War games have been around
for a long time. These are used to prepare an army for battle or the
beginning of a surprise attack. Since people are not able to use
real guns in this game, Bob Gurnsey, Hayes Noel, Charles Gaines and
nine others decided to play this game by using markers that were
originally used to tag cattle and trees. This game originated in
1981.
Later on, markers were used to shoot paintballs at other players.
The bullets used for each shot is a .68 caliber gelatin capsule
which comes in various colors so that one team can distinguish the
shots they fire from those of the opposition. Anyone that gets hit
is out of the game.
Paintball has evolved
and through the years and can be played in different ways. In one
version of the game teams can one flag each and the other team must
capture that flag in order to win. Another game has the same
objective as the first will except there is only one flag that is
situated in the center of the field and each team tries to be the
first to capture the flag. The other way of winning (other than
capturing the flag) would be to eliminate all of the players of the
opposing team with paintball hits.
The
game can be played on a small scale which is called recreational
paintball. This is the original way it was played in a wooded area
and can be played in an area the size of a basketball court.
If there are many people who want to play and
the field is a large area the game is called a scenario. The largest
scenario ever was in 2005 on a 700 acre parcel of land and with
3,000 participants.
When a player who
participates in a competition sanctioned by a governing body, that
competition is called a tournament. Teams can be comprised of 3 to
10 players each. Rules during such events vary so people should
check before entering the tournament.
For
the safety of those who participate in these events, protective gear
is required for each player. It consists of a helmet, chest pad,
gloves, and knee and elbow pads. The guns used are only allowed to
fire a maximum of 300 feet per second.
Paintball is one game that is gaining ground in the sports world.
According to a study done in 2005, it is ranked as the third most
popular extreme game in the world. It is considered a safe sport as
long as proper equipment is used and people comply with the rules.
People who are interested can sign up at the local club and join in
the fun.