When is a youngster ready for PB?

[the larch]

Their old enough when they are interested. Let him shoot the marker immediately and drive home the importance of safety. My son is four and already wants a marker of his own. I let him shoot mine and watch daddy play. All kids are different.

ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT.
take him to a shooting range and show him what REAL guns do. My son is going to a shooting range within the next six months. I know I sound extreme, but I want my son to learn about firearms from me and not from a t.v. show. I want to be the one to make the impression, not a dopy guy trying to put a bullet in bugs bunny. (think about it)

If your child is old enough to watch firearms on t.v., he/she is old enough to learn about them for real, anything else is a cop out.

[Pyrate Jim]

My daughter learned to read on PB magazines, she could quote the rules at six. She was reffing on her ninth birthday and won MVP/young guns at an MXS event while she was ten. She's something to be proud of.

Kids mature at different rates, they learn responsibility at different ages. If you think they're ready, take 'em out on the field. Play alongside them and watch how they act and react. If they take it seriously enough to pay attention to the rules then they're ready to play on their own.

I really think more parents should be on the field alongside younger players, at least the first time out.

[CrimsonTurkey]

I taught my Son early...gave him the low down on weapons and safety at age 8. I took him to play paintball that same year. We both go shot up pretty good, and he cried a little. I asked him if he wanted to quit and go home but he said no. He is still playing and will be 20 in Feb. Teach him right, and go play with him. You will have a blast. I sure did and will never forget it.

And if Tuna made it, it's bound to be good.

[master_alexander]

as others said around 9 is when to introduce the sport and then just shoot in the backyard let them de gas it and put the loader on and reload it take the barrel on and off barrel plug, what to say when your out, that kind of stuff. let them put on a mask and shoot them from about 40 feet away or in the leg or something so they wouldn't be suprised, suprises are not good.and telol them to keep their mask on.

[Boski51]

Start off in the backyard with the basics of safety and marksmanship. Let him plink at tin cans and such. Watch and see if he listens and follows your directions. If he does, goggle up and let him shot you or try to shoot as you run for cover. See how he does with that. Then I would start him off in a private game with some Dads and the kids. The kids get to shoot whatever they can and the Dad's stand by as bodyguards and take some shots. We have a rule in my circle of friends that we don't shoot at the kids just at the bunckers or ground around them to get them use to the pressure of incoming fire. It works really well. If we do shoot the kids it is in the pack or shoes or gun...something that wont hurt too bad.

At that point the kids have some confidence and are not afraid of the game as much. Then we go to a walk on game and basically play a normal game of PB. We keep the kids close by on the first couple of games just to provide a shield to overshooters if we get that. I have stepped into paint a few times cuz one of our kids was getting a bit to much paint.

Remember to tell your kid to raise the gun up and callout when they get hit, so they don't get shelled by the other side. I have seen a number of little kids just roll into a ball when they get hit by paint and not call out quickly enough.

I would agree that a mature 8 yo could play in a private game with some good fiends. Keep the kids from the walk on games till maybe about 10. Some of this kinds of games can be huge around here and can be intimidating to a real young noob.

MY2Cents

[CaliMagFan]

I agree with the fact that once a kid can see firearms on TV, he is ready to experience them in real life. Now, dont get him his own gun or marker, but at that point it would help to teach him respect and safe handling of arms. When i play PB i want everyone to treat their marker as if it were a loaded gun at all time, period. So that is the idea that you want to get thru to him... let him shoot in the back yard... i know my neiece loves my PB marker, and she's like 5 or so.

just observe his response and if it seems like way too much to handle, just a wait a while till he can handle the pressure of respecting the power of firearms.

[greenarrow88]

i started when i was 11 and i havent stopped since. I would say 11 is a great age to start them at paintball. Now im 16 and now have gotten more and more into it. Some of my friends and I have started our own team. Paintball is a great sport but it could have bad effects on the kid if u start to early.

[frontrunner]

A shop owner i play woodball with is just getting his kids started. they are 6 and 8 they don't play with the group nor do they even come out on sundays with us instead he brings then and normaly another family member out for a bit at other times the use stock tippys and the all shoot about 200. but he has rental guns on had so he can do that. so far he tell me its going well but its hard for him to get used to playing with a stock tippy shooting 200 but that not a problem he still shoot the rest of us with he flatline cocker at 300 on sundays but he says it will be awhile before they join that group

[tyrion2323]

I had my daughter shooting fully automatic assault rifles at age 3, if that helps at all.

[Muzikman]

Their old enough when they are interested. Let him shoot the marker immediately and drive home the importance of safety. My son is four and already wants a marker of his own. I let him shoot mine and watch daddy play. All kids are different.

ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT.
take him to a shooting range and show him what REAL guns do. My son is going to a shooting range within the next six months. I know I sound extreme, but I want my son to learn about firearms from me and not from a t.v. show. I want to be the one to make the impression, not a dopy guy trying to put a bullet in bugs bunny. (think about it)

If your child is old enough to watch firearms on t.v., he/she is old enough to learn about them for real, anything else is a cop out.

Good advice. I have been around firearms since before I can remember. I was taught at such a young age to respect guns that to me safety is second nature. A parent trying to shield a kid from guns hurts worse than teaching them gun safety as soon as they can understand what you are talking about. This does not mean put a rifle in the hands of a 4yo, but let them be around a gun, show them how it works and show them what even a .22 can do to a piece of meat.

[magsRus]

I started at 13. I think it matters how the child was raised and if he is a very spontianous (sp?) wild child. I know that most almost all kids under 13 are hyper but some are out of hand