WHAT IS PAINTBALL?

Paintball is a game, just like High School Football, Hockey and Soccer, wherein both Teams have a piece of "Real Estate" that is their "Goal". In those traditional school sports, each Team tries to get a Ball or puck into a specific area within the other guys Real Estate, called the "Goal", while trying to prevent the other Team from doing the same thing.

The difference is that, in Paintball's traditional Game of "Capture the Flag", both Teams try to go and fetch a piece of fabric, just like you'd find at a fabric store, in the center of the playing area. Then they try to hang it on their opponent's home base, but there's a twist...

In the ball games like we teach in our schools, if another Team's player has the ball or puck, it is expected that the opponents will physically tackle him, check him, hook him, or in some way, commit an act of violence that will bring the player to the ground, which is why they wear helmet's, pads, and the like. In Professional versions of those sports, the ambulances are kept running so they'll be warmed up and ready to transport the most aggressively tackled players...

Conversely, in Paintball, the rules expressly prohibit Players from touching one another WHATSOEVER. There is no physical contact allowed.

Instead, each player has a Paintball marker which propels Paintballs, which splash on the opponents, making a spray of color that can be easily seen by the Referees, who then calls that Player "Out!", just like a Baseball Umpire does at each base.

Paintball shells are made of biodegradable gelatin. They are exactly the same products as bath oil beads, like someone might buy for their wife during the Holidays, at a department store cosmetic counter. However, instead of being filled with bath oils and fragrances, they're filled with brightly colored, non-toxic liquid that is very much like childrens' finger paint, so they can be easily seen when they splash on a Players outfit.

When splashed, that player is "Out", and then goes to the sidelines, awaiting the start of the next game. His or her team continues on their quest to capture the flag, but with one less Player, and so it goes, until either all the Players on one team are out, or one Team captures the other Team's flag, and places it to their opponent's home base before the time runs out.

Before I field your questions, I will go ahead and run through the most Frequently Asked Questions, and present the answers:

Q: Doesn't it HURT?
A: This is an excellent question. It ranges from the least examples, which might not be felt or noticed at all, up to the worst examples which are similar to the "smarts" you might feel when your little brother used to snap you on the leg with a rolled up wet towel. Most people find that the combination of loose clothing, the protective gear, and the adrenaline surge from the pure fun of the game makes it a non-factor.

Q: Doesn't it condone / lead to violence?
A: Another excellent question. It's common, if someone has not yet tried playing Paintball Games, to notice the Paintball marker guns, and wonder about that. But actually, it's been found that quite the opposite is true. Participation in Paintball games tends to bring a tremendous feeling of stress relief.

Many Corporations throughout North America and Europe use Paintball games as a team building exercise and stress relief outing. Also, playing Paintball tends to physically take a lot out of you. People leave exhausted, relieved, and generally quite thirsty and hungry, which is good for local restaurants and convenience stores. It tends to be as fatiguing as snowboarding or skiing.


Q: Won't it bring a "bad element" into our neighborhoods?
A: Possibly the best question yet –
The fact is, there are Paintball players in our neighborhoods NOW. According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Association, almost 8 million people in North America play Paintball.

Statistically, the single biggest source of group bookings at Paintball Game Fields today is,… are you ready? CHURCH YOUTH GROUPS. Seriously.

Paintball's popularity is growing at a rate faster than snowboarding. Today, it's very difficult to find people who have absolutely NEVER heard of it. Paintball players can be as young as 10 years old at most organized fields today. And where do youthful players come from? Our towns, our homes, our schools, our neighborhoods. It's played by about 80% boys and 20% girls. Regular kids, boy scouts, adults, and parents play.

Q: Will it attract Vietnam Vets and War Mongers?
A: They tend to be repelled by Paintball Games. They did the real thing. They generally don't want any more.

Q: Isn't it DANGEROUS?
A: Since the use of Safety Equipment is strictly and absolutely enforced, Paintball is statistically safer than badminton, golf, swimming, bowling ... in fact, Paintball is rated safer than almost every High School sport! The commonest injury is the rare twisted ankle, or the occasional simple bumps and bruises,…

In other words, the same minor things that kids may experience a few times in their childhood, when they're outdoors running around, playing hide and seek, or kick the can, or volleyball, baseball, badminton, or chasing the dog, or roller skating, etc.

by Craig Miller, VP Marketing - DraXxus Paintball