Playing it Safe in Paintball: Essential Gear and Referees

Paintball's superb safety record compared with other sports is largely due to the attention paid to safety concerns since the beginnings of the game. Goggles are required to protect the eyes of all players to during a paintball game. Barrel plugs are also standard issue in all non-shooting areas of a paintball game. Chronographs measure paintball velocity, ensuring that the paintball game is played safely. The standard speed limit for paintballs internationally is 300 feet per second (fps). Referees are also present to ensure safe paintball games.

Paintball's superb safety record compared with other sports is largely attributable to the attention that has been paid to safety concerns from the very beginnings of the game. High strength goggles are always a requirement at any field as well as barrel plugs and chronographs.

Barrel plugs are an internationally-accepted safety item for paintball. Barrel plugs are required in all non-shooting areas and whenever a referee requires that plugs be inserted.

Chronographs are also mandatory for paintball. These devices measure the velocity at which the paintball is leaving the barrel of the marker. The international speed limit is 300 feet per second (fps). For indoor or other close range play, the speed limits are lower. In tournaments, penalties for exceeding the speed limit have cost many teams a trip to the finals--tournament directors have no sense of humor when it comes to enforcing safety rules.

Referees enforce safety and playing rules, as well as start and stop every game. They tend to chose brightly colored outfits, and players are generally not allowed to wear uniforms that resemble ref clothing. They are also called judges or marshals.

A barrel plug is to be inserted firmly into the muzzle of the paintgun.

Shooting the marker over a chrongraph tests how fast the paintball is going. The international maximum speed limit is 300 feet per second.

The referee starts and stops the game, and enforces safety and playing rules. Photo by Jaime Martinez

Playing it Safe in Paintball: Essential Gear and Referees

Article Categories