Are we welcoming a concerned parent here? Is it about your kid who is too keen to try paintball at only 8 years of age? Or is it about you, who wants to give your kid a surprise birthday party at a paintball club? Do you want to know if it is safe for your so young or a kid to play paintball?
In a word, the answer is Yes! But…
There are many other things to consider before you let your child go for paintballing. And, of course, that is exactly what brought you here.
Don’t worry! You are at the right place. We will answer all your questions one by one.
Here is a complete guide on age limits and precautions you must take in a paintball game.
Why is There an Age Limit For Paintball?
The main reason for putting an age limit on paintball is the pain it may cause the players.
As we all know, paintball is a recreational sport played with paintball guns that shoot paintballs pallets at a velocity of 300 fps (feet per second). This velocity causes a sting when the paintballs hit your body. They may, and often do, leave bruises on your body that can take several days to heal.
For most players, the pain of hitting paintballs is not serious at all. They have their eyes covered to avoid eye injuries, which happen to be the most sensitive part of your body. That assured excitement of the game overwhelms every other feeling.
But this is not the case with young kids who are more fragile and sensitive to pain. They cannot endure the pain of hitting paintballs with such velocity.
Minimum Age For Paintball
The minimum age for paintball is decided by the region and the field you are playing in. Some countries do not have any specific rules about it whatsoever and decide the entry of a kid on the spot. Others are much more strict about safety rules.
In most countries, with better and strict rules, the minimum age required for entering a paintball field is 12 or 13 years, and that too with a signed waiver from a parent or guardian.
Insurance Policy of the Field
Insurance policies also play a role to set a minimum age for paintball or any other sport for that matter. In simpler words, when someone starts a business they buy an insurance policy that helps them in the long run. But for that purpose, they have to sign some terms and conditions.
It depends on the insurance policy of a specific field if it requires a minimum age for playing paintball or not. Some policies do not have it as a mandatory requirement, so they allow people of any age into the fields.
Rules For Kid’s Paintball
No matter whether your area’s field has an age requirement or not, you will be asked to follow some rules before they allow the kids in the fields. Here is what you, as a parent, will be asked to take care of.
- An all time presence of a parent in the audience is mandatory.
- Any kid under the age of 17 will be required to bring a signed agreement from their parent or guardian.
- That being said, extra caution is taken before the kids are allowed to start the game. For example, they are given safety gear that protects their chest and back from getting hurt.
- A neck protector is also a must.
- And you must be aware that, no matter a kid or an adult, you are never allowed to enter a paintball field without an eye mask.
But where did that game vanish that we talked about at the beginning where an 8 years old kid could play paintball?
Hold on! That’s where we are getting to…
Requirements For Low Impact Paintball
Kids under 12 years of age are not allowed in the game of “real paintball” where paintballs are being shot at 300 fps speed. But there are other games that allow kids as young as 8 years old.
This is called “Low Impact Paintball” because here the guns fire at a lower speed.
To put it in simpler words, this game type is played with different guns with different ammo or paintballs. The paintballs used in this game are of .50 caliber, in contrast to those used in real paintball that are .68 caliber.
The paintballs are exchanged with almost half the size of the standard paintballs and the guns are used accordingly; they are made to shoot smaller paintballs.
The paintballs ejected from the low impact paintball guns have a velocity of 170 to 220 fps, which is far slower than the standard paintball guns.
Pain Level
When you decrease everything from the standard level of paintball, you get to a game that causes far less pain.
Most players state that they feel nothing when they are hit by a paintball. And yet most of the body is covered with safety gear because some parts of our body are more sensitive to pain than others.
If statistically mentioned, the pain level is reduced to 68% and that makes this game the best choice for younger kids.
Safety Measures
Playing a low impact paintball game does not mean that you can disregard the safety measures of the game. Only the equipment is changed here, not the safety rules.
Your kids must be wearing their eye masks at all times in the field. Safety vests, neck protectors, and helmets are also recommended.
Many fields will make your presence mandatory too. And even if they do not, who wants to leave a kid so young, alone in a field of paintball?
Who Can Play Low Impact Paintball?
The fun part about this game is that it is not specifically limited to kids under 12 years of age. In fact, anyone who wants to play without crossing their comfort zone can play it.
Apart from the change in “equipment impact” as you may call it, everything is the same. You can enjoy a game of low impact paintball with all your family and have fun together.
Just make sure that all the members of the family agree to play low impact because fields do not allow different equipment in the same group and for a good reason too.
