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Paintball Basics
Paintball is a safe, simple yet challenging and strategic sport that is played usually by two teams, each with at least two players. Adults and kids alike enjoy this sport as they often refer to it as an advanced or improvised game of tag.
Tournaments attract many spectators of all ages, as it is a very exciting game to watch.
Paintball games are of various types, however, the most popular game often played is called "capture the flag". The object or the goal of this game is for teams to advance to the opponent’s base, move the other team’s flag to its destined location, at the same time guarding your own flag.
The paintball field has many obstacles such as tires, forts, old cars, hay and the newest are “inflatables” that are constructed as refuge for team players; making the game all the more exciting, as if participating in an actual game of war in videos.
When one is hit, it can hurt briefly and at times give players bruises. Players are typically required to be in long sleeves shirt and pants, making sure that the color is not be identical as that of the judge and complete paintball gear such as mask, helmet and goggles for safety.
The sport of paintball has a distinct and accurate set of rules that are strictly followed. The producer of the tournament is the absolute authority in regard to either an alteration or addition to the rules; marshals oversee the event, and their decision is always final. No dispute on the paintball field is accommodated or entertained.
A military approach to paintball is useless, as that knowledge is recognized and understood by the teams. A team’s tactic should be carefully planned; your team’s line of attack will not be known by the opposing team, and there should be a quick switch of plans in case something goes wrong.
There must be a lot of team work involved, as everyone moves through the field. As a team member moves, there should be others to guard and keep watch and give off covering shots when necessary. A team that moves together with a common objective will have a great chance of succeeding in this game.
Communication in the field is also very important. A team-mate can shout the position of the opponent. The moment that a player is seen, the game for that player is up; so there is no reason for you to keep quite; instead, inform the others the location of the enemy.
The excitement of this game concludes when you are seen and eliminated - a situation that all team players struggle to avoid.
Paintball Gear and Accessories
In any sport, proper gear, outfitting and other accessories are always necessary. Gear and accessories not only ensure the safety of players but they also allow the player to be comfortable. Gear is needed to perform a safely and effectively. In paintball, some gear and accessories should be considered before you actually play the game.
1. The most important gear needed to play paintball is the paintball gun which is used to fire paintball at opponents. There are many paintball guns to choose from. They come in various sizes depending on the needs of any player.
2. A player must have a paintball masks as they are required in playing since they ensure the safety of players. Paintball masks are not just ordinary masks but are masks are specifically designed for paintball games. An extra mask would serve as a replacement should you need it.
3. Proper clothing is needed when playing paintball. The clothes need to be heavy-duty and the colors are usually those known as “camouflage”. Players are also required to use shoes intended for running since paintball requires a lot of running but heavy-duty boots may be used as an alternative.
4. Squeegees are also recommended equipment for players when out on the paintball field: but cotton rags may also be used to wipe off any paintball hits on the body.
5. First-aid kits must also be part of the equipment. Accidents and injuries are sometimes unavoidable and it is better to be safe than sorry.
6. Other tools and gear may be beneficial once a player gets used to the game. He may find that screwdrivers, tweezers, pliers, and even cotton swabs would come in handy. Spare batteries for the guns should also be considered.
This gear and accessories are necessities for paintball players. Some fields do not allow players to play the game if they are not wearing the proper clothing, shoes, etc. Players must always consider their own safety as well as the safety of other players. Protection of the eyes is a priority when playing paintball. All players must observe the safety rules and policies set by the field to allow them to have an enjoyable and danger-free game.
Fair Play in the Game of Paintball
Paintball is an extreme game that is gaining in popularity. Though the inventors of this game did it for fun, it has evolved into the third most popular game in the world.
For those who want to play, there are rules to be followed. The first is having the proper gear which will protect the person from paint balls.
Guns should be checked before being used in the matches because the maximum velocity allowed is only 300 feet per second. Anything above that can cause serious injury to the players. As a precaution, barrel plugs should be used to avoid any misfiring incidents for the safety of the gun owner and the people who are present during the event.
Protective equipment must be worn at all times inside the playing field. This consists of a face mask, gloves, and pads for the chest, knees and elbows. When hit, the player must stand up with both hands in the air to inform everyone that he has been eliminated. If the person is not sure of being hit, then ask the referee and he will confirm or deny the hit.
