Paintball Markers must have a barrel blocking device (plug or sock) inserted in barrel at all times, except while on the playing field.

During a game, full face masks are to be worn at all times and never removed for any reason.

A player is out of the game if they are hit by a paintball and it breaks on them, this includes their clothing and equipment. It doesn't matter whether the player is shot by an opposing player or a teammate (friendly fire).
Splatter from a paintball hitting a tree does not count as a hit. Splatter from a grenade or other paint propellant (claymore, mines, etc) counts as a hit if the splatter is the size of a dime or consists of several tiny splatters covering a large area on the player.

Once marked, call yourself out by yelling "I'm hit!" or "I'm out!". Put your barrel plug/sock on, raise your gun over your head, and walk to a safe area. Do not intentionally shoot players who are already out.

If a player calls "Out" even though no paintball broke on them, they are still out. No takebacks.

If there is question as to whether a player has been marked, call for a "Paint Check"... that's what the referee is for. When a Paint Check is called, all players involved remain where they are at until the referee clears the problem and restarts the game. Note also that during a Paint Check all players remain where they are when the Paint Check was called and by leaving that position during a Paint Check they can be called out by the referee or by a player reporting their movement to the referee. If the game does not have a referee, another player may perform the paint check. BE HONEST!

"Dead Man Silent" is when a player gets hit and walks out of the field. During this walk they are not allowed to speak to any of the players. A marked player is to walk out of the field of play and may observe from a safe distance. “OUT” players are not allowed to hand out their leftover equipment; this means keep your paint and air to yourself. Rooting and cheering is allowed, but tips are not.

During the playing of a game, any players caught outside of the boundaries are out of the current game. Any and all shots fired from outside the Boundaries do not count. No leaving and returning to the playing field during a game. Once you’re outside the Boundaries you’re out of the game.

If players get within 20 feet of each other, the attacking player can call the defender out by asking them to "Call out". The defender must answer yes or no. Their answer cannot be to shoot back. If the defender moves anything other than their head, the attacker has the right to shoot. It is forbidden to shoot from a distance under 6 feet. Due to the firing speed, this may lead to injuries. If the distance between two rival players is less than 6 feet, the attacker will call the defender out.

If a player taps another player with their barrel, that's called a barrel tap and is an instant out.  The tapped player calls out and leaves the field.  They DO NOT tell their teammates anything other than that they are out.

Building special paintball equipment? Special rules may apply. See the FAQ for details. If you have a question, please ask. Don't assume it's ok just because it's not listed.

• What kind of gun should I buy?
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    Anything that shoots paintballs will do the trick, but some do it better than others. If you've never played before, I'd suggest borrowing a gun or possibly renting one until you're sure you want to make the investment. I've seen several people spend a few hundred dollars on equipment and clothing only to quit after playing the first game. After you realize paintball is almost as good as breathing, it's time to think about buying some gear. First and foremost, the most important part of paintball is your mask. Never, ever, ever buy a used mask unless you know and trust the person you're buying from. Your mask protects your head, so don't take it lightly. There are bunches of companies that make good masks. Pick one you like. It helps if you've seen it in person before deciding on a model. I like to look for features like a thermal lens, good visibility, and goggles that work well with eye glasses.
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    Next item to consider is your gun. But first, you have a few things to think about. Do you want a pump, semi-, or full-auto? Are you going for realistic looks or hit accuracy? Are you planning on being a sneaky player or do you want to shoot as many balls down field as quickly as possible? Most beginners get a semi-auto marker with a 200-round hopper. Semi-auto means your gun will shoot and reload a paintball every time you pull the trigger. One of the best startup guns is the Tippmann 98. I've seen a car drive over one of these and it still work. Tippmann markers are typically very durable and require very little maintenance. Once you get your marker, it's a pretty good idea to familiarize yourself with it. That means take it apart and learn how to clean and oil it. It's a lot easier to learn how to disassemble your gun when it's clean and works. That way you know what to do when it breaks.
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• What upgrades should I get first?
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    So you just bought a gun and you already want to upgrade it? No, you don't. Play with it first! After you play a few games with it, you'll learn a few things about your gun and yourself. You might be thinking how fun it'd be to hide in the back and be a long-range sniper while you're dreaming, but when you end up playing you might be in the front of the pack leading the rush to the enemy base. You don't know until you've played.

