Paintball is an awesome activity that is enjoyed by a wide variety of individuals. Lots of people, old and young, come out to play paintball at our fields, but one might ask…..how young is too young to play paintball? This blog post will provide the answers you need, as well as some tips, tricks, and alternatives you can use to have a successful day on the field.
How old do you need to be to play paintball?
The age requirements vary by playing field; however, our minimum age varies. Kids typically start playing paintball around 8 years old, but there are always exceptions. To ensure safety, it’s important that the child fits in the protective equipment and can handle the gun properly. This means that a very small 8-year-old may have difficulty with the equipment, but a very big 6-year-old can be perfectly fine. It’s really up to the parent’s discretion to decide whether their child is ready to play based on their size, tolerance to the impact of the paintballs, and desire to play.
We also recommend that you start the younger children in a private party where they can be with their own group without having to worry about older, more experienced players making it more difficult for them to really enjoy the game. We have a great kid’s party option that even comes with low impact markers! You can find pricing and information about this party at https://cousinspaintball.com/pricing/. If you have children who aren’t comfortable playing paintball at all, or you feel they are too young, we have a great Gellyball option for them! You can find tons of info, as well as a link to book a party at https://cousinspaintball.com/gellyball/
What does my child need in order to play?
The only thing we require for persons under the age of 18 is for their waiver to be filled out by their parent or legal guardian. When they get to the field, they will be provided with a paintball marker (if needed) and goggles that cover the eyes and the ears. Other than that, we don’t require anything else. Although this is true there are some items you can bring to set the child (or yourself!) up for success, especially if they’re younger. We recommend you bring something to protect the hands and head, and always wear proper shoes. Another important thing would be to ensure that the skin is covered, even in the heat of the summer. To combat the heat, we recommend a thin sweat wicking material.
So, how old do you need to be to play paintball? We believe that it’s truly up to a parent’s discretion to decide whether their child is the right size, age, and skill level. Although this is true, we typically recommend they start about 8 years old. This is the age where a lot of our players truly understand the tactics of the game and get the most out of it while also understanding the rules and safety of the game. If you’re looking for some additional information about what to expect, check out this awesome website! https://www.paintzapper.com/paintball-for-kids/
