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