Man carrying toy gun flees police (The Sacramento Bee)

A toy gun and quick feet caused a stir today after a 22-year-old man believed to be carrying a gun took off running as Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies approached him at 8 a.m. near the intersection of Watt Avenue and Auburn Boulevard.

Paintballing - Everything You Ever Need To Know

So, how does this fun sport work? Players can eliminate other players by making sure they are visibly hit with a paintball. As the paintball will break apart on impact, it is easy to see that they have been hit. However, if the paint splatters on a nearby player, it is not another hit. In fact, hits are only valid if they hit the torso, clothes, gear or even something the player is wearing, like a backpack, something they are carrying like their marker.

Paintballing - Everything You Ever Need To Know

Elimination involves the elimination of single or team players. King of the hill is about multiple teams capturing one or multiple bases, but the game is only done when the team has been able to hold onto more than one base for a longer period of time than the other team(s). Speedball engages the use of bunkers whereby whole acres of playing field may be involved and may include natural or manmade formations that allow players to clearly see each other and thus make the game move along faster. In fact, speedball is so well organised that it is played professionally. Stock paintball restricts the game to the old 1980's markers and pump action guns holding a limit of ten paint rounds only. Woodsball allows for more military style play with ambushes, fortifications, assaults and the protection of senior players, leaders or VIPs.

Paintballing has many variations, including capture the flag, elimination, king of the hill, speedball, stock paintball and woodsball. Capture the flag involves capturing the opponent's or opposing teams' flag from the other side of the playing field.

Tournaments in paintball began in 1983 with the National Survival Game National Championship. Today, most paintballing is played at commercial facilities and parks where admission fees are charged. Paintball parks can have varied themes, including historical battlefields, cities, jungles and woods. Referees are involved in all games and instruction is a mandatory part of the game. Major tournaments are usually played at stadiums, military bases and fairgrounds. Insurance is always provided.

Paintball equipment can be different for each level of play or the skill of the players. However, the mandatory equipment includes a mask, paintball marker and paintballs. Gear can run as high as a few thousand dollars or as low as one hundred dollars.