Paintball Age
Before you rush out and buy your kids a paintball gun, you need to know your state’s minimum paintball age and “how old do you have to be to play paintball?”. You can’t legally buy a gun until you’re 18 in most American states, but you can play paintball as soon as you’re old enough to walk. The minimum paintball age in the US varies from state to state, so let’s take a look at some specifics:
So how old do you have to be to play paintball? Most paintball facilities require that kids should be at least 10 years old to play paintball. However, age requirement often depends on insurance coverage. So, players that are not quite ten years old can get other alternatives that offer the same thrills as paintball.
Despite pegging the minimum age for playing paintball at 10, most fields will still require parental consent of up to 17 years old to allow kids to play paintball. We recommend checking a facility’s rule on age before taking your kids there for paintball. Another alternative is to let your kids play at home under strict guidance.
Minimum Paintball Age: Why Do Many Paintball Facilities Ban Underage Children?
Most paintball facilities prioritize safety, and that’s why they may not allow underaged kids to play paintball. You must understand that safety is essential for everybody involved in playing airsoft.
Kids under the age of 10 are more prone to injuries from paintballs, especially considering that they may not understand basic safety precautions. Apart from the tendency to take off safety gear, they are also prone to sustaining more injuries from falls.
Even kids above the minimum required age would still have to play under supervision to avoid costly decisions that jeopardize their safety.
So try not to get annoyed or feel embarrassed when a facility does not allow your underage kids to enjoy the thrills of paintballing. They are only looking out for your kids’ safety.
5 Paintballing Safety Tips for Kids
Most paintball facilities may accept ten as the minimum age requirement for playing paintball, but that does not take away the fact that older kids can get injured while playing airsoft. Therefore, parents are always advised to look out for the safety of their kids first during paintball games.
Are you wondering how you can protect your kids from sustaining paintball-related injuries? Here are valuable tips you can try.
1. Get the Right Protective Gear
We can’t overemphasize this point. Protective gear helps to protect your kids from basic injuries. For instance, paintball masks cover the head and eyes, which are the most vulnerable parts of the body. Several brands are available in today’s market, but we recommend buying from a trusted brand. Kids must wear their masks throughout their stay in the facility, even when they are not playing. In fact, taking off your mask can land you in trouble in some paintball facilities.
Another protective gear that your kid shouldn’t do without when playing paintball is the padded vest. This vest helps to soften the stings of paintball shots. Although these vests are for every player, we recommend them more for kids that would play with gas and electric powered paintball guns.
Neck protectors and gloves also play their roles in protecting airsoft players. Remember that direct shots on the neck can cause a choking sensation, especially to kids. The right neck protectors would help to prevent such awkward situations.
2. Divide Kids Based on Age
This is a no-brainer, but we must talk about it again. Like most other sports, paintball is better enjoyed when playing with people of equal strength. Therefore, most playing facilities divide players into groups based on sex, age, and weight.
As a parent, you should ensure that your kid is playing in the right group. Playing with older people can leave kids prone to injuries and fatigue. If a facility doesn’t emphasize age division, do it yourself. Get your kids to play with other kids in their age groups.
3. Set Up Rules
Yes, most facilities have rules to ensure safe plays, but it’s also crucial to set your rules. First, review the facility’s rules to be sure it covers the basic safety needs of your kids. Beyond that, you can also read safety tips online and ensure that your kids abide by them while playing.
4. Advise Kids to Aim Their Shots at Players Wearing Protective Gear
It’s easy for kids to get carried away by the game’s intensity and soon forget basic safety rules. As a parent, you need to continually remind them of the need to keep their safety and that of their opponents at heart. You don’t want other kids getting injured from your kid’s carelessness. Therefore, you must urge them to only aim at people with protective gear. Fortunately, many playing facilities have this as a standing rule, so the chances of defaulting are very slim.
5. Ensure Guns are On Recommended Speed
Different guns feature different speed levels. So, of course, you’ll be tempted to buy paintball guns with higher speed levels, but you must also understand the need for caution. Most playing fields have speed limits to ensure the safety of every player. So read up on the facility’s rules beforehand and get a gun that suits their recommendations. This tip would help to keep you and other opponents safe from potential injuries.
