| Paintball is a very popular and rapidly growing sport. A | | | | would hardly be an appropriate or easily mastered |
| look at some Paintball info will show its rapid growth | | | | name, so paint ball is used instead. The capsule is |
| and some other interesting data concerning this | | | | propelled by a compressed gas "gun" with the object |
| extreme sport. | | | | to hit opposing players. The capsule and its dye usually |
| The Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Association | | | | leave little room for controversy over whether a hit |
| (SGMA) has released some Paintball tidbits that show | | | | has actually taken place. |
| the surprising popularity of this extreme sport. Although | | | | Despite the bellicose nature of the sport, it is among |
| Paintball participants are vastly outnumbered by | | | | the safest of all extreme sports. The injury rate is |
| bowlers (over 52 million), there are some 10.4 million | | | | around 0.2% of every 1000 activities. This means that |
| paint ball players in the United States. The only | | | | out of every 1000 players, only around 20 sustain any |
| participation extreme sports to have more players are | | | | type of injury at all. Even so, the 20 injuries are more |
| Inline Skating and Skateboarding. | | | | often either slight bruising from close hits or sprains |
| The sport is generating a lot of income for the | | | | from running and falling during the games. The Industry |
| Sporting Goods Industry as well. Almost $390 million | | | | standard for muzzle velocity is 300 feet per second, |
| dollars was spent on Paintball equipment in 2003. | | | | but the actual Paintball guns fire, at the most, at 280 |
| Interestingly, an estimated 49% of Paintball players | | | | feet per second. This margin of safety is typical of the |
| reside in the Southern part of the country. This is | | | | sport. Protective equipment use, especially face |
| obviously out of line with the population figures for the | | | | protection, is virtually always used. |
| various regions. Also, the sport is not very popular with | | | | The sport has developed its own variety of various |
| females. The SGMA started keeping statistics on | | | | games such as capture the flag. It also has its own |
| participation in 1998 and since that time the percentage | | | | slang. Such expressions as over shooting and bonus |
| of female participation has remained unchanged | | | | balling are part of the Paintball lingo. Over shooting and |
| despite a tremendous increase for male players. | | | | bonus balling refer to the practice of shooting an |
| The paintball is not actually a paint ball at all. It is | | | | opponent that has already been hit and is out of play. It |
| described as a spherical gelatin capsule that contains | | | | is considered rude, but is often done as indoctrination |
| mostly polyethylene gycol, some various non-toxic and | | | | for new players. |
| water soluble substances, and dye. However, that | | | | |