Low impact is no good if a kid is using a gun with a lower impact and gets hit by a paintball from a standard gun.
JT Splatmaster: A Novelty Marker For Kids Under 8?
After talking a lot about an age limit or no age limit for paintball, here we are going to tell you about the most novel gun type in paintball. And do you know what is the best thing about it?
Your kid only has to be 6 to enjoy his first game of paintball, only because of JT Splatmaster.
What is JT Splatmaster?
JT Splatmaster is a low impact paintball marker that is the easiest to use marker available in the market.
It is a low impact gun that uses .50 caliber paintball ammo and does not require a hopper to sit at the top. All the paintballs can be fed in a bar above its barrel. Or you can buy one that is magfed.
But the best thing about it is that it works without a gas tank attached to it! All it needs to work is human power.
How Is It Safe?
JT Splatmaster is a low impact gun, but not only the impact, this gun is also the most lightweight one. Your child does not have to worry about carrying a huge hopper at the top of the gun as well as a gas tank at the side of it.
There are no risks involved of gas leaking from the tank or gun, or any other issue of the type making a really safety intense marker.
And to top it all, this marker shoots only at 130 fps. So the pain level is reduced to literally nothing!
That being said, all the other safety precautions are still the same to take care of. Never forget the eye mask, the safety vest, the neck protector, the helmet, and whatever you have to save yourself from stinging paintballs, even if it is of low impact.
Availability
As mentioned before, this is a novelty marker and not so common in the paintball fields yet.
You will be lucky if you find a field in your area that allows a paintball game for your 6 years old and above in your area. And yes, it is not only for the kids, you can join them in the field if you want to.
You may also like to read: How costly can one’s paintballing be
Comparison Table of Paintball Games Vs. Required Age
| Game Type | Standard Paintball | Low Impact Paintball | JT Splatmaster Paintball |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age Limit | Above 12 Years | Above 8 Years | Above 6 Years |
| Paintball Ammo | .68 Caliber Paintballs | .50 Caliber Paintballs | .50 Caliber Paintballs |
| Paintball Shooting Velocity | 270 to 300 fps | 170 to 200 fps | 130 fps |
| Paintball Gun | Any Standard Paintball Marker from Pump to Electronic type | Paintball Markers with a narrower barrel to shoot smaller paintballs | JT Splatmaster paintball marker that is used without a hopper or a gas tank. |
| Pain Level | Paintballs hit with a sting and often cause bruises that can take days to heal. | Pain is reduced to 68%. You may not even feel it. | You feel almost no pain because the gun fires at a lower velocity. |
| Safety Gear | An eye mask is mandatory at all times in the field. | In addition to an eye mask, kids are encouraged to wear a safety vest, a neck protector, and a helmet to be on the safer side. | The kids are encouraged to use all the safety measures in addition to an eye mask which is a must. |
| Availability | All Paintball Fields | Most Paintball Fields | Available at Rare Sites |
Wrapping Up
We will conclude the topic by telling you that paintball is a safe game for your kid. A kid as young as 8 years old can play low impact paintball games without any hesitation. And if you are lucky enough to find a field that offers a game of JT Splatter, you can take your 6 year old child there to experience all the excitement of the game.
Just make sure that your kid is taking all the safety measures to avoid any serious injury. Have a talk with them before you take them to the field and make them understand the importance of their safety.
If you think that your child can behave accordingly, nothing can stop them from being a successful paintballer in the next few years.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it safe to plan my 9 year old kid’s birthday party in a paintball club?
If you take care of all the safety measures, there is nothing wrong with giving your kid a surprise birthday party after a game of paintball. A low impact game is the best option for kids under 11 years of age.
What if my 6 year old is keen to play paintball?
Paintball is not recommended for kids of a younger age because they may not endure the pain caused by hitting paintballs. But now, some fields are offering a safer game with the use of JT Splatter which can be played by kids as young as 6 years old. It is a low impact paintball gun that is easy to use and shoots paintballs at a velocity of 130 fps only.
What is the minimum age for paintball?
A standard paintball game is not recommended for kids under 12 years of age. But a low impact paintball game is safe for kids from 8 years of age and older. Some fields offer JT Splatter for kids aged 6 years only.
Why is there an age limit for paintball?
Standard paintball guns shoot .68 caliber paintballs at the speed of 270 to 300 fps. Even if you wear glasses, an eye mask is mandatory while you are on a paintball field but these speeding paintballs can cause injuries if they hit you at a sensitive part of your body. Kids are more sensitive to pain, that is why this game is not for everyone.
