| Tournament Games are a form of competition | | | | Capture the Flag · Capture the Flag is very |
| paintball. Paintball fields often hold tournaments, | | | | similar to Center Flag. Capture the Flag is |
| awarding prizes to winning tournament teams. | | | | commonly played when there are larger teams |
| Common formats for tournament paintball include | | | | (over five people per team). The rules of Capture |
| 3-man, 5-man, and 10-man games. A few years | | | | the Flag are very similar, as are the objectives. A |
| back, tournaments were held mostly in wooded | | | | team may choose to completely eliminate the |
| fields, while now they tend to be held more often | | | | opposing team to win, or may grab a flag on the |
| on speedball fields (see below for descriptions of | | | | opposite team’s back border, and bring |
| speedball and woodsball). Some more famous | | | | it back to their border to win. If the flag carrier |
| tournaments include the International Amateur | | | | gets shot, the flag should be returned to its |
| Open in Pennsylvania, and the World Cup in Florida. | | | | original position. This rule can vary as it does in |
| Total Elimination · Although not widely used in | | | | Center Flag. Capture the Flag is commonly used in |
| tournaments, total elimination is one of the more | | | | 10-man tournament formats. |
| common types of games in recball. It has the | | | | USPL Format Games The official format of the |
| basic rule of one hit needed to eliminate someone. | | | | game is patented and supposed to be a heavily |
| The objective of this game is to eliminate all of | | | | guarded secret, so don't try this at home kids! |
| the players on the opposing team. Many games | | | | The USPL, United States Paintball League, was |
| are based off of total elimination, and have the | | | | founded for one main reason - for paintball to be |
| same rules. Some popular forms of Total | | | | successfully televised. This format has more |
| Elimination include Center Flag and Capture the | | | | television friendly rules, and can be compared to |
| Flag - both used often in tournament format | | | | football or soccer, two more physical sports |
| games. | | | | where two “goals†are also |
| Center Flag · Center flag, like stated | | | | used. Players may be put in a penalty box for |
| previously, is a form of Total Elimination. There | | | | unruly behavior and the like, and the |
| are two objectives to choose from when playing | | | | “game counter†will stop while |
| Center Flag. Your team may choose to eliminate | | | | the player who is penalized is getting off the field, |
| all of the players on the other team for the | | | | causing play to freeze for a short period. The |
| victory (Total Elimination) or capture the objective | | | | objective of the game is to take the opposing |
| (a flag in the center of the field) and bring it to a | | | | team’s flag and bring it to one of three |
| certain location. The target location for the flag is | | | | points - the opponent’s zone (7 points |
| usually the back wall or border of the opposing | | | | scored), the neutral zone (3 points scored), or the |
| team. There are also a few special rules for | | | | scoring team’s zone (1 point scored). |
| Center Flag. Once a player gets shot the flag | | | | Another notable rule of the USPL is that in most |
| should be returned to its original position. This rule | | | | conditions - “slamming†an |
| can be altered so that if the flag carrier is tagged, | | | | airball bunker of an opposing player is allowed, |
| then the flag must be dropped on the ground and | | | | causing the opponent to fly out of it. ("Slamming" |
| the player must leave the field, or the player | | | | refers to pushing a bunker from the opposite |
| must stand still with the flag hanging off his hand, | | | | side, literally pushingthe other player out of it.)The |
| and not fire at any other player. Once the flag is | | | | field is divided into two main sides, the home and |
| grabbed from the player’s hand, they | | | | away side, which are marked by the starting |
| may leave the field. Different variations apply to | | | | points. The official format is also supposedly a |
| different leagues. Center Flag is commonly used | | | | heavily guarded secret. The USPL television show |
| for 3-man or 5-man formats. | | | | is expected to start in 2002. |