How Paintball Is Played
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!