From its humble beginnings in 1981, Paintball has experienced phenomenal growth. It is now played world-wide in almost 200 countries by an estimated 40 million people.

Paintball is a sport played by people from all professions and lifestyles. Sporting teams, church groups and entire families play Paintball. Paintball is a character building sport. Players learn the importance of teamwork and gain self-confidence whilst developing leadership abilities. Companies arrange Paintball outings for their employees and find that it builds staff morale and improves team spirit. Paintball offers an exciting alternative to dull training seminars and everyday sales meetings.

Paintball is like a living chess game. Rather than speed and strength, Paintball requires strategy and imagination. Women compete equally with men. Although there are many formats, the typical game consists of two teams and runs for about 10 to 30 minutes depending on the size of the field and the number of players. The object of the game is to capture the other teams flag whilst protecting your own. You also try to eliminate opposing players by tagging them with a paintball expelled from a special gas powered marker. Referees enforce safety and game rules. Win or lose, everyone has a good time and there is always the next game waiting for you.

Paintguns

We use both pump action and semi auto Paintball markers. The markers themselves are really only high tech blow-guns and are specifically designed to propel a paintball. They are powered by carbon dioxide and at maximum range can fire a paintball about 50 metres. The markers come with a 200 paintball capacity vertically mounted Viewloader hopper. This state of the art paintball marker will deliver Paintballs on target with deadly accuracy.

Masks

For safety reasons paintball players must always wear approved masks to protect their eyes during a game and whilst in other areas where shooting is permitted such as a target range.

We use the best in safety protection the JT X-fire Tactical System. These paintball masks were originally designed for motocross and have been adapted for use in the sport of paintball to give the best possible all round protection whilst still allowing a clear field of vision. Insurance statistics prove that Paintball is one of the safest sports around.

Paintballs

A paintball is a round, thin-skinned gelatine capsule with coloured liquid inside that is not really paint but vegetable food colouring. Paintballs look similar to bath oil beads and the fill is made of non-toxic, biodegradable components such as sorbitol (a sweetener) and glycol (a wax). Paintball is an environmentally safe sport as the Paintballs biodegrade naturally given typical environmental conditions in a matter of days.

Paintball is an environmentally friendly land use. Unlike other recreational uses such as football and swimming there is no need for land clearing. The trees and undergrowth provide natural props for the players in the course of the game.

1. Source: National Safety Council 1988

2. Injury is defined as one which results in some degree of permanent impairment, or renders the injured person unable to effectively perform his or her regular duties or activities for at least one full day beyond the date of the injury

3. Source: Control Systems Inc., administrator of paintball game accident insurance plan for air gun game operators.

Copyright C.S.I. Inc., All rights reserved.

Work as a team. A well organized team is always a lot harder to beat than a group of individuals. Cover and fire in small groups is a great way to start and a lot of fun.

Know the rest of your team. If you don't know the rest of your team - introduce yourself. Not only will you make friends but you may wish to call out them for backup when you are under attack!

Try not to get tunnel vision when you are guarding an objective. An opponent will not always come from the front.

If you are unsure whether a Paintball has burst and you are out of the game ask a referee or a team mate to check you out.

If there is anything you are unsure of or need help with, ask a referee - that's what they are there for.

Know the game objectives and work to achieve them. Remember . . . Winners are Grinners.

Watch your cover. Where possible stay with most of your body behind cover. Try not to walk out in the open. Stay low. Crouching or kneeling is best. Avoid lying flat where possible as it will be harder to move in a hurry.

When moving between cover: Get a team mate to cover you. Concentrate on getting to the next piece of cover - run, stay low and don't try to run and fire (your aim will be all over the place). When you reach cover make sure you are not exposed, steady, take aim and let rip . . .

Remember to Aim.