Paintball & SafetyPaintball is one of the safest sport in the world, as long as the basic safety rules are followed. (It is still one of the safest sport recorded!)
Is it Painful?
This is one of the most common questions I was asked by a newbie. Well, the word 'pain' depends on how each individual define to themselves as 'pain' itself. I got people came out from the field (girls) in particular came out crying from the field because of being hit (I'll explain what's the main cause of this later) or some guys came out and yelled "Sakit Owh!!!" but some came from there, laughing and just saying it's just a temporary sting. Some didn't even realised there's a hit or anything. It will leave a bruise or two but hey, pain and paint is just part of the game!
Basic 'Must-Haves' In A Paintball Game
Face Goggle/Mask
This is the most important equipment that you must have whenever you play paintball. No paintball field operators will allow you to play without it. It's because the face mask/goggles is meant to protect your eyes because the only body part that can be harmed permanently by paintball is our eyes. The speed of each paintball shot is about 300fts (feet per second) so can you imagine what happened if it hits your eyes?
If you are thinking of purchasing a paintball goggle for your own use, you are advised to get it from authorised paintball distributor as they will provide a range of face masks/goggles that is specifically created for paintball game. Buying goggles from ordinary shops not only didn't warrant your safety, it wasn't created for paintball at the first place! So people, never go 'cheap' for your own safety, ok!
Check out: http://www.warpig.com/paintball/articles/tyger/goggles.shtml
Paintball Marker
Markers make use of expanding gas such as carbon dioxide, compressed air or nitrogen (depends on the type of the markers itself) to propel paintballs through the barrel. Generally, a marker has 4 main components: body, a hopper (where you load your paintballs), gas system and barrel. The muzzle velocity of paintball markers can reach up to 300 feet per second (91 metres per second / 201mph).
Paintballs
Yes, you have the goggle and the marker in your hands. How can you play without paintballs? The most common ones available is 0.68 calibre in size (about the size of a marble). Its shell was made with gelatin, while inside it contains a goo made of vegetable oil and food colouring. Its water-based and can easily removed from your clothing with normal wash. It's non-toxic, biodegradable and because of this purpose, the gelatin and paint dissolves in water and easily washed by the rain. It's available in various colors.
Basic Rules
Every paintball field has rules and regulations. But it's all concluded into just one - For you to be safe while having fun enjoying your paintball game. Here are the common basics that you needed before having your first game (so that it won't be your last one!):
SAFETY BRIEFING
Please listen carefully to the staff who's giving you the briefing. No matter if it's your first time, or hundredth times playing paintball, never assumed that "Owh, I played paintball many times already, only brief to the newbies-lah!". Ask and gain more info on the do's and don'ts from the paintball operator what you should know in advance before playing so that you come to play, well prepared. Also, please do not talking or fool around while safety briefing was given. I understand that everyone is impatient to try out the game, but to give 10 minutes for safety briefing for YOUR OWN GOOD shouldn't do any harm, am I correct?
Because of these kind of attitude, that's why I've seen Angelia Jolie and Rambo wannabes came out from the field, with tears and yell out pain because they are not listening to what has been briefed earlier, yet had the gut to say "No one tell me!!" Duh.
WEAR FACE MASK/GOGGLES AT ALL TIMES
I already explained the importance of face mask/goggles so once again DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR FACE MASK/GOGGLES while you still IN THE FIELD! Even though the game is over, please remind yourselves that you are still in the shooting area, so other people might wanted to finish their remaining paintballs and start shooting around without noticing that someone might had taken their goggles off. All paintball centres offers additional paintballs for add-ons in case you still wants to play somemore, but we certainly don't have eyeballs for sale!
DO NOT DRINK & PLAY!
If you under influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or prescribe medicine, DO NOT PLAY! Play when you are fully coherent. You are allowed to bring your own beverages to the paintball centre, but alcoholic drinks is NOT ALLOWED.
WEAR SUITABLE CLOTHING
Please wear suitable clothing. Slippers and barefoot is not allowed. Long sleeved shirts and jackets is recommended. Long baggy pants. Loose clothing is recommended as it will minimise the impact of the paintball and lessen the shock of being hit. Remember, playing paintball is not just stay at one place and shoot around. You need to move, run, crawl and roll if you have to. Bring extra clothing to change.
FIELD REFEREES / MARSHALS
The appointed referees/marshals didn't stand in the field to work for you. They are not there for you to make them as shooting targets either. They are there to ensure your safety while inside the field. So don't asked them to do this and that such as carrying barrel socks on your behalf. Get used of being scolded by them whilst inside the field as they are strictly following the safety rules and to ensure that you do the same too. If you think you can't obey the Field Safety rules, then it's better not to think about playing paintball as paintball is a high-discipline required sport.
