Paintball evolving into a professional sport is pretty old news. The rising popularity of the sport since its very inception guaranteed its evolution from being just for fun to a serious money earner. Going by the increase in the numbers of 'sponsored events' and the like, one can easily conclude that league championships are as old as the game itself. Paintball competitions and organised league tournaments date back to the 1980s. Ranging from regional tournaments to the World Cup tournament, players get maximum exposure in terms of gaming skills. It also goes one big step further in qualifying paintball as a 'legitimate sport'.

Some important national and international leagues played today include Paintball Sports Promotions in the United States, the Centrino series in Eastern Europe, the Millennium Series in western Europe, the United States Paintball League in the US, and the National Collegiate Paintball Association in the US and Canada. Besides this, several local and regional leagues are also held from time-to-time. Of late, players have started entering into contractual agreements with professional teams and are now making their living out of the sport.

The general rules conventionally applicable to this sport are as follows:

- 3 referees are present in the field throughout the duration of the game.
- A player stands eliminated if the paintballs hit him and split open.
- If any of the paintballs hit the opponent player's marker or any other part (shoes included), he stands eliminated.

Safety is an important concern, with regard to the sport. It is also an important criterion for choosing a particular style of the game for a competition and the like. The following simple guidelines and rules can save one trouble with the sport and keep the player injury-free as well:

- Wearing masks at all points of time during the game is especially important. Some of the most painful injuries occur due to a player's carelessness at taking off the mask at an inappropriate point of time during the game. One should always refrain from taking off their mask when they are near, in or around the dead zone or within the range of the field. - Playing when one is in their complete senses is a mandatory rule of the sport. If a player is under the influence of alcohol, drugs, prescribed medicines and other pharmaceuticals, it only makes sense to refrain from playing and stay safe. - Markers must be kept on the safe mode when the game is not on. This is a safety precaution for oneself, as well as to aid the safety of other players. - Refraining from shooting one's opponent, when they are closer than 5m is not just advisable but a mandatory rule as well. One could be penalised in extreme circumstances. Ideally, if an opponent is at a distance closer than 5m, the player should say, "You dead, don't shoot," and the opponent must surrender.

So, go ahead... scoot and shoot everyone. Your time starts- Now!