties, including being |
| mandate a lower velocity (usually 250 to 295 fps) in | | | | permanently banned from the playing location at a |
| order to create an extra margin of safety. Lower | | | | recreational or commercial facility, but in most |
| velocities can still be painful at point blank range, and | | | | instances a penalty of "3 for 1" will be called. This is |
| should be avoided when possible. Players sometimes | | | | where the cheating player and an additional three |
| wear thick jackets and gloves to cover any exposed | | | | teammates are eliminated from play. |
| skin. | | | | Surrender Rule Some rules require that a player within |
| Paintball velocity is measured using a chronograph. | | | | a certain distance of an unaware opponent (usually 10 |
| Chronographs are standard equipment at commercial | | | | to 15 feet) must demand the unaware player's |
| paintball facilities, but must be purchased if not playing | | | | surrender (by yelling "Surrender!" or "Mercy!") before |
| at a commercial location. Players who play without first | | | | they may open fire. If the opponent complies verbally, |
| using a chronograph put themselves and other players | | | | or by raising their hand or marker, they are considered |
| at risk. Because changes in temperature, humidity and | | | | marked and are out of the match. However, if they |
| atmospheric pressure may affect a paintball's velocity, | | | | refuse or attempt any hostile action (such as turning to |
| markers should be chronographed several times | | | | fire), the challenging player may fire upon them. |
| throughout the day. | | | | While waiting for a response, however, the player can |
| Paintball markers should also be chronographed after | | | | still be hit by other opponents. Getting hit by a paintball |
| any adjustment or replacement of parts (e.g. the | | | | from close range can be particularly uncomfortable, |
| barrel) that might significantly change the marker's | | | | and it is thus polite and good sportsmanship to offer a |
| velocity. | | | | surrender instead of unnecessarily shooting an |
| Barrel Blocking Devices - All players must use some | | | | opponent at close range. |
| sort of barrel blocking device on their paintball marker | | | | In almost all tournament play, there is no surrender rule, |
| when not actively playing. These devices generally | | | | and if a player catches an opponent off guard, they |
| take the form of a small bag (commonly called a | | | | are free to fire at him. Moves such as a 'run through', |
| "barrel sock" or "barrel condom") that covers the front | | | | where a player sprints down the field shooting as |
| end of the barrel and work by catching any paintballs | | | | many of the opposing team as he can, have |
| that are accidentally fired. For a long time, barrel plugs, | | | | developed over time and are now very important |
| a piece of hard plastic with rubber orings placed into | | | | plays. Another popular move is "bunkering", where a |
| the front end of the barrel, were the most commonly | | | | player charges up to the bunker or barricade that an |
| used barrel blocking device. But because they had the | | | | opposing player is behind and shoots them from over |
| potential to fall out or be shot out (turning them into | | | | the top or around the side of the bunker. |
| hard plastic projectiles), barrel socks are now the de | | | | |