Paintball is an extreme sport in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water-soluble dye and gelatin shell outside (referred to as paintballs) propelled from a device called a paintball marker (commonly referred to as a paintball gun). Paintballs are composed of a non-toxic, biodegradable, water-soluble polymer.
Games are played on outdoor or indoor fields of varying sizes. A game field is scattered with natural or artificial terrain, which players use for cover. Many indoor and outdoor facilities utilize inflatable objects (referred to as bunkers) of various sizes and shapes to create a 'layout' designed to allow players to formulate plans or strategies.
Rules for playing paintball vary, but can include capture the flag, elimination, ammunition limits, defending or attacking a particular point or area, or capturing objects of interest hidden in the playing area. Depending on the variant played, games can last from seconds to hours, or even days in scenario play.
Paintball promotes teamwork, planning and good-natured competition. An ever-increasing number of companies (large and small), schools and youth groups are all incorporating paintball as a powerful tool into their strategic team development plans. Paintball is not limited to just companies, however as boy scouts, churches, frats, sororities and groups of people are among those utilizing paintball.