The facemask may fog due to sweat, paint or dirt. When this happens, the player should inform the referee so that he can be escorted away from the field before returning to the game. In case the facemask falls off, the same rule applies. During such instances, the opposing team is not allowed to fire at that person.
Paintball is a sport where a player can only be eliminated by shooting the other person. Should a player wipe the paint off and continue playing the game but is caught by the referee, that player is automatically ejected from the game. This is a form of cheating that is never tolerated.
Players are not allowed to curse or hit the other players. This game is about fun and anyone caught will also be taken out of the game.
There is another way of taking out the opposing player and that is by asking the person to surrender. Should the player show any form of hostile action, then you have no choice but to shoot the opponent.
Rules are made to protect the participants in the game. By knowing the basic rules and checking how the game is played, everyone will have fun and enjoy a good game.
Winning Paintball as a Team
Paintball is a war game and like in real war, you are never alone. You have your friends fighting beside you and with the same spirit - wanting to win as much as you do.
Paintball is a tactical game. You have to know your team’s strengths and weaknesses. As a rule, it is best to use your team’s strength to win rather than trying to cover up your weaknesses. This does not mean that you will not care about your weaknesses: if you are disadvantaged because of it, then you have other days to learn how to change it. What really matters now is how to prevent the other team from exploiting your weakness and making it a turning point in your battle.
Paintball also requires your team to have a battle plan. Who will be the designated shooter (sniper)? Who will charge and start all the action for your team? These are just two of the different positions and strategies that your team will have to determine so that your team can win.
Paintball is designed to bring out the creative side in people. You have to make sure that your battle plan allows for a contingency plan for when mistakes happen. You are never really sure how your opponent will react when you stage a certain part of your plan. The sign of a great “general” is knowing the different plans that your opponent will make to counteract every thing you do. A general should not be rattled when every plan he has made has failed. He should be able to devise new plan in the middle of the fight.
Paintball also requires your team to be flexible. Just because you are not a designated hitter does not mean that you cannot do that to your opponents. Your team should understand each others job and make sure that when one of your teammates falls, there are others who can carry on the job he was doing.
Paintball requires good communication between teammates. You should have your own signs and you should learn to bond with your teammates so that you will know what he wants by just a look of the eye or nod of the head.
Paintball is also not just about winning as a team, it is also about experiencing losing as a team and experiencing all of the hardships of playing and surviving as a team. It is in learning as a group and bonding as brothers.
Outnumbered, outsmarted, but not outdone
There are a few things you could do when you are outnumbered during a game of paintball. The first - do not panic. The second, you must think – it is just a game. Or is it?
The first thing to do is to select a team leader. After that is done, it is the leader that teammates must rely on when quick decisions have to be made.
The following are basic things that can be done when you or your team feels that they have been outnumbered in paintball.
Be on the defense:
Make sure that all of your team mates are placed near the boundary of the field so that the opposing team will have little chance to sneak up on you. Next, designate one to three players to patrol the field (the number depends on your team’s size). Ask them to patrol around the field, specifically looking for an enemy and taking that enemy out. In case they notice a group of the opposing team, and this group does not notice them, this small patrol team must immediately go back and advise the rest of the team the location of the enemy.
The squad:
Make sure that if any enemy force is notice, and this force is the size of a squad, a similar sized squad should be dispatched to face the opposing team.
Lure them out:
The patrol should be sent out to attract the opposing team and entice them to be defensive. However, there is a risk when doing this as there is a possibility that a member of the opposing team could escape and be able to warn his own team mates. It is also a possibility that it might not happen, and victory could just as well be yours.
Ignore the enemy:
You could also make the choice to pretend that you have not seen the opposing enemy. The idea is that, if they did not see you, you are not a threat to them.
Get together everyone:
Make sure to gather all members of your team together then carefully, cautiously move up the side of the field that you think is less likely to be utilized by the opposing team. When you are there, try to hunt the enemy force and strike the opposing team from that side.
Basically, the best thing to do when outnumbered is to relax. This makes thinking easier and the action clearer.
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