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The Paintball Game: The Basic of How to Play
Paintball games come in many shapes and sizes. What are the basics when it comes to how many people are on a paintball team? How are paintball games organized? What is the player's goal in a paintball game? Are there time limits in a paintball game? If you're new to paintball or just need a refresher, read on for exciting content about paintball and the basics of playing a paintball game.
Although there are many different game formats, typically a group of players will divide into two teams to play "capture the flag."
In the two flag game,each of two teams starts from its own home base. The object of the game is to capture the other team's flag and carry it back to your home base.
In the one flag game, there is a single flag placed at an equal distance from each of two teams. The flag usually is in the center of the field. The object of the game is to capture the flag and advance, carrying the flag to the opposing team's home base.
Paintball is usually played outdoors. Indoor play sites are becoming more common, usually in more urban areas.
Arenaball (also called speedball) is paintball played in an arena (indoors or outdoors) where spectators can enjoy the excitement.
The number of players on each team can vary from four or five per team to over 500 on a side, limited only by the size of the playing field.
For safety, paintball players always must wear approved-for-paintball goggles and head protection systems to protect the eyes and face during a game and while in other areas (such as the target range or chronograph area) where shooting is permitted.
While you are trying to capture a flag, you also try to eliminate opposing players by tagging them with a paintball expelled from a special airgun called a "paintgun" (also called a marker).
Games have time limits, varied by the number of players and the size of the field. For smaller games of up to 25 on a side, the games usually have a time limit of 15 or 20 minutes. For games with more players, time limits may be 30 to 45 minutes per game. With teams of one to five players, games usually are from 3 to 10 minutes.
Referees on the field start and stop games, enforce the rules of fair play, and control the sport's safety. Paintball playsites have a referee staff and may run several games at the same time on different parts of their playsite. Each playing field has a marked boundary. A player who goes out of bounds is eliminated from that game.
Between games, players take a break to check their equipment, reload paintballs and have a snack or a soda while they share stories about the thrills of victory and the usually-funny agonies of defeat.
Win or lose, everyone has a good time and there's always the next game waiting for you!
|  Arenaball at SC Village, Southern California | |
