According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, in 2007 alone, there were about 5.4 million people who played paintball in the United States. Among these people, about 1.9 million have played the game more than 10 times.

The rules of the game can vary as the game can be played either outdoors or indoors. The most common form of paintball game involves the capture of flags between two opposing teams. In some cases, the objectives may include the elimination of all the opponents or a particular player, and the capture objects of interest hidden in the area. Depending on the gaming style applied, the game can last up to hours.

Paintball is a sport that is composed of teams that can vary in terms of the number of players. Although is different from other sports, it also requires fast-paced movements. A paintball can travel to a speed of about 329 km/h. Other paintball equipment includes the high pressure air tank, the loader or hopper, the mask and the complete paintball marker.

There are common rules that players must consider. As much as possible overshooting must be eliminated. Once the opponent is already out of the game then there is no need for extra shots. The penalty for such is what they call 3 for 1 wherein the guilty player along with two other teammates will be eliminated in the game. Blind firing, ramping, and wiping must also be avoided all the times.

Due to the artificial nature of the sport, wearing camouflage might no longer be considered as an effective tactical use. Instead, players are now using a distinctive colored uniform for each team. The largest paintball event is the world cup held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Florida where over 3,000 players participated.