How To Check Out A Paintball Field

by Durty Dan

Knowing what to look for in a field is important. However, it is not as simple as asking a few questions about prices and what you get for your money. Being a responsible paintballer, you will probably want to check out the field for yourself. Many of us get caught up in the moment and exuberance wears a blindfold.

I've worked as a referee since the early 90s and have worked and played at some of the best fields in North America. The following are some tips on what to look for.

Safety Concerns

This is THE MOST important aspect of a paintball field. To help you judge a fields safety standards, here are...

Durty Dan's Five Laws For Good Fields

1. The field MUST have a chronograph (A machine that measures the speed of the paintball fired from a marker) to enforce that every player ensures their paintmarker is below 300 feet per second. They should also be doing periodic checks of the players paintmarkers throughout the day.

2. The field MUST enforce the use of goggles in the playing area. They must only allow goggles specifically designed for paintball. The brand names are widely known by all players...ask around.

3. The field MUST have a designated safe area well away from the playing areas (or at least separated by fine mesh netting) where the players are allowed to remove their goggles. The field should also have a staging area (preparation area before entering field). There should be NO SHOOTING in this area at all. If you do hear shooting, you should also hear, Hey, cut it out! (or words to that effect) from disgruntled field staff.

4. The field MUST have a barrel plug rule and enforce it in the safe area. Players will have their paintmarkers in the safe area where no one will be wearing goggles. The barrel plug is a device that prevents a paintball from leaving the barrel should the paintmarker be fired accidentally.

5. The field MUST have competent and experienced field staff to enforce the rules of safety. What good are rules if no one is enforcing them?

If they do not enforce all five of these rules (not one, not four, but ALL FIVE) you don't want to play there. Actually, no one should be playing there.

Age Limits

Some fields have a minimum age to play, and some require the parents to sign a permission slip for players under a certain age. This is usually for insurance purposes, but also because safety equipment (goggles and face masks) are designed to fit adult heads.

Insurance

Ask if the field is insured and for the name of the company that carries the insurance. You don't have to take the owner's word for it. However, you will realize it probably isn't insured if the field doesn't meet my Five Laws. Ask for a copy of their waiver form and read it carefully. Be sure the waiver doesn't only provide protection against players suing field owners for something stupid the player did. The waiver should also show that the owner will be liable if the player is injured through staff or owner negligence.

Mixed Groups

Yes, this will decide what kind of day you are going to have and perhaps, what equipment you should bring. Ask if the field mixes groups of new and experienced players. If they do, ask them what limitations and restrictions they place on the more experienced players. These restrictions restrict the more experienced players from walking all over the newer players. Make sure the experienced players are expected to play with the newer players, not against them. Ask if they routinely split up teams. If they don't, it may be because they're catering to the teams and that's not good for the newer players. Ask if they allow walk-ons. The field owner should answer by saying, Well, if the group allows walk-ons, then yes. If you want to play as a walk-on, call ahead to find out if the groups on that day will accept them. This way, you can join a group of players without having to worry about organizing a group of your own.

The ideal situation is a field that does not allow newer players to play with, or against, experienced players.

Should I Ask For A Field Tour, And What Should I Look For?

Yes, ask if you can get a tour of some of the playing areas (they should make you wear goggles). Look to see if the boundaries are clearly marked so players don't wander off and get lost. Look for things like barbed-wire fences, cliffs, rivers and lakes. Make sure these things (if they are present) are not part of the playing fields.

Ask about local animal life, especially if the field is in warmer climates. You should know what kind of nasty animals live in your region, or in the region the field is located. If there are poisonous animals in the area, ask if the field staff is first aid trained and if they carry snake bite kits.

Conclusion

While brief, this pretty much outlines the important things you should be looking for in a paintball field. If everything seems to check out, then ask about prices and what you get for your money. Free lunch is fine, so is inexpensive field rentals, but they won't do much good if the field is unsafe.

Paintball is as safe as the persons running the field. There are disreputable field owners out there, not many, but they are there.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. The field is in business to cater to players, not the other way around.

Play hard! Play fast! Play safe!

Durty Dan is in reality Dan Leger, a free-lance writer for numerous paintball magazines and websites. He lives in Ontario, Canada. Dan has 20 years experience in the Canadian Forces Military Service and Military Intelligence. He has been playing recreational paintball for over ten years. He maintains a website that specializes in everything a person needs to know about the sport of paintball. For more information on Durty Dan and paintball, contact: http://www.durtydan.com.