PAINTBALL, A LITTLE HISTORY
Paintball emerged in the 1970s in the United States. Initially, the marker was created to mark trees and livestock. Therefore, it was a work tool using real paint. The anecdote describes how, during a livestock marking session with this tool that shot paint, two farmers began shooting at each other. The situation became more exciting until they realized that it was a very fun game. It went from being an agricultural tool to a worldwide phenomenon with tournaments and leagues.
KEY DATES
- 1970s – 1980s: Paintball markers are designed for agricultural and forestry use.
- 1981: The first official game is played in New Hampshire (USA).
- 1984: The first indoor paintball field is opened.
- 1980s and 1990s: Growth of paintball with leagues, tournaments, and the evolution of markers.
- 21st Century: Global expansion and development of professional leagues.
SOME FIGURES AND CURIOSITIES
- The first paintball marker was a Nelspot 007 model (Nelson Paint Company).
- The first paintball game was called NATIONAL SURVIVAL GAME.
- There are over 10 million active players worldwide.
- 7,000 operational paintball fields around the world.
- The industry is valued at more than 1.5 billion dollars.
- Paintball has fewer injuries than football or basketball.
(Orígenes E Historia del Paintball, s. f.)
(Everent, 2025)
SOME PAINTBALL FORMATS
Woodsball
Played in natural environments like forests or open fields. It’s more tactical and slower paced, often involving missions or full elimination.
Scenario
Based on a storyline or mission (e.g., hostage rescue, base defense). Can last for hours or days. Often includes themed gear and custom rules.
Milsim
Highly realistic, military style gameplay. Focuses on authenticity, including uniforms, ranks, and mission based objectives. May involve strict rules, radio comms, and role assignments. Often runs for several hours or days.
Capture the flag
Classic mode where teams try to capture the opponent’s flag and return it to their own base without getting eliminated.
Attack and Defend
One team defends a location while the other tries to capture it. Teams usually switch roles after each round.
Elimination
The goal is to eliminate all members of the opposing team. Simple and fast, ideal for beginners or quick matches.
"PROFESSIONAL PAINTBALL"
Professional paintball is much more than just a game; it combines strategy, reflexes, tactics, physical ability, and adrenaline.
Professional paintball is an action sport in which players use paintballs to mark their opponents. It is played on small fields with inflatable obstacles, in fast-paced and intense matches. Now it has official rules, referees, tournaments, and professional teams, making it a true action sport.
In addition to strategy, it requires:
- Physical endurance
- Concentration
- Reaction speed
- Mental agility for quick decision making
- Teamwork and communication
- Creativity
THE PLAYING FIELD
Additionally, the playing field must be surrounded by a safety net with a minimum height of a specific number of feet for the safety of people who are not participating in the game. The field includes two pit areas available for team preparation and their staff.
INFLATABLES OR OBSTACLES
The obstacles or inflatables are also standardized and regulated to ensure equal conditions on all fields where the sport is practiced. The field consists of 48 inflatables of different shapes and sizes.
Each inflatable, according to its shape and size, receives a specific regulatory name. Additionally, each team, depending on the layout of the field and as part of their strategy, assigns a unique name to each inflatable for their team.
THE OFFICIAL NAMES ARE:
- Brick
- Wing
- Maya Temple
- Cylinder
- Tree
- Giant Brick
- Giant Wing
- Medium Dorito
- Cake
- Snake Beam
- Tall Cake
- Small Dorito
- Temple
- Mini W
THE PAINTBALL EQUIPMENT
For the professional practice of this sport, it is mandatory to have the proper equipment, which includes a paintball marker that shoots .68 caliber paintballs propelled by compressed air at a maximum speed of 300fps (feet per second) and a maximum firing rate of 10.5bps (balls per second).
A mask or protective goggles that fully protect the face, from the jaw to the middle of the forehead, and the ears.
THE PAINTBALL GAME
In the professional paintball Xball format, games last 15 minutes. Two teams of 5 players each position themselves on the starting banner, touching it with the tips of their markers, waiting for the game to start. Players spread out as quickly as possible around the field with the goal of touching a button located on the opposing team’s banner without being painted before the opposing team does, which will give them a point.
The team that manages to score a difference of 5-6 points during the game time or the team with the most points when time expires wins the game. In the event of a tie at the end of the game time, a 5 minute overtime will be played, with the team that wins that point winning the match. In the rare case of a tie, the game will be played one vs. one until there is a winner. The teams compete in 4 preliminary matches before they advance to playoffs, it’s either win or go home from that point forward.
