Hey all - my 10yr old son is headed over to a friends house for a birthday party where they are going to play pball in the kid's back yard. Im sure the father and mother there are inexperienced in pball, and they trust their kids to play safely. Most of kids there have played outlaw ball with me before, and should know the basic safety rules, but kids will be kids.

I would like to start a thread here for the quick down and dirty rules for outlaw ball that assumes 10-12 yr olds are playing w/o adult supervision and w/o refs.

While a scarey proposition at best, I have heard that the above situation represents a very large percentage (if not THE MAJORITY) of paintball played in todays market.

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So REFS - keep it simple, and share your wisdom..

I guess ill start:

The biggest safety rule in paintball has to be goggles. Goggles must be worn at all times. Do not take them off until after the games when ALL guns are plugged, and on the ground. This included when you chronograph your gun. If you fog up while playing, leave your goggles on. You can normally clear fog up by moving around.

Barrel Plugs / Barrel Slieves: Your barrel plug is used for two things. First it acts as a safety to prevent your gun from shooting in safe areas, and second it serves as a dead-mans banner. When you get shot, quickly call out, hold you gun up, dig for your plug while you run to get out of the way, and plug your gun so others on the field dont keep shooting at you. Your plug should be a bright color. (No black). If you dont have a barrel plug, borrow one from a friend. The only time your gun should be unplugged is while you are playing.

Integrity : Paintball is a game that only works if the players that play are honest about when they get hit. The age old rules say that a bounces and splatter dont count. The ball must hit your and break on you (or your equipment). If you feel it hit, or hear it hit : stop shooting immediately and check yourself. Put your hand where you felt the hit. If your hand comes back with paint on it, you are out. Plug it, and get off the field.

If you cant tell, ask a friend to check you. Checking yourself (or a teammate) does not necessarily make you neutral. The custom is to quit shooting while an opponent checks himself. Again, Paintball is a game of honesty and integrity : play it that way.


Close Range : If you get with in 10 feet of an opponent, ask for a surrender. If they dont surrender, blast'um.

Overshooting : Never keep shooting at someone who is already hit. It is unsportmanslike conduct. One break is enough. Two is ok. Three is too many.