Thread: Just a reminder about backyard paintball.

Just a little reminder on safety of someone's backyard.
There is none...

Went over to a friends house to play on his land.
I would never do this. I hate it when people play in their backyards as it gives paintball a bad name.
Anyway, my mother made me go, (this person and his paintball friends work for my mom) because they've been begging me to come play for months. I went along with two others on my team (Ryan and Gary). We get there, beautiful land. I stop in awe when I saw it. A green beautiful hillside, sloping down to a creek. (Almost a replica of AAA's "Creek") We get shot out. No body used BBD's but us. We left after the second game. They played a few more, and the guy who's land it is, fell... (yep this is it...) on a fallen tree, 3/4in stick went in about 3 inches.

Do NOT play in someone's yard, or on their land unless there are referee's present, enforcing rules. He could have fallen and it went in his neck.


This is BUBBLES encouraging you to not play backyard paintball.

could also happen in any other field, with referee's etc... just needs a good walk of his property before playing.

Top "Ten" Reasons for Playing Outlaw Paintball
by Thumper April 22, 2009 with ideas and contributons from posters on MCarterBrown and SpecialOps

From all the combined experience on MBC and Special Ops, here is why many players choose to play "Outlaw" (i.e., on non-commercial fields)

The list so far -- in no particular order :

1) You can restrict your invitations to those players you enjoy playing with.

2) You can enforce a format (example : strictly pump) that would otherwise be difficult at a commercial field.

3) Oldschool woodsball play is becoming scarce as most commercial fields are primarily geared towards speedball style play.

4) Players at an outlaw field who cheat, don't respect the property, overshoot, etc can easily not get invited back - as a consequence the play is generally more considerate, fun focused, family friendly, and enjoyable.

5) Playing outlaw can be more "kid friendly" as the environment can me more controlled. "Playing with friends and family is the best way to start your kids off. Nobody overshoots them...We have had eight and nine year olds playing without any issues playing right beside their parents."

6) Playing outlaw is another way to enjoy one's own property.

7) Outlaw fields may be the only practical choice as commercial fields may be to far away for a quick outing. (or the population density of a region may be too low to support a commercial field)

8) Building (and then playing) one's own field of bunkers and forts is just fun.

9) Outlaw is generally much less expensive than commercial fields.

10) Outlaw players can pick their own games to play and create/test new ones. (still possibly, but typically difficult at a large commercial field with lots of players)

11) Outlaw players can easily coordinate for an early start or late evening play during the warmer summer months. and mid-week play if enough are interested. (businesses are typically locked into some "hours of operations" and must stick close to these since they are open to the public and walk-on players

12) Outlaw players can bring there own co2 and scuba fill stations - and can avoid the dreaded "all day air fee".

13) Outlaw players can use ANY PAINT YOU WANT - and avoid the occasionally ridiculously over priced field paint - and being stuck having to buy the required "field paint".

14) Outlaw players can (generally) bring their own food / drinks / grill / etc - and live it up.

15) Outlaw players can easily revive some of the older, less common games, and focus on variety over a canned set of games.

16) Outlaw players can work impose some offhanded game rules (ex, only head shots count, un-even teams, 1 hour time limit, no-bunkering, endless spawn) - which may not go over so well in a commercial setting.

17) No noobs: Once an outlaw field gets established and a core group of invited players emerges, then having completely novice players walk-on is rare.

18) Freedom: When playing outlaw, you have the freedom to play how, when and with whom you want - and to a degree where you want.

----------------
here are some good outlaw safety rules..
TeamSection8.com : Outlaw Paintball Safety Rules

yeah.. i dont quite understand why a guy falling on a stick is a cry not to play paintball in a back yard???

I read this as, mother nature is more dangerous than paintball.

Originally Posted by scpaintballer01

could also happen in any other field, with referee's etc... just needs a good walk of his property before playing.

working at ballbusters ive still seen many cases of people getting hurt because of the terrain. Im gonna have to agree with alot of thumpers reasons to play. Having the freedom of playing where ever is fun, yes it can be more dangerous, but when you get experienced players who know how to play and be respectful, its awesome. I also believe part of the reason you had no fun...you said it, you didnt want to go, when you go somewhere you dont want to be, its alot harder to have fun.

dont hate on back yard ball, it doesnt give PB a bad name, and if it does...since when do we care? as long as we're having fun...thats Paintball

I understand Bubbles concern, but don't agree with avoiding any back yard games. This was how we tested the water, before diving off the board into a commercial field operation. We have played outlaw ball for years, and had some safety issues along the way, and we have worked hard in trying to make any game here, as safe as we could, long before we even knew what the Ins. provider would require. We always chronographed everyone, had a safety meeting, and generaly had several refs on the field. There's always some type of natural hazard in playing WOODSBALL. When you have a large property and ours is all woods, No speedball fields, it's a constant battle with mother nature, keeping the field safe. Dead trees, are our biggest foe. Thanks to Katrina we have numerous trees and limbs that decide to fall after every thunderstorm that passes, but we do our best, and to date we have had no serious injuries on the field.

What I was getting at...
Most injuries I've seen, are from people doing stupid stuff.
Like keeping their mask off,or no barrel plugs.

I personally discourage it.
Unless it is a cleared lot (brush, fallen movable trees, hazardous objects, etc..) has referees that enforce rules, and is taped off, I don't think it should be played.

Make a small field with possible netting, with a ref or two, and then play.
Don't chase each other in so-and-so's back yard and fire paintballs at each other with your mask off.


Junkie, if you would, delete this thread.

honestly, as much as i love my fields...it's back yard ball that is going to save this sport. id watch for the industry to start marketing this niche pretty hard in the next year or so...