    Common upgrades:

    Bolt - Some companies claim that their bolt will increase your range or accuracy. This is false. A bolt can help with your rate of fire, how loud your gun is, and overall weight. Most stock bolts are metal, which is heavy. Many aftermarket bolts are made of a plastic call Delrin. This plastic is self-lubricating and do not require O-rings. Because of the loss of weight and less friction, your bolt will cycle faster.

    Barrel - The most common first upgrade. A stock Tippmann 98 will come with an 8" barrel. For most players, this simply isn't good enough. If you're looking for better accuracy and a quieter gun, look for a 14" barrel with a decent amount of porting. You should also buy paint that matches the size of your barrel. Paint comes in different sizes? Yes, and it has the biggest effect on your accuracy. If your paint is too small, it might roll out the end of your barrel or cause FPS spikes. If it's too large, it will be more prone to break in your barrel. The length of a barrel only affects the accuracy and range to a point. As a general rule of thumb, any barrel over 14" just gets in the way. Long barrels might look cool, but think about lugging that thing through the woods.

    Flatline Barrels - The best range extender I've seen is the Flatline barrel, available for Tippmann markers. It will extend your range about 50', but getting the proper paint-to-barrel match is even more critical. Smaller paints work better in Flatlines. Another factor in Flatline performance is your gun's velocity. Even though your field limit might be 285fps, your Flatline's sweet spot might be 265fps (like mine).

    Triggers & Handles - This is 100% personal preference. Triggers come in single or double triggers, electronic or mechanical, or hinge or slide triggers. Slide triggers aren't seen hardly at all anymore, except on older model Autocockers. If you like the idea of an electronic trigger, you might also like a double trigger so you can fan your index and middle fingers on it to increase your rate of fire. Personally, I'll go for a single, mechanical trigger. No batteries, less maintenance, no hassle. But for a higher rate of fire without electronics, a response trigger works wonders.

    Air Supply - While CO2 is the most common source of air used, it's by no means the best. Most markers can use either CO2 or HPA, but high-end markers will only work with HPA. HPA stands for High-Pressure Air, basically it's the same stuff you're breathing only compressed. The problem with CO2 is it's very cold in its liquid form, which is how we store it. This can cause your gun to freeze and damage electronics. The good thing is it's cheap and works for most guns. HPA tanks are pretty expensive and it's not easy finding a place to get refills.

    FYI - We only have CO2 available when we play. So if you have an HPA tank and plan on using it, you'll want to bring extra tanks and/or a scuba tank for refills.

    Expansion Chambers & Regulators - I find this to be one of the most worthwhile upgrades, as far as safety and efficiency goes. An Expansion Chamber allows the liquid CO2 from your tank to 'expand' into its gassy form before it reaches your gun. Your marker will thank you for this. It also keeps your pressure from ramping, which causes FPS spikes and could potentially hurt another player. Trust me, I've been hit in the neck by a gun that 'cooked' for a few hours.
    Regulators are similar, but different. They have an internal chamber that can allow for CO2 to expand, but its primary goal is to regulate the pressure it outputs. When set up properly, a Regulator will keep your FPS steady and help improve your accuracy. It also elimates FPS spikes since the regulator's relief valve will open up if the pressure gets too high.
    Expansion Chambers are only for players using CO2, but a Regulator works on any gas type. Some Regulators have trouble with CO2, so do some research before buying one.

    Pods - Unless you plan on only shooting 200 balls per game or mooching off everyone, you'll want some pods to carry extra paint. Pod packs come in all shapes and sizes and can face pretty much any direction you can think of. So take your time and look at all your options. Most packs are fairly cheap, but really good ones might be pretty expensive.

