The human being is a fascinating creature! Lacking defensible traits, such as fur, fangs, and razor sharp claws, they somehow fought their way, to the top of the food chain. Excluding the few random instances with giant cats, sharks, and other extreme predators, humans enjoy a luxury of being dominate; simply because of intellect and innovation.
Our technologies bring us "magical" comforts, and allow us more recreation time. Through the generations, a variety of sports have evolved, into the games we play today. Basketball; for example, was invented, when a ball was thrown at baskets hung on walls. Everytime, someone scored a "basket", they had to manually climb up and retrieve the ball. Other sports, too have evolved, as technology advanced.
Paintball is no exception!
When the first paintball markers were developed, their use was simplistic; to shoot at trees, marking them for harvest, or trail-blazing. The weapons were fairly crude (by today's standard) and were not meant for game-play.
The uses for paintball markers are numerous! Solid pellets are used to chase away nuisance predators; such as, bears. Swat teams use them for riot suppression; using ammo with chili pepper dust, that irritates the throat, eyes and skin. Police use them for non-lethal apprehension and suppression of dangerous suspects. The Canadian military uses them to supplement training, wielding markers that are identical to the weapons they carry into combat.
The majority of people using paintball markers, however, play paintball. The very first paintball game was in 1981, played in New Hampshire, USA. Today; the game is regularly played, involving worldwide leagues, tournaments, professional teams, and players.Games are played on indoor or outdoor fields of varying sizes. A game field is scattered with natural or artificial terrain, which players use for strategic play. Paintball games can vary, but can include; capture the flag, team elimination, and defending or attacking a particular point or area.. Depending on the adaptation played, paintball matches can last, from seconds to hours, or even days in scenario play. (D-Day in Oklahoma, USA; lasts three days with over 15,000 players every year!)
Unlike other sports, however; not everyone can play paintball!
While nearly every sport is playable by the majority of people, paintball requires a certain type of player. Due to this, paintball is not as popular as other sports. Anyone can participate in softball, soccer, football, swimming, hockey, skating, and track & field Most organized sports, even have adaptations to allow for those with disabilities!
Paintball requires many skills: namely the ability to aim and shoot, while being shot at. Physical fitness is much more demanding in paintball, than other sports! Being able to think on your feet, is an extremely necessary skill; such as, co-ordinating defensive and offensive tactics.
It is for those reasons, alone, that most people don't play paintball!
In paintball, once the horn sounds, there is no "down-time". Even when waiting while defending, or laying an ambush; you cannot relax for a second! The blood races, and adrenaline pulses through your veins! Breathing becomes heavier, from both excitement, and fear; not including the extra demand of oxygen. No other sport, requires such high demands on a players body!
Then, there is the mental aspect of the game.
The fact that paintball is a war game, requires good observation & problem solving skills. The mental demand during play or practice, develops many beneficial life-skills, including excellent leadership skills, Unfortunately; a large number of people, refuse to even try playing paintball; merely out of fear of being shot.
It takes a certain calibre to successfully play paintball. .68 to be precise; with an individual, capable of performing such a feat, as playing the game.