Paintball

The paintball facility at Port Macquarie is run by Skirmish Down Under, which first developed operations in South Australia in 1993.

Otherwise known as Skirmish, this is a game or sport in which players compete, in teams or individually. The aim is to eliminate opponents by hitting them with capsules containing a coloured dye. This fired from a gas-powered device called a paintball marker. Paintball is a “non-contact” game. Notwithstanding spattering by a ball of coloured paint. If physical contact does occur, it generally means a penalty of some type.

The game is purely recreational and played at a sporting level with worldwide leagues, tournaments, professional teams and players. However, armies do supplement military training with similar equipment.

Paintball Rules

A potentially limitless variety of rules and variations apply to the game. The basic game rule is that players must attempt to accomplish a goal and remain free of coloured ball splattering. As a result, the player’s shot with the ball splattering means you are out. A ‘bounce’ with no splatter means you’re still in the game. The player must raise their marker to indicate that they are out and leave the playing field. Depending on the agreed-upon game rules. The player may return to the area and continue playing or, in other rules, remove the player from the game.

In terms of safety, published research has argued that it is one of the statistically safest sports. With 0.2 injuries per 1000 players annually. However, these injuries tend to be a result of tripping. Skirmish Down Under (Australia) has a perfect safety record, a tribute to the guidelines and protocols they have implemented for those playing on their fields.

Equipment

Players use a Tippmann Custom 98 semi-automatic marker (gun). The V Force head protection system, and camouflage coverall issued by the Port Macquarie facility. Gloves and hats are optional. Chest and back protectors are offered to ladies

Paintball markers are no longer considered firearms regulated by NSW Police but recreational sporting devices managed by Fair Trading in the interest of public safety. However, you need a permit to own a paintball marker (gun) in NSW. You do not need a permit to play paintball in if you are staying in NSW for less than three months and hold a current equivalent permit from another state or territory.

The minimum age for playing the game is twelve for South and Western Australia, fifteen for Queensland, and sixteen for New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria. Tasmania banned the game after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996. Now, anyone aged 18 or over can participate in paintball. However, those aged 16 or 17 will need written permission from a person with parental responsibility.