• What kind of Paint should I get?
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    Try to get paint that will match your barrel's size, but it usually boils down to getting what you can afford. If your finger is twitchy and you like to shoot fast, you should plan on bringing at least 4,000 paintballs (2 cases).
    I usually buy paint online, but most stores have paintballs in stock. If you don't like buying online or need paint fast, check Wal-Mart.
    Don't freeze your paint. It doesn't help preserve it, it actually ruins it.
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• Where can I get air?
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    I have a bulk CO2 tank leased (for the next 5 years). I normally get it filled before we play for the day, so we have plenty of air available. I charge a flat $5 for all-day air. So we can refill your tank between rounds when you empty it.
    If you want air and don't want to wait until we play next, I've heard Dick's Sporting Goods refills tanks.
    Anyone running HPA will need to take care of themselves. Sorry.
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• What should I wear?
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    Wear old clothes, you WILL get dirty. Also, you might want to keep in mind that you have to get home somehow and you probably don't want paint all over the inside of your car. Most players wear old army BDUs or hunting camos. You want to remember that it helps if you blend in with your surroundings. So wearing a pink tutu isn't such a great idea.
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• Does it hurt?
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    Yeah, kinda. It's about like being snapped with a wet towel. You might end up with a bruise or welt, but most players wear them like a badge of courage.
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• You have like 20 guns... Can I borrow one of yours?
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    Yes, I have lots of guns, but the answer depends on why you're asking. If you don't have your own equipment and would like to try paintball out, then I have plenty of gear for you to use. You'll have to bring your own paint, but we can work something out when you ask me if you can borrow some gear. Likewise if your gun doesn't work (after having used it that day, ie: breaking), then the same situation applies. I normally bring plenty of spare equipment.
    I really don't like it when people with guns that work perfectly well ask if they can use mine, even if I'm not playing with it. It's not the gun that makes the player. Before you start thinking of how you can modify/replace your gun to improve your game, maybe you should think about changing the way you play.
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• Do I need to chronograph?
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    YES! Unless you've been playing for a very long time and used a chronograph a lot, it's very hard to tell if your gun is shooting hot or not. In my backyard, I have a tree about 150' away that I commonly shoot at when testing guns. I can usually tell within about 20fps what my velocity is, but I still use my chronograph every time. We will have a chronograph available for use before we play and we will use it. Safety first. There's no sense ruining a day because someone got hurt by a gun shooting extremely fast.
    After you've been chronographed, don't adjust your velocity screw. If you change barrel or types of paint, you should probably get checked again. Also, don't take tools with you on the field so you can crank up your velocity. Get caught doing this and you'll never play with us again.
    While safety is the primary cause of using a chronograph, another benefit is a higher accuracy for the player. Contrary to popular belief, TURNING UP YOUR VELOCITY DOES NOT MAKE YOU SHOOT FURTHER, BETTER, OR MORE ACCURATE. All it does is hurt more, damages the internals of your gun, makes your paint break in your barrel more often, and uses up more air.
    Don't want to chrono? Think I'm being a wuss? Go home.
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• My mask keeps fogging. What can I do?
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    Simply put: buy a mask with an anti-fog lense. I use a JT Proflex and it rarely ever fogs up. My glasses, however, are constantly fogging. I've tried all sorts of anti-fog sprays, pastes, mud, etc, and none of them work for very long (or at all). So instead, I have a fan in the top of my mask to help pull the hot air out. If you don't feel like buying a fan or nobody makes one that fits your particular mask, you could always build one yourself.
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• What should I do before coming to play?
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    Make sure your gun works. This should normally be done right after you clean and oil it. The thing I hate the most is being asked to fix a gun right before we start to play. If you're uneasy about taking your gun apart, you might want to attempt it a few weeks before you'll need it. That way you can find someone to help you get your gun back together and maybe even have time to learn how to do it yourself. Secondly, make sure you have all your gear. Think through the steps you would take the day you'll be playing. What are the first things you'll grab for, the things you absolutely need. Mask, marker, hopper, air tank, plug or sock, paintballs, and tools. Those things should be the first things you think of when getting ready.
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• What should I expect when I come to play?
