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