Paintball Rules of Safety

No Comments

Safety rules are strictly enforced in paintball. Since a paintball travels at 300 feet or 90 meters a second it can cause considerable damage if it hits a player directly in the eye. For this reason it is necessary to wear goggles, or preferably a goggle and mask set that will also protect the ears (with flaps) and the rest of the face. Some have visors to shade the eyes from glare.

These goggle and mask sets have been specially designed for paintball, so don't buy just any goggles; they may not withstand the impact of a shattering paintball. Safety equipment can be hired at commercial paintball stations or bought from specialist stores. If you play a lot it would probably be cheaper to buy your own gear.

Even spectators who stand near the play area are required to wear the goggles and mask for safety. It is not only possible that a marker could discharge accidentally, but players firing at the opposing team cannot always keep the paintballs within the field of play - not every paintball will hit its intended target. Children should wear a padded jacket as an extra precaution.

When a player asks for a paint check to see if he is truly out, then the referee may call him 'neutral' to aid in a closer check. This effectively stops play until the check has been performed in safety.

Surrender can be offered to those who have been surprised at close range, rather than shooting them, which will be quite painful up close. The bunker tap rule ensures that players who have been caught in a bunker should be tapped with the barrel of the marker to eliminate them, rather than shot at. Some of the safety rules that apply in recreational paintball do not apply in tournament play. Surrender is not usually offered and the player is shot at until he is called out by a referee or so satisfactorily covered with paint that there can be no mistaking his elimination status.

Firing at someone who has removed his or her mask is a major safety violation, whether it is done on purpose or accidentally. For this reason, blind firing - where the player may be tempted to fire around a corner when he cannot see what's there - is frowned upon.

When the safety rules are strictly adhered to, paintball is considered an extremely safe sport, with only about 0.2 injuries over the course of 1,000 plays.