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    EXPECT TO HAVE FUN! Come expecting to have fun and you will. If you plan on causing trouble, then you'll probably be sent home and asked to never come back. The first thing that will happen is everyone will show up at the designated meeting area... usually the church parking lot. During this time, you should have all your gear in one place and somewhat out of the way. Depending on where we decide to play, we may have to drive. For most cases, a ride will be provided. Please don't ask to get your tank filled until we're at the field and we get this set up. In some cases, the fill tank will be set up in the parking lot, but only then is it ok to ask for a fill. Once out to the woods, that's where you'll unpack your gear. The area we keep our gear is the "safe area". At this point, we'll start getting the bulk tank ready for filling... so have your tanks ready. Remember: the people doing the filling are planning on playing, too, and they also have gear to prepare. Once your tank is filled, start getting the rest of your stuff ready. Before gassing up your gun, put your barrel plug/sock on. Safety first! If you want to test fire your gun, head away from the large group and fire into the woods (in a safe direction). When in doubt, ask someone if it's ok. When you're satisfied that your gun is ready, you'll need to get it chronographed. The actual number I use varies based on weather, time of day, and my mood. But I generally shoot for around 285fps as the maximum. Once you're all chrongraphed and your weapon is ready, it's time to finish getting yourself ready. If you have refill pods and other clothes to put on, hurry up and do it! Have all your gear ready as quickly as possible. Once everyone is ready, we'll go over some basic rules (see top of this page). Once we've covered the basics, we'll talk about the first game and split into teams. Between games, you'll want to refill your hopper and pods and sometimes even get your air tank refilled, depending on how much you shot.
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• How do I become a good player?
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    Practice, practice, pratice. Seriously though, getting good at paintball takes a little time. Some people catch on quicker than others, but nearly all first-time players are pretty timid. Once you've played your first game and you've been hit for the first time, you'll pick up on several things. Most experienced players are happy to help out new players, so don't be afraid to ask questions. Just don't pretend like you already know it all. If you act like a big shot, chances are nobody will want to go out of their way to help you out.
    Aim. You're not rambo, aim your shots. Need I say more?
    Look around! Be observant. When you're looking for the other team, the chances of you seeing the shape of a full-size human are pretty slim. Look for things like light reflecting off a gun or goggles, maybe a knee or elbow sticking out from the side of a tree, or even a hopper sticking up over a stump. Remember how everyone looked back at the safe zone (all dressed in camos)? People will blend in fairly well, so look for things that stick out. You should also keep things like this in mind when you're hiding. Think about how good your camo is. Maybe getting a metallic blue gun looked cool in the store, but in the woods it sticks out like a sore thumb. Before the game starts, I like to look around the area a little. Which way looks like it would provide the most cover? Which way is the enemy most likely to go? If I get stuck there, how can I get to a safe place? Questions like that are usually the first that come to mind.
    Communication! Most experienced players are good with communication. When they see an enemy player, you wouldn't want them to keep this knowledge to themselves, would you? If you see an enemy, let everyone around you know. For the first few games, you might want to keep most (if not all) of your comments to yourself. Questions about what upgrade does what or what game we're playing next should be saved for the 'safe area'. During the first part of the game, the enemy doesn't know where you are exactly. So try to be quiet. Whisper to each other so the other team can't hear you talking. It's also a good idea to discuss a battle plan before the team breaks up into smaller squads. That way friendly fire is minimized and everyone has at least a basic idea of what's going on. Avoid over-complicating plans. Each squad should have a basic idea of its roll and those individual squads can decide the best way to accomplish its goals. When coordinating massive attacks, FM radios help. Just be prepared for the enemy to be scanning for your frequency...
    Listen! When I'm trying to find the enemy, I don't usually walk straight through the middle of the woods, with a sign saying "if you're the enemy, please let me know". This is where it all comes together. Keep an eye out, look for those tiny features. Communicate with your teammates. Let them know if you see motion. Another thing I like to do is take a few steps then stop and listen. Sound is just as much your friend as it is your enemy. When you take a few steps, listen to all the noise you're making. Not only are you rustling leaves, but the 4,000 rounds you've packed on yourself are also making noise. Your enemy is also making the same noises.
    Don't be afraid to get in the game. First time players will be somewhat shy and want to hang back. This is ok, but after you've gotten a few games under your belt, it's time to step it up a little. Watch how more experienced players move around. When they know they're close to the enemy, they'll start moving from tree to tree. If you're following someone, don't try to share their tree. Most are only big enough for one player - if that. At some point, both teams will find each other and paint will start flying. This is the part you were waiting for, right? If someone is shooting at you, feel free to shoot back! At this point, being quiet is pretty silly... so whispering vital information isn't such a great idea. Just because someone is shooting at you doesn't mean they'll hit you... and the same goes for your shots. But just because you can't hit someone doesn't mean you don't have to shoot. Most people tend to hug their cover when they hear someone shoot... even if they know they're safe. Use this to your advantage and fire off a few rounds while your teammates advance. Just because they're shooting at you doesn't mean you have to stay put. Rather than going for the straight-on shot, try to flank around to their side. If you get them in a crossfire, it'll only be a matter of time before they're hit.