There is a paintball field that puts up a sign "MARSHAL IS ALWAYS RIGHT AREA - CUSTOMER NOT ALLOWED IN HERE; ONLY PAINTBALLER DOES." So I guess you understand why such rule is created.
It's because there are lots of type of people, being the common ones who always think "I pay for it, so I can do what I want." - they complaint lots of things and often break the rules. Some operators rather ban these type of people from entering their premises because rather than keeping these people, it's better to lose them than risking to ruined the paintball image and industry should an accident occur.
If you think the safety measures is not tolerable, try to tolerate yourself living without one or worst, both of your eyes for the rest of your life.
NO DRY FIRING OUTSIDE THE FIELD
The term 'dry firing' is shooting your marker with empty loader. So you wanna hear how good the marker sounds. Or if you purchasing your own marker and wanted to show to others how good it sounds like. We are not impressed at all. Doing so will not only not cool, a real paintballer will think that you are a complete nut.
USE BARREL PLUGS/SOCKS
The barrel must be covered with barrel socks/plugs at all times (all paintball markers were equipped with one) when you are not shooting and especially when you are OUTSIDE the field (safe zone areas where shooting is not allowed) where there are spectators, children, cars. Keep on remind yourself "The marker is loaded" even though you are sure that it's empty. It is safer to be prepared rather than you accidentally pulled the trigger and there is a pellet left still stuck inside and injured someone. Refrain from fiddling with the trigger as well and place the marker at its designated area immediately when leaving the field.
NO BLIND FIRING
Do not shoot around blindly. Lots of players tend to stick their marker out and start shooting wildly. This not just wasted you pellets for nothing, but you also might shoot players that wanted to get out from the field, referees and many other things that you shouldn't shoot. What's the fun of playing paintball anyway when you can't see the target?
COMMON SENSE
As for the rest, it requires your own common sense. Most problems can be avoided if we knew how to behave ourselves. Don't shoot at private properties - cow, dog, cat, moving cars, etc; don't look down at the barrel, don't point the barrel at your friends for fun, don't shoot yourself (yes, some people might wanna try this!)...whatever you wonder if it's a good idea to do something, forget it. Never take risk and don't try to be funny...cause if accidently really happen, then it's no more fun anymore.
Always remember:
Good paintballers know the rules and maintain the safety of themselves and others in the field.
Play hard, play safe, play fair, have fun!
Basic 'Must-Haves' In A Paintball Game
Face Goggle/Mask
This is the most important equipment that you must have whenever you play paintball. No paintball field operators will allow you to play without it. It's because the face mask/goggles is meant to protect your eyes because the only body part that can be harmed permanently by paintball is our eyes. The speed of each paintball shot is about 300fts (feet per second) so can you imagine what happened if it hits your eyes?
If you are thinking of purchasing a paintball goggle for your own use, you are advised to get it from authorised paintball distributor as they will provide a range of face masks/goggles that is specifically created for paintball game. Buying goggles from ordinary shops not only didn't warrant your safety, it wasn't created for paintball at the first place! So people, never go 'cheap' for your own safety, ok!
Check out: http://www.warpig.com/paintball/articles/tyger/goggles.shtml
Paintball Marker
This is the equipment that makes a paintball game, a game. Without it, how can you shot pallets right? A paintball marker is NOT A TOY nor its a firearm either. But treat it as you would do with a real firearm. The paintball community uses the term 'marker' instead of a 'gun' in order to mitigate the perception of the public that paintball markers are 'weapons', thus giving the impression that paintball is a dangerous and violent sport.
Markers make use of expanding gas such as carbon dioxide, compressed air or nitrogen (depends on the type of the markers itself) to propel paintballs through the barrel. Generally, a marker has 4 main components: body, a hopper (where you load your paintballs), gas system and barrel. The muzzle velocity of paintball markers can reach up to 300 feet per second (91 metres per second / 201mph).
Paintballs
Yes, you have the goggle and the marker in your hands. How can you play without paintballs? The most common ones available is 0.68 calibre in size (about the size of a marble). Its shell was made with gelatin, while inside it contains a goo made of vegetable oil and food colouring. Its water-based and can easily removed from your clothing with normal wash. It's non-toxic, biodegradable and because of this purpose, the gelatin and paint dissolves in water and easily washed by the rain. It's available in various colors.
