By: Benedict Smythe
Submitted: 2008-08-02 05:08:49 | Word Count: 516
Paintball is considered to be one of the safest sports because there is not direct contact between the players and it has less probability of injuries compared to baseball and soccer.
But even if we know of this fact, safety is very important in everything we do. We should take care of ourselves and keep in mind the different safety precautions that need to be undertaken to have an injury and accident free paintball session.
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Wear your goggles and masks
One of paintball’s most important rules is always wear your goggles or masks. Being hit by paintball will not result to permanent injuries but you need to protect your eyes and ears because they can be damaged when hit by a paintball. Paintball masks are customized with ear flaps and some include a visor to serve as protection from direct sunlight. Paintball masks usually cover the whole face.
Controlling paintball speed
There is a regulated paintball velocity that is to be observed by all paintball players. The maximum allowed velocity required for safety is 300 feet per second in outdoor play. However, in indoor play where the players are not given enough space, 200 feet per second is enough.
Overshooting
There is no rule when it comes to overshooting, but paintball players exercise caution or avoid this practice all together. It is acceptable to shoot extra shots after a successful shot but don’t fire 10 20 consecutive shots at a person. Of course, it also depends on the type of game you are playing. If the rules call for overshooting to win, then go ahead and follow the rules. But if it doesn’t say, then avoid it to show courtesy to the other players.
Blind firing
Blind firing is done when you can’t see where you are shooting but you choose to shoot despite not seeing. This is dangerous since you can’t see what or who you are firing at. You can hit someone point blank or in the face when doing this. You can even hit a player who took off their mask to rest. Try to get a visible perception of where or who you are shooting at before you shoot your paintball gun.
Eliminating other players
A player is considered eliminated when he is hit by a paintball or have a paint splatter on his attire. Paint splatters on a player’s body, attire and even paintball gear can be sources of elimination. As a tip, don’t wear baggy clothes because it increases the chances of you getting hit and being eliminated.
The surrender rule
If the opponent you are aiming for is within 10 15 feet away from you, you can offer him a chance to surrender before opening fire. You can yell ‘Surrender!’ and if he complies with your request he will walk away with raised arms to symbolize his surrender. However, if he chooses to not surrender then you can shoot at him point blank. Getting hit by a paintball as such close range might be painful so giving your opponent a chance to walk away shows sportsmanship and courtesy.