    There's always another game. If you get hit, call out. There will be other games. There's no sense in cheating. Plus, when people find out that you're a cheater, they'll never look at you the same. Don't give away your air tank when you've been hit and don't drop your pods as you're walking off. Your equipment dies with you. The worst form of cheating, and the one I hate the most, is talking. A player has flanked your squad with complete stealth to the point where he has just barrel tapped you. Don't yell "I just got barrel tapped!" Yes, you've just warned your teammates of the impending doom and ruined all the hard work of that skilled player... just because you have a loud mouth. The same thing goes for your walk off the field. Even if a player directly asks you where they're at, stay completely silent. Your team might not like it at the moment, but your fellow paintballers will respect your conduct.
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• What's good player etiquette?
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    Basically it's treating other players how you'd like to be treated. At some point in the day, the game will go long and you won't have enough paint to finish it out, so you might ask another player for more paint. If they give you a pod, the proper thing to do is to fill their pod with your own paint after the game is over. In the same respect, if you ask someone for paint and they don't want to give you any, that's up to them. Don't force them into it. But if you've borrowed from people before, maybe you should consider sharing when someone asks you for some paint. Depending on what gun I'm shooting determines the kind of paint I carry. When I'm shooting my A-5 with a flatline, the paint I use is pretty small and isn't exactly cheap. So depending on the barrel the player has, I might not give out a pod to just anybody.
    When you're shooting at someone, give them a chance to call out. My gun is pretty loud when it fires and my mask makes hearing even harder. So I like to quit shooting for a second so I can hear my enemy call out. Sometimes I even ask if they're hit. If you see a ball break on someone, don't keep shooting until they call out. If they don't notice it, tell them you hit them. They might not have felt it so don't assume the worst. Along the same lines, if you're proud of the fact that your gun can shoot 25 balls per second and you like to show off the fact as often as possible, it's even more critcal that you stop shooting every so often. It really burns me when some hot shot cranks off half a hopper in my direction, hits me on one of the first shots, and I have to take the other 98 hits because the player says they can't hear me call out.
    Just because your team won doesn't mean it's ok to keep taunting the other team. They know they lost, quit rubbing it in their face. It's ok to be excited, but just think how you'd feel if you just lost.
    Know what you're shooting at. Don't blind fire. Look at your target, aim your gun, and shoot. It's as easy as that.
    Don't mess with someone else's gear (unless it's in danger). If you break someone's gun, you're responsible for repairing it... no matter the cost.
    In the safe area, don't pick paintballs off the ground then squeeze them until the pop on someone. If you want to play with paint, join an art class.
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• I'm building paintball stuff... what special rules are there?
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    Guns, in general
    The velocity must be adjustable. If it can't get under the field limit (285fps) then it will not be allowed.
    Guns must be propelled by air. No gun powder!
    The gun must be 0.68 Caliber (same as any other PB gun).
    Real firearms converted to 0.68 Caliber are not allowed.
    Ask yourself if you'd like to be shot with it. If not, then don't use it.

    Automated Turrets
    Automated turrets need at least three (3) targets that when one is hit, it will disable the turret. These targets should be at least 3" in diameter, clearly visible, and painted a bright color.
    Turrets may not be completely automatic. All firing controls must be manual, but may be remote-controlled. You should be no more than 50 feet away from your device. In the event of a malfunction, disarm your device IMMEDIATELY.
    Devices can only be set up during game play. Only when playing a defensive role (base defense, snipers on Ho-Chi-Minh, etc.), you may set up devices anywhere in the field prior to starting the game.
    Automatic turrets will also be set to a lower velocity. At least 250fps, maybe lower depending on the rate of fire.

    Fireworks
    No noisy or sparky fireworks. Smoke bombs are ok, but we reserve the right to not allow these based on how dry the area is. If you use smoke bombs, you will be in charge of cleaning up after yourself. Don't ruin this right for the rest of us by being a slob.

    Mines, Claymores, etc.
    Mines and Claymores can only be fired once per game. Example: Don't set up something on a trip wire (of some sort) that can be tripped more than once. When the first person trips it and they're hit, that's it. It can't be used again in that game. Real mines are a one-use device.
    Use only paintball-approved liquid paint... and not too much. A small splatter is all it takes to get someone out.
    

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