How Old to Play?

[blizpaintball42]

Rant:

It is not about age its maturity. If you can't follow the rules you shouldn't be allowed play. If you can, have a nice day and start playing. Also, you have to be able fit the equipment.

Rant off:

-Eurochris

Agreed.

At my field, if your ten year old is mature, respectful and follows my rules, great, we absolutely ask him or her to come back and play anytime.

If you're 33 year old friend is retarded, we will toss him and ask that he/she doesn't return.

[Cold Steel]

Eye Injuries

I find it hard to believe that a public field, that's ran as a business, could even still get liability insurance after the first catastrophic eye injury. What is even more hard to believe is the fact that obviously the field owner and the field staff have yet to learn and enforce proper safety measures.

I'd like to think that accidents can happen to everyone, but 2 incidences like this, that could have/should have been prevented, that's just sad.

CS

[SlartyBartFast]

Is paintball truly dangerous?

[paullus99]

My biggest concern with the age question is not necessarily about the maturity of an individual (which we all know varies wildly from person to person), but their size - i.e. most paintball safety equipment (primarily masks & googles) are not made for smaller individuals.

I would be concerned about hits that might get through a mask that is not fitted properly. So, like the amusement parks, you must be "this high" to ride...

[madcrisis]

Rant:

It is not about age its maturity. If you can't follow the rules you shouldn't be allowed play. If you can, have a nice day and start playing. Also, you have to be able fit the equipment.

Rant off:

-Eurochris

i beleive this says it best


im younger than 16 but i firmly beleive in safety. im not dumbass who taes off their masks in the middle of battle but i have seen adults do it. so if age comes before maturity it doesnt make much sense. i think if you can follow the rules and be respectful you can play

[psychowarden]

According to the U.S. Eye Injury Registry, 38 percent of all sports-related eye injuries are baseball or softball injuries and 40 percent of those injuries required surgery.

I can vouch for that one. I've got a nice scar right about my right eye from getting nailed by a baseball 8 years ago. Lets not forget the dwindleing amount of cartalidge in my knees, my two broken fingers, my dislocated elbow, and my twice broken nose. All from baseball.

[mostpeople]

I hate playing with little kids, they dont follow the rules and things like this happens.

I think, that if you are a little kid (under 18) you need to be accompanied by your parent on the field at all times. Whether or not he is standing right with you doesnt matter. But you must have 1 parent watching 1 kid at all times. And he will be in the field, with a mask watching.

Therefore, if 2 14 y.o. want to play they need 2 parents to watch them. Because this is serious, this is an extreme sport and these kids need to understand that the only different between seeing your dinner that night and having fun, or lying in a hostpital bed hoping you will regain your vision is THAT MASK YOU ARE WEARING.

Contrary to popular belief, paintball is one of the safest sports out there, ironic I know. But assuming that you are big enough (old enough) to wear the mask properly, and you are old enough to be mature enough to follow the safety rules, i.e. mask on when on the field, also barrel plugs in before you leave the field then it really is one of the safest sports there is!

God I almost blasted a 12 y.o. last month who I got out on a run but didnt know it, he popped out behind the can he ran to with his mask up as he was the last one; I had the gun drawn and ready to lay a rope.. good thing I noticed it in time. He got reamed for his actions..

[hopwheels]

Well, my 9-year old plays, only twice so far, but he digs it. I think it really depends on the level of personal responsibility you've engrained in your kid from the get go, and their willingness to actually accept it. And as their parent, of course you have to be on top of them to make sure they're following the rules and being safe at all times despite what you think they know. We got pretty lucky though in that we were introduced to the sport by a friend that organizes family/group paintball days (private group play) and we started out this way. I think that if you want to get your kid into paintball this is a great way to do it. That way, there's a bunch of other parents there with kids too, who can help supervise play.

[RogueFactor]

As long as the parent is present to supervise their child and the use of the marker they are using, any age is fine. Because the parent is/can be held responsible for their childs actions.

If a parent/guardian is not present, the age should be restricted to the legal age required to purchase the marker they are using.

[athomas]

As long as the parent is present to supervise their child and the use of the marker they are using, any age is fine. Because the parent is/can be held responsible for their childs actions.

If a parent/guardian is not present, the age should be restricted to the legal age required to purchase the marker they are using.

Great point. How many times have we seen parents drop their kid off at a field and come back after a couple of hours to pick him/her up. The other scenario is a party where there is 1 or 2 adults supervising 15 kids. It is hard to be vigilant with a large pack of kids.

A more direct amount of supervision is required for younger players.