1. Eliminations and Markings

According to American Paintball League's rules for tournament paintball, "A player is eliminated from game when he is marked anywhere on his body, clothing or equipment with a quarter-sized or larger splat caused by a direct hit from a single paintball." The size of splat that indicates elimination may vary from tournament to tournament and field to field. Tournaments may also have rules for other kinds of marks, including size of combined splats.

Other considerations will be: who to eliminate if two players are hit at same time (usually both), what a player should do if they think they're hit but can't see mark, how persistent a player is in seeking verification from a referee, etc.

2. Vandalism

Shooting at anything outside shooting range and playing field will be considered vandalism. Cars, spectators, lights, speakers, buildings, birds, and critters are OFF LIMITS!

3. Gun Safety

You must use a barrel blocking device except when in playing field or on shooting/chronograph range. A barrel blocking device could be a barrel plug or sock. A plug goes into barrel, whereas a sock fits over barrel.

A chronograph is a device that uses sensors to measure velocity (speed) of a paintball leaving barrel. You will be required to check your gun's speed at any commercial paintball field. Paintball guns are capped at 300 feet per second, but some fields will require a velocity of 280 FPS or less (e.g., for playing indoors or at night).

Your marker will be chronographed before every game. Tournament players may be required to have their gun chronographed during and after game as well. Penalties are applied for tournament players found with "hot guns" unless player asks for a chronograph.

Fully automatic guns and guns with autoresponse triggers are not allowed on commercial paintball fields or in tournaments.

4. Insurance and Waiver Forms

You will be required to sign a waiver to relieve paintball field or organization of any liability if you get hurt, or your equipment is damaged or stolen. If you are concerned about personal injury insurance or theft insurance, you should check with your insurance agent. An example of a waiver can be found here: http://www.diehardpaintball.com/cgi-bin/waiver.asp.

5. Surrender

Many fields will expect you to follow their recommendations for surrender. In other words, if you are 5, 10, 15 or even 20 feet from an opposing player, you should ask them to surrender. If they fire at you instead of surrendering, you are usually free to return fire.

6. Structures

Climbing on bunkers, structures, buildings, logs and trees is not usually allowed in tournaments or on commercial paintball fields. Altering structures, trenches or bunkers is also not allowed. However, both these things may actually be encouraged in scenario games.

7. Referees and Judges

1. Ghillie Suits and Sniper Suits

Ghillie suits and sniper suits are similar. They are both camouflage suits that consist of headgear, jacket (or poncho) and pants covered with simulated vegetation made from jute or other similar material. Basically, you look like a walking heap of forest growth.

Ghillie-type headgear is especially useful in that it breaks up outline of human head. The shape of human head is not found anywhere else in nature so it is easily recognized by an opposing paintball player... or by a wary deer, for that matter.

Since ghillie suits are used by hunters, as well as paintball players, you might try your local sporting goods store. Sniper suits can often be found in military supply stores.

There are several online stores that sell ghillie suits. The only problem with buying online is that you can't try on suit to see how it fits or to see how you like one particular style versus another. So, make sure any online store has a good return policy. You can get a lot of tactical gear, including ghillie pants, jacket and poncho, here: http://www.ablewebs.com/rap4.htm.

2. Headgear

Headgear other than goggles and masks consists of ghillie hoods, veils, headwraps, baseball caps and knit caps. Ghillie hoods and veils are used for camouflage to disguise shape of human head. Baseball caps, knit caps and head wraps are used to keep paint out of player's hair. Baseball caps worn backwards are also useful to cover back of neck.

3. Regular Clothing

Paintball requires a lot of physical energy so players tend to get quite warm when playing. Although sufficient layers of clothing are needed to prevent paintballs from leaving welts, too much clothing can cause overheating of body. Therefore, a heavy winter jacket should not be worn.

As well, most fields won't allow a heavy jacket because it prevents player from feeling impact of paintball when they are hit.

The rule for clothing is to wear loose-fitting long pants (not fitted jeans) and a long-sleeved shirt or jersey over a t-shirt, with an added light jacket in cool weather. Although some fields allow t- shirts and short pants to be worn during play, this leaves skin exposed... and since you WILL get hit... ouch! Not recommended!

Wear clothing that is earth-toned or olive green in color. Do not wear white unless playing in snow. Avoid colors referees and judges wear (usually red or orange) and avoid bright colors that you wouldn't find in nature, like bright yellow, lime green, shocking pink, etc.

4. Footwear

There are a lot of recommendations about various kinds of footwear for paintball. Most players wear running shoes, sturdy work shoes, hiking boots or combat-style boots. Cleated paintball shoes are available in some paintball stores.

5. Gloves