I have never wanted to hurt anybody and I certainly never wanted to shoot someone so I found the idea of paintball a little strange. There are two guys at my work who regularly go off at weekends to play paintball in the woods. I never could understand why grown men would want to run around in the woods playing at being soldiers while they dodged paintballs flying through the air.

They were always suggesting I join them for a weekend paintballing in the woods but I resisted until one weekend I realised I had absolutely nothing planned so I agreed to join them and learn about paintball. We left town and I was feeling a bit subdued as we headed for the paintballing site since I had no idea what I was in for.

I was instructed on how to use the paintball gear they lent me and had some safety instruction on how to avoid any accidental injuries. Next I was shown how to operate a simple paintball gun and the we were off to my first paintball fight. I couldn't see any of the opposition but within moments I was hit by a yellow splash of paint from a paint ball. I knew I had a lot to learn about all this paintball stuff and I hadn't even seen who it was that shot me.

It was a great time and the guys were a nice bunch of fellas and a few great girls. I was shot so many times but I had a terrific weekend and managed to hit a few of the guys with splashes of paint. Yes being shot by a paintball can hurt and especially if the person shooting you is close by but most times you are proud of these minor 'war' wounds.

You might guess I am now a regular paintball player and most weekends you will find me out in the woods with my cheap paintball gun. I started out with some cheap gear but I am slowly improving the quality of the paintball gear I own but you don't have to spend a lot of money and you can still have a great time with some cheap paintball gear.

1. Always, Always do what your Team Captain tells you to do. Beginners should not shout and direct the activities of other team members.

The same is true in life. There may be an opportunity to do a post analysis, but in the midst of a project, etc, listen to the manager.

2. Be Honest. The game will have a referee, but if you have a visible paint splat, raise your hand and go to the sideline. If you can't see a splat on your helmet or backside, ask the ref for a paint check. Keep your head in the game, and do not quit until the ref declares you dead.

The character of paintball is similar to golf. One is expected to call penalties on ones self and to play by the rules. Just like in life, you need to stay in the game until they tell you that you are dead!

3. Do Not, once again, Do Not remove your face protection while on the field. Paintballs fly at over 250 feet per second and do not match up well with eyeballs.

In the family, the office, or the game, one should always make sure they have protection!

4. Make sure you treat all players as equals. Do not hesitate to shoot the females.

Finally, a place where women are treated as equals! LOL!

5. Do not wear white, even if you are on the White Team. The barriers on the playing field are blue, green, red, and black. White will make you stand out and get killed. On top of that, the person who does your laundry will not appreciate the paint splats.

In life, folks need to choose when they think it is best to "stand out" and we need to think about when we should be mindful of those who clean up after us!

Follow the Leader. Be Honest. Use Protection. Treat others as Equals. Be careful about standing out. Be careful about calling others out.

Cardinal Rules of Paintball, or Life Lessons. What do you think?

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While the guns shoot small gel-like paint filled capsules in regular paintball play, in airsoft, the guns shoot small plastic BB like pellets that will harmlessly bounce off the individual. As in paintball team play, protective gear is required, especially for the eyes. While the airsoft pellets may be harmless to the body, a direct hit to the eye by any flying object can be very dangerous and should be taken seriously. Eye protection worn when playing airsoft games or when you go paintballing should completely protect the eyes. The best protection while playing either sport would be to wear a full paintball mask, as it will protect the entire head as well as the area around the eyes.

There are other similar practices between the two sports. Just like the natural surroundings that are used in most sports paintball games, paintball airsoft also uses the cover of the woods to mimic the surroundings one might find if fighting in the jungle. This cover also adds to the adventure of the game, allowing airsoft and paintball players to hide behind trees and in bushes in order to strategically attack their opponents.

Just as more and more organizations are associating teamwork and camaraderie with paintball games, airsoft is being used by law enforcement agencies and military units to train new recruits. The use of airsoft in training provides a cost effective way to teach combat situations. The low impact of the airsoft pellets makes it easy for training to be done in areas that would not be possible with live ammo rounds or even blanks. When airsoft is used in this situation, participants train in real-life conditions and environments, allowing them to improve their combat skills and to understand what combat is really like.

Like paintball games, paintball airsoft can offer fast paced fun and strategic situations. While some gear may differ, such as airsoft guns versus paintball guns, the concept behind these two forms of survival games is quite similar. While paintball has become widely popular in many countries, airsoft also has a great following in North America, Europe and in East Asia. No matter which game you choose to play or if you choose to participate in both, these two strategic games offer a lot in the way of team cooperation and survival awareness.

Paintball is a great sport for the entire family to enjoy. It may not be the best sport for small children to participate in but they will get a kick out of seeing mom and dad firing paint pellets at each other as they sneak through the woods. It is also a sport that many work places are participating in as a way to foster camaraderie and a more team like atmosphere. You can do the same with your family and friends. You are going to need some information though and of course some supplies to start your game. Click here for more information: Paintball Tournaments and at Paintball Gear also Paintball Logos

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