Format

This page covers the following:
The Game
Penalties
Miscellaneous

THE GAME: This is a complete breakdown of how all parts of a game will take place.

Your Goal: to capture the flag from the center flag station and hang it on the other teams start station without being eliminated.

Game Preparation: all teams will be require to be at the field entry point prior to the beginning of the game BEFORE them. All players on the team will then be required to show their wristband that is marked with their team name, chronograph their markers, and will have their markers checked for "bounce." Both teams will be informed which side of the field they will be starting from. At the conclusion of the game prior you will be sent on to the field to play your game.

Games will not be delayed for players that did not arrive at the entry station prior to the start of the game before them.
Games will not be delayed for players with marker problems. It is the players responsibility to ensure his/her equipment is in working condition.
If players markers fail to pass inspection then that player will be given the option to play the game without a marker, or sit out.

On the Field: Head directly to your start station. The head referee will be located at the 50 on the snake side of the field. He will be the referee that starts the game. To start the game, all players must have their barrel touching the start station and their barrel tip must be below their waist.

Starting the Game: Once both teams are at their start station the referee will begin the game by raising his hand and yelling "game will begin in five seconds." There will be five seconds of silence, then he will simultaneously drop his hand and yell "GAME ON."

Any player that removes his barrel from the start station prior to the GAME ON call will be given the opportunity to tag up, meaning that as long as they do not fire their marker or point it down field they can touch their barrel to the start station and begin playing. If they player is hit during this time he will be eliminated as he has been marked. If the player fires his marker he will be eliminated as he started the game early.

Points: will be awarded for the following
2 points for each live player at the conclusion of the game.
1 point to the team that removes the flag from the flag station first.
3 points to the team that hangs the flag on the other teams start station.

In order to get points for removing the flag from the flag station, the player that pulls the flag must have it in his possession for 3 full seconds or make 3 complete steps. A complete step is completed each time one of your feet hit the ground.  If they player gets shot after he grabs the flag but before 3 seconds or 3 full steps (whichever comes first) then the point will not be awarded.

The Conclusion of the Game: the game will end at the earliest of the following:

3 minutes of game time,
all players being eliminated, OR
when the flag is hung at a start station.

At the conclusion of the game all live players will be required to report to a field judge. That judge will determine if the player is live or eliminated. If the player finds any hits on a player the player will be eliminated along with another player. If that eliminates the last player on the team, then zero points will be awarded to the team and the points for the flag pull (one point) and the flag hang (three points) will go to the opposing team.

Before Leaving the Field: the head referee that starts the game will be in charge of the game score sheet. After all players check in team scores will be recorded, and we ask that the team captain sign the score sheet acknowledging it is correct.

PENALTIES: the following actions will be considered infractions and your team will receive the prescribed penalty.

Overshooting: any player that intentionally continues to shoot at a player after he has been eliminated will also be eliminated.

Wiping: any player that deliberately attempts to hide or conceal a hit, or is caught wiping paint off himself/herself will be eliminated from the game along with the rest of his team. That player will be suspended for the remainder of the event and the team will be required to play short for the remainder of the current round. EXAMPLE: a player wipes a hit in prelims, he will be suspended for the remainder of the event and the team will be allowed to field a maximum of two players for the remainder of prelims. If the team moves onto the next round, they will then be allowed to field three players, but the player that committed the infraction will not be allowed to play as he is suspended.

Players are not to remove any paint from themselves. If the player gets paint on themselves from rubbing against a bunker, kneeling/sliding, etc... the player is to inform the referee and the referee will remove the paint if he feels it did not result from a direct hit.

Playing On: a player is eliminated the second he is marked by a paintball. If a player fires his marker, continues to advance down the field, or continues to communicate with his team, not only will he be eliminated but so will one of his teammates. If no other players are remaining then the team will be required to start the next game with two players.

Unobvious hits: a player will not be accessed a penalty if he is hit in the pack or front of the hopper unless the referee determines the player acknowledged the hit. EXAMPLE: if a player is looking right and shooting, gets shot in the pack from the left, then decides to shoot left, the player will be accessed a penalty for playing on.

NOTE: penalties are at the discretion of the referee staff. If a player receives a hit, but in the referees opinion did not feel or know about the hit, the referee is not obligated to access a penalty.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Trading Out: If two or more players are marked simultaneously, both will be eliminated. If a referee witnessed the exchanged and feels that one player clearly marked the opposing player first, then that player will be left in. In the event no judge witnessed the exchange all parties with a mark shall be mutually eliminated from the game.

Checking In: It is the players responsibility to notify a referee when he takes paint if it comes from anything other than a direct hit. If the referee feels that the paint came from a direct hit, the player is to be eliminated. If the referee feels it came from anything other than a direct hit, he will remove the paint from the player whenever he can do so without interrupting the game.

Possessions: Each player must maintain possession of all equipment he brought onto the field except for the following disposable items: pods & squeegees. Equipment will be considered discarded if the player is more than 3 feet from that equipment. If a player discards equipment he/she will be eliminated. The flag is considered equipment once you remove it from the flag station. If you discard or leave the flag behind you will be eliminated. You are allowed to hand the flag to a teammate without receiving a penalty.

Out of bounds: a player will be considered out of bounds if he touches the netting around the field, or crosses the field boundry line. This includes if any of his equipment goes out of bounds. EXAMPLE: if your hopper comes off when you dive into your bunker and goes out of bounds then you will be eliminated.