Paintball is an adult version of the children's game "Capture the Flag". It involves both the physical exertion of moving over various terrain and the mental activity of developing strategies. The object is to capture the opposing team's flag and bring it back to your team's home base. While you are trying to capture the flag, you are also trying to eliminate opposing players by tagging them with a gelatin capsule filled with water-soluble paint expelled from a special air gun called a "paint gun". When players are hit and marked, they are out for the remainder of the game and have to wait until the next one starts. Most games are timed and last between 15-30 minutes. Most games are played on commercial fields and are refereed to keep the game fair and controlled.
What is the History of Paintball?
May, 1981- Paintball begins in Henniker, New Hampshire. The principal creators, Bob Gurnsey, a sporting goods retailer; Hayes Noel, a stockbroker, and Charles Gaines, a writer discuss the idea of some sort of stalking game.
June 27, 1981 - The first game played with 12 players competing against each other with Nel-spot 007s pistols. The game was capture the flag. The winner captured all the flags without firing a shot.
April 1982 - The first outdoor playing field was opened in Rochester, NY, by Caleb Strong.
1982 - Charles Gaines marketed paintball as the National Survival Game (NSG). PMI (Pursuit Marketing Inc.), was founded to market and distribute paintball products.
June, 1983 - Lionel Atwill, one of the original 12 players, writes "The Official Survival Game Manual" - the first paintball publication.
1983 - The first NSG National Championship was held with a $14,000 cash purse. The first outdoor paintball fields opened in Toronto, Canada.
1984 - Paintball begins in Australia under the name of Skirmish Games.
November, 1984 - The first indoor playing field is opened in Buffalo, NY, by Caleb Strong.
1985 - The first outdoor playing field is opened in England.
1988 - IPPA (International Paintball Players Association) is founded as a non-profit association dedicated to the education, growth and safety of the sport of paintball.
1991 - Paintball begins in France, Denmark and other countries in Europe.
April 15, 1992 - rec.sport.paintball passes its vote for creation on a vote of 195 to 43 and is announced as an official newsgroup.
June - July, 1992 - Team Internet is formed as players prepare for the World Record Game at Jack Frost Mountain, PA.
November, 1992 - NPPL (National Professional Paintball League) is founded in Chicago and the NPPL Pro-Am Series starts with events around the US.
1996 - IPPA is officially disbanded.
1996 - Paintball playing fields, stores and tournaments can now be found in Canada, the United States, Australia, England, Scotland, Denmark, France, Holland, Germany, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Africa, Russia, New Zealand, Brazil, Venezuela, Israel, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.
Information from Canadian Paintball Association