If the proper precautions are taken, paintball is a safe sport, especially in comparison to other sports. The following tips will help you help you avoid injury to yourself and others, while allowing you have fun.

• Dress appropriately. Wearing baggy clothing will help reduce, or eliminate bruising and other injuries to your skin. However, make sure your clothes are not so baggy that they are falling off or creating a tripping hazard.

• Protect your face and head. Wear a mask with earflaps and goggles, and neck protection.

• Do not make modifications to your air supply. Take it to a professional air smith.

• Follow the rules. When playing on a commercial field, make sure you know and follow the rules. If you are playing on your own private field or in the woods, set down rules for all players before the game starts, keeping safety in mind.

• Do not point. Do not point the gun at anything or anyone you do not intend to shoot.

• Control your speed. Do not crank up your gun’s velocity to cause your paintballs to travel faster than 300 feet per second.

• Turn on the safety switch. When you are not playing, keep the safety switch on. Do not turn it off again until the game has started. Turn it back on as soon as the game ends.

• Plug the barrel. Use a barrel plug or barrel sleeve to plug the end of your gun when you are not playing.

• Unload your gun. When you are finished playing, make sure you unload your gun. Your gun should remain unloaded in transport to the game as well.

• Detach the air tank. When you are not playing, completely detach the air tank.

• Make sure your target is protected. Do not shoot at anyone who is not properly dressed for the game, especially people who are not wearing a facemask.

• Judge your distance. Do not shoot at people who are too close, as this can cause them serious injury.