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Playing paintball
The ways to play, what the rules ask of you, and where to read the official rulebooks.
Fun and sport
Paintball is played for birthdays, team-building and weekend outings, and it is played as a regulated competitive sport. The UPBF, which governs the sport worldwide, says the two forms exist side by side and that recreational play is a good way into the sport. The UPBF governs the competitive form.
The UPBF calls markers “air-powered sporting devices (not ‘guns’)”. The rules below come from the UPBF’s competition rules. A venue or league may set its own, so read the rulebook of the event you are entering.
Ways to play
Speedball
Teams of five (three in Under-16) on a symmetrical inflatable field. The UPBF calls it the primary competitive format, and it is the format of the World Championship.
X-Ball
The NXL lists X-Ball as five against five, with matches of 12 to 15 minutes won by reaching 4 to 6 points, depending on the division. The South African Xball League (SAXL) is listed under Where to play below.
Woodsball and bushball
Played on natural terrain with tactical movement. The UPBF describes it as popular in recreational leagues and regional competitions.
Scenario games
Large themed events with hundreds to thousands of players, multi-hour objectives and storylines.
Classic
The NXL's ICPL Classic league plays flag capture, five against five or ten against ten, on fields that mix woods, hyperball, mounds and hybrid layouts. Its events are in the United States.
How a speedball point works
Set up. Teams line up on the field. Each player carries a loader and two pods, about 500 paintballs, for the point.
Break out. At the buzzer, players sprint to bunkers across the field.
Play. A player hit by a paint mark is out for the point. Referees verify hits.
Score. A team scores by pressing the other team's buzzer with no paint marks on the player. Eliminations alone do not score.
Switch. Teams change sides after each scored point.
Win. At the World Championship the first team to 4 points wins. A point lasts 2 to 5 minutes.
What the rules ask of you
Goggles
Full-face eye protection certified to ASTM F1776. The UPBF makes it mandatory for every player at all times in play.
Barrel cover
Worn on the marker whenever you are off the field, to prevent an accidental discharge.
Marker speed
The UPBF limit is 300 feet per second, enforced by chronograph testing.
Paint
Non-toxic, biodegradable and water-soluble: food-grade dye in a gelatin shell.
Safety briefing
The UPBF requires a briefing before all events and sessions.
Ask the venue what it supplies before you go. SANPA also takes part in the ASTM committee that writes the paintball safety standards. See Safety and standards.
Read the rulebooks
Each rulebook is published by the organisation that runs the format, and each is updated by them. We link to them rather than keep copies, so what you read is the current version.
- UPBF regulations and rulebook (World Championship rules)
- NXL Divisional X-Ball rulebook (X-Ball)
- NXL Pro X-Ball rulebook (X-Ball, professional)
- NXL Match Play rulebook (Match Play)
- ICPL Classic 5-man rulebook (Classic, five against five)
- ICPL Classic 10-man rulebook (Classic, ten against ten)
History of paintball
How the sport grew from a first game in 1981 into one with a world championship, from the UPBF’s own account. South Africa’s part in it is told on the pages linked below the timeline.
27 June 1981
The first paintball game
Twelve friends in Henniker, New Hampshire, play the first game, using forestry markers designed for marking trees.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
1983
The first tournament
The NSG National Championship is the first paintball tournament.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
1993
NPPL 10-man begins
The National Professional Paintball League starts in the 10-man format, which runs from 1993 to 2002.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
1999
The Millennium Series is founded
It becomes Europe's premier competitive league and runs from 1999 to 2017.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
2003
The NPPL Super 7 era
The 7-man format era, which runs from 2003 to 2013.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
2004
The PSP era begins
Paintball Sports Promotions runs the professional circuit from 2004 to 2014.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
2013
The UPBF is founded
International governance of the sport is established.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
2015
The NXL replaces the PSP
The National Xball League takes over the professional circuit in the United States.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
2018
NXL Europe launches
It takes over from the Millennium Series.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
2019
The first combined UPBF World Championship
All categories play at one venue, in Nieuw-Vennep in the Netherlands. 26 nations compete, the most so far.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
2025
21 nations in Dreux
The UPBF World Championship is held in Dreux, France, with 21 nations.
Paintball · Source: UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport
Where to play
Venues, clubs and leagues SANPA has confirmed from public sources, by province. Being listed does not mean an organisation is affiliated with SANPA unless its label says so.
Gauteng
- Paintball Place KrugersdorpScene coverageKrugersdorp
Western Cape
- Klipdam FarmScene coverageKlapmuts, Cape Town
- Ground Zero PaintballScene coverageCape Town
Leagues
- South African Xball League (SAXL)Scene coverage
Want to be a member, or register a club or venue? Join SANPA →
Sources
UPBF, Paintball Is a Sport (speedball, how a point works, gear and safety rules, and the history); NXL, Playing Formats (X-Ball); ICPL Classic (Classic). Checked 2026-10-22. SANPA does not run these formats or write these rules.