Paintball is a game that originated in the early 1980's and subsequently exploded in popularity.
Many fields and playing grounds are spread throughout the country, and it is rare to find a young average male who hasn't played a game.
The sport can be dangerous, however, so proper paintball equipment is a must.
Players cannot compete without a paintball gun.
The gun is operated by a CO2 tank, and it usually has a compartment to hold the balls.
This gun is what players use to shoot the other players, and it is also known as a "marker.
" Cleaners for the marker can be used to wipe it out when a ball misfires, such as a tool that resembles a bottle cleaner or a squeegee.
In addition to the marker, paintballs are required.
The balls are made of gelatin with a thin outer coating, and they typically come in bright colors.
In most paintball guns, the balls drop into the gun from the container on the top; however, they can also be fed in electronically.
Finally, a paintball mask is a must.
The mask covers the entire face, and like a hockey goalie mask, sometimes comes with a throat piece.
Sometimes thicker clothes are optimal.
Players wear them to lessen the impact of the paintballs, as long as the clothing is light.
The game is usually held outside.
Camouflage can be worn in wooded areas to help blend in with the surroundings.
Additionally, some choose to wear protective joint pads, to protect knees and elbows.
Some choose to wear packs on their belts or pants with cargo pockets, in order to carry extra paintballs to have while on the field.
Shoes with some sort of grip are recommended, as there is a lot of running with quick stops and starts during play.
Ideally, boots are the best footwear choice.
There are optional pieces of equipment to use in certain settings.
Grenades, thunderflashes, slingshots, mines (which do not actually explode for safety purposes), and grenade launchers are sometimes used, although they are not used in official tournaments.
Most of these cause immediate elimination from the game.
Tanks exist on some fields, but most competitors prefer to not use them, as they can be expensive to maintain and cumbersome to use.
Proper cleaning of equipment and preparation is essential to maintaining good order and usability.
Injuries can occur at any time, so caution is urged before stepping on the field.