When people think about paintball guns and safety, they usually consider proper gear, such as protective eye gear. Protective eye gear and armor are just a part of safety measures to consider.

When a player becomes aware of everything that is involved with complete safety they quickly learn that it is far more involved than the gear the player wears on their body. Safety is an ongoing commitment for all players involved.

Some things to considering when playing paintball; face and eye protection, body protection, the paintball gun's velocity, barrel plugs and barrel socks.

In order to protect the eyes players should wear goggles or a mask. Eye protection or the mask will protect the face and eyes from the impact of a paintball. Paintball guns are capable of hitting their target at a velocity of 265 to 300 feet per second. This means that the face and especially the eyes should be protected. There are players that will shoot with the velocity of above regulated limit. Competitors do not always know that they are shooting above the limit. A chronograph should be used to measure the speed at which the players are firing. Shooting at a velocity that is too high can cause injury.

Goggles come in many different shapes and sizes. Some face gear is designed to cover the face while others are designed to cover the ears and neck. When choosing headgear, it is important that it protects the eyes and the face. The protective headgear should fit properly to ensure the best safety.

When shopping for goggles, consumers will find that some have a single-pane and some are double-pane. The single pane tends to fog up, tempting the wearer to occasionally remove the eye protection to see better. Double-pain goggles will help reduce fogging and keep the player from being tempted to remove them from the face to see better.

Wearing goggles during game play is one of the most important requirements, but not the only one.

Body protection is also a consideration. Body protection