Paintball Tips & Tricks

1. Don't participate in paintball games that are beyond your level of play. Many a cocky paintball player has stepped out into the field only to be smothered in a sea of paintball pellets. Paintball players may get over confident for a number of reasons. They may be longtime hunters with their dads and think that this type of experience would translate well onto the paintball field. Or you may have made some killer shots at the shooting range and fell like you are ready to kick butt in some real game action. Or you may be on of those jocks who have always been the best player on the field no matter what sport it was. No matter who you are, it can always be a shock to eyes and body to be annihilated in a barrage of paintballs. Keep your confidence up by playing in paintball games that suit your skill level, and try to move up one level at a time.
2. Before the referee shouts Game On!, take the barrel plug out of the gun.
3. If you decide to peek your head out to survey the field, move to a new location the next time you decide to look around the corner. Sticking your head out of the some place twice is like begging to get shot in the face.
4. Turn off watch alarms, beepers, and cell phones prior to the start of game competition.
5. Keep track of team colors so that you don't eliminate your own teammate in a friendly fire accident.
6. Try to consistently keep your eye on all elements of the field in front of you, not just one object. Many paintball players become so obsessed with eliminating a particular opponent that they don't' notice another opponent that is sneaking up on them.
7. Never stay in the same place for too long. A moving target is tougher to hit than a stationary one.
8. Keep track of your own teammates so that you don't tag your own teammate or become a victim of friendly fire.
9. Maintain good lines of communication with your teammates. Keep lines open so that you all know each others positions.
10. Don't try to be a tough guy out there and do everything yourself. If you feel that you are in need of help, then go ahead and ask for it.
11. If your teammates call out for help, then be there for them to provide backup or cover.
12. Don't take shots at a player until they get within elimination range. By shooting at far out targets, you not only won't make the shot, but your will also be possibly giving away your position by making your location known.
13. Don't just blindly follow orders from someone just because they are wearing the leader jersey. We might never have learned about the Caine Mutiny if everyone listened to Captian Queeg's orders and followed him to the bottom of the ocean.