Basic Rules
Every paintball field has rules and regulations. But it's all concluded into just one - For you to be safe while having fun enjoying your paintball game. Here are the common basics that you needed before having your first game (so that it won't be your last one!):
SAFETY BRIEFING
Please listen carefully to the staff who's giving you the briefing. No matter if it's your first time, or hundredth times playing paintball, never assumed that "Owh, I played paintball many times already, only brief to the newbies-lah!". Ask and gain more info on the do's and don'ts from the paintball operator what you should know in advance before playing so that you come to play, well prepared. Also, please do not talking or fool around while safety briefing was given. I understand that everyone is impatient to try out the game, but to give 10 minutes for safety briefing for YOUR OWN GOOD shouldn't do any harm, am I correct?
Because of these kind of attitude, that's why I've seen Angelia Jolie and Rambo wannabes came out from the field, with tears and yell out pain because they are not listening to what has been briefed earlier, yet had the gut to say "No one tell me!!" Duh.
WEAR FACE MASK/GOGGLES AT ALL TIMES
I already explained the importance of face mask/goggles so once again DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR FACE MASK/GOGGLES while you still IN THE FIELD! Even though the game is over, please remind yourselves that you are still in the shooting area, so other people might wanted to finish their remaining paintballs and start shooting around without noticing that someone might had taken their goggles off. All paintball centres offers additional paintballs for add-ons in case you still wants to play somemore, but we certainly don't have eyeballs for sale!
DO NOT DRINK & PLAY!
If you under influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or prescribe medicine, DO NOT PLAY! Play when you are fully coherent. You are allowed to bring your own beverages to the paintball centre, but alcoholic drinks is NOT ALLOWED.
WEAR SUITABLE CLOTHING
Please wear suitable clothing. Slippers and barefoot is not allowed. Long sleeved shirts and jackets is recommended. Long baggy pants. Loose clothing is recommended as it will minimise the impact of the paintball and lessen the shock of being hit. Remember, playing paintball is not just stay at one place and shoot around. You need to move, run, crawl and roll if you have to. Bring extra clothing to change.
FIELD REFEREES / MARSHALS
The appointed referees/marshals didn't stand in the field to work for you. They are not there for you to make them as shooting targets either. They are there to ensure your safety while inside the field. So don't asked them to do this and that such as carrying barrel socks on your behalf. Get used of being scolded by them whilst inside the field as they are strictly following the safety rules and to ensure that you do the same too. If you think you can't obey the Field Safety rules, then it's better not to think about playing paintball as paintball is a high-discipline required sport.There is a paintball field that puts up a sign "MARSHAL IS ALWAYS RIGHT AREA - CUSTOMER NOT ALLOWED IN HERE; ONLY PAINTBALLER DOES." So I guess you understand why such rule is created.
It's because there are lots of type of people, being the common ones who always think "I pay for it, so I can do what I want." - they complaint lots of things and often break the rules. Some operators rather ban these type of people from entering their premises because rather than keeping these people, it's better to lose them than risking to ruined the paintball image and industry should an accident occur.
If you think the safety measures is not tolerable, try to tolerate yourself living without one or worst, both of your eyes for the rest of your life.
NO DRY FIRING OUTSIDE THE FIELD
The term 'dry firing' is shooting your marker with empty loader. So you wanna hear how good the marker sounds. Or if you purchasing your own marker and wanted to show to others how good it sounds like. We are not impressed at all. Doing so will not only not cool, a real paintballer will think that you are a complete nut.
USE BARREL PLUGS/SOCKS
The barrel must be covered with barrel socks/plugs at all times (all paintball markers were equipped with one) when you are not shooting and especially when you are OUTSIDE the field (safe zone areas where shooting is not allowed) where there are spectators, children, cars. Keep on remind yourself "The marker is loaded" even though you are sure that it's empty. It is safer to be prepared rather than you accidentally pulled the trigger and there is a pellet left still stuck inside and injured someone. Refrain from fiddling with the trigger as well and place the marker at its designated area immediately when leaving the field.
NO BLIND FIRING
Do not shoot around blindly. Lots of players tend to stick their marker out and start shooting wildly. This not just wasted you pellets for nothing, but you also might shoot players that wanted to get out from the field, referees and many other things that you shouldn't shoot. What's the fun of playing paintball anyway when you can't see the target?
COMMON SENSE
As for the rest, it requires your own common sense. Most problems can be avoided if we knew how to behave ourselves. Don't shoot at private properties - cow, dog, cat, moving cars, etc; don't look down at the barrel, don't point the barrel at your friends for fun, don't shoot yourself (yes, some people might wanna try this!)...whatever you wonder if it's a good idea to do something, forget it. Never take risk and don't try to be funny...cause if accidently really happen, then it's no more fun anymore.
Always remember:
Good paintballers know the rules and maintain the safety of themselves and others in the field.
Play hard, play safe, play fair, have fun!
.png)
0 comments:
Post a Comment