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Rules of the game

The following are the most basic and commonplastic projectiles), barrel socks are now
paintball rules. While there is littlethe de facto standard at most commercial
variation in safety rules, variation in otherfields.
game rules is quite common, and players
should ask about the specific rules wherePlayer 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, safeconsidered 'hit', 'marked' or 'tagged' when a
participation in paintball requirespaintball shot by another player strikes and
observance of proper safety procedure. Whenbreaks on the player leaving a paint mark.
safety rules are followed, paintball isDepending on the specific rules in effect
extremely safe, with an injury rate of onlywhere the player is playing, the mark may
0.2 injuries per 1,000 exposures. Injuryneed to be a particular size to count (in the
rates for other common team sports are muchUS, the size of a US Quarter is a common
higher, including 12 times as high for soccerthreshold in recreational play, while any
(2.4 injuries per 1,000 exposures) and 7mark counts in most tournament play), or a
times as high for baseball (1.4 injuries perhit with no mark may count if the hit is
1,000 exposures). Put another way, a playerobserved by a referee. Once a player has been
who played paintball twice a week wouldhit,  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 innot, possibly because the mark is from the
paintball is that all players must wear aspray of a paintball breaking on another
protective goggle system (or "mask") at allnearby object, or because they can not see
times when they are playing or near otherthe part of the body where they have been
people who are playing. While paintballs willstruck by a paintball, or because the
not cause permanent injury to most areas ofpaintball may have been shot by a player who
the body, the eyes, and to a lesser extenthad already been eliminated, the player
the ears, are vulnerable to serious injury ifshould ask a referee to determine whether or
hit by a paintball. Paintball masks arenot the player has a valid hit. This request
specifically designed for the sport, with theis commonly referred to as a 'paint check',
goggles being capable of withstanding aand is most often requested by the player
direct hit from a paintball travelling at 300yelling the words 'Paint Check' to a nearby
feet per second. A mask that protects theofficial. Some game rules allow an official
rest of the face and flaps that cover theto call a player 'neutral' during a paint
ears are attached to the goggles. Mostcheck so that the official can more closely
commercial paintball fields require playersinspect a player. If a player is called
to wear a mask designed specifically forneutral, they must discontinue play while
playing paintball Paintball players mustbeing checked, and opponents may also not
never remove their goggles during a game orfire  or  advance  on  the  neutral  player.
when other people are playing nearby. This
rule is zealously enforced at all commercialPlayers may also be eliminated from the game
fields, and players that violate this rulefor reasons other than being hit by a
are given at most one warning before they arepaintball, including calling themselves out
sent home. Most commercial fields have aby saying "I'm hit!" or "I'm out!", due to a
well-defined area, usually separated from thepenalty, from paint marks from paint grenades
field with a wall or netting, where it isor 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 onBecause players who call themselves out are
the ground and cover his/her head. Any playereliminated even if they are not actually hit,
who sees this should alert game officials andplayers should always check to see if a
other players to stop the game until thepaintball 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 thePlayers may also call for a paint check on
mandatory use of masks, paintball markersanother player if they believe they have
must not fire paintballs that exceed amarked an opponent to ensure the player is
certain velocity. The industry standardpromptly eliminated from the game, especially
maximum velocity is 300 feet per secondif the opposing player may not be aware they
(about 200 miles per hour). Paintballsare hit or may be attempting to hide or
traveling faster than 300 fps will leaveremove a hit. Removing a hit and continuing
large bruises and can potentially break theto play is a severe form of cheating commonly
skin or even fingers. Many commercialknown as 'wiping' and can result in severe
paintball facilities mandate a lower velocitypenalties, including being permanently banned
(usually 250 to 295 fps) in order to createfrom the playing location at a recreational
an extra margin of safety. Lower velocitiesor 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. Playersis where the cheating player and an
sometimes wear thick jackets and gloves toadditional three teammates are eliminated
cover  any  exposed  skin.from  play.
Paintball velocity is measured using aSurrender Rule Some rules require that a
chronograph. Chronographs are standardplayer 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 ademand the unaware player's surrender (by
commercial location. Players who play withoutyelling "Surrender!" or "Mercy!") before they
first using a chronograph put themselves andmay open fire. If the opponent complies
other players at risk. Because changes inverbally, or by raising their hand or marker,
temperature, humidity and atmosphericthey 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 timeshostile action (such as turning to fire), the
throughout  the  day.challenging  player  may  fire  upon  them.
Paintball markers should also beWhile waiting for a response, however, the
chronographed after any adjustment orplayer can still be hit by other opponents.
replacement of parts (e.g. the barrel) thatGetting hit by a paintball from close range
might significantly change the marker'scan 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 mustan  opponent  at  close  range.
use some sort of barrel blocking device on
their paintball marker when not activelyIn almost all tournament play, there is no
playing. These devices generally take thesurrender rule, and if a player catches an
form of a small bag (commonly called aopponent off guard, they are free to fire at
"barrel sock" or "barrel condom") that covershim. Moves such as a 'run through', where a
the front end of the barrel and work byplayer sprints down the field shooting as
catching any paintballs that are accidentallymany of the opposing team as he can, have
fired. For a long time, barrel plugs, a piecedeveloped over time and are now very
of hard plastic with rubber orings placedimportant 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 fallis behind and shoots them from over the top
out or be shot out (turning them into hardor around the side of the bunker.



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