Paintball Safety
Tips on how to Stay Safe while Playing an Extreme Sport
At Paintball USA our primary focus is and has always been on safety. We get a lot of first time, beginner players with our popularity hosting Paintball Birthday Parties. There are so many pointers that we give parents prior to their outing. https://www.paintballusa.org/
We have a safety video for players to view after filling out waivers before coming through registration. Next, the head referee gives a verbal orientation of what and what not to do on the playing field. All players are taken to the target range and shown how to use the Paintball Gun.
On the playing field during the games, referees make sure safety rules are being followed and fair play taking place. The referee will stop the game in the rare event of a player injury. Paintball USA has certain rules to follow during games to prevent injuries such as;
- Keep your mask on at all times during games and in the target range.
- No shooting a player closer than ten feet.
- No shooting the same player more than three times consecutively.
- No fist fighting or physical altercation.
- Never shoot at a referee.
All Paintball Guns are tested for velocity speed before games. Regulatory speed for rental markers is 260 feet per second (fps). Self-equipped players using their own custom guns enjoy shooting at speeds greater than the regulated 280 fps, however, if a player exceeds the safe speed per Paintball USA’s safety standards, they will be disqualified from a game until they adjust their gun properly. https://www.paintballusa.org/gallery/paintball-usa-fields
The reason for the regulated feet per second shooting speed is to prevent players from getting injured. The faster the Paintball is shot from a marker, the greater the pain. In some cases, getting shot with a Paintball at high velocity can cause bruising and welts. Parents tend to prohibit their kids from future Paintball participation if they come home with welts and injuries.
Off of the playing field, simple common sense safety rules are explained and enforced such as;
- All guns must have a barrel cover when not on the playing field or in the target range.
- Never point your gun at another player or look down the barrel.
- No shooting in any area of the park except the playing field and target range.
- Keep the safety button on when not in a game.
The dress code for Paintball Games is recommended, but not enforced. Simply put, layer up. Long sleeves, pants, jackets, gloves, neck protection such as scarves or bandannas, beanies, baseball caps, hoodies, hiking boots or athletic shoes with treads/cleats are best.
The thicker your clothing, the less pain you will feel when hit with a Paintball. Sweat clothes are best due to their thickness and easy mobility. Wearing layers, you can remove jackets, etc. if you become too hot while playing. This information is particularly important to parents hosting Paintball Birthday Parties. Be sure and bring snacks, plenty of water, and sports drinks to hydrate your thirsty players. Dehydration affects athletes in cooler weather as well as hot summer months.
Give us a call when you are planning a Paintball event, birthday party, team building outing, or just wanting to try Paintball for the first time. Our phone lines are open everyday from 9am-5pm. (661) 255-5332.
