Playing paintball can be a fun outdoor pastime. It is growing in popularity in the US with both collegiate and league play. The game involves a specially designed gun which shoots small gel-like capsules filled with paint. There are many choices when it comes to the color of the paintball, but generally each team will pick a specific color for easy identification. The game involves simulating warfare, because the primary objective is to shoot these balls at the opposing team. In most scenarios there will be two teams of equal sizes, for example 5 on 5, and they will battle it out.

Most venues that hold paintball games will have plenty of trees and bushes, along with various other man made obstacles such as walls made from plywood sheets and rubber tires. After a team has been decided, they will split up and take their positions behind these walls and trees. There will also be a referee or marshal to explain the rules to each team. Rules and regulations will depend entirely on who is running the venue. Nevertheless, some of the basic rules in most venues will be; do not shoot at an opponent below a certain distance, and when a player is hit, they should play fairly. The mask will be required at all venues and it is the single-most important piece of protection gear. Good quality masks will protect the eyes, ears and nose and it will not fog up during the heat of battle.

The reason why paintball venues will have a marshal or referee is obvious. Left to themselves, players would have difficulty determining a winner and could end up hurting each other by accident without knowing. The referee also starts and stops the game. As in any other sports, a paintball game requires referees who will be impartial and blow the whistle when a player gets out of line. The job of the referee is also to decide which one is the winning team. This will be determined by how many hits a team has received. In most venues there will be 2 to 3 referees per game.

There are people who take this game very seriously, and they will show up to the venue with good equipment. A serious player will wear thick clothing and padding and a good quality paintball masks. Some players will wear a cloak-like armor as this is an excellent deterrent for a paintball hitting a person at 100 mph. Most venues will allow the person to bring their own paintball guns. Nowadays, there are sophisticated guns that are capable of some serious rapid-fire action and accuracy. If the player is well padded and protected, it should not be painful to get hit; otherwise one should expect some serious bruising of the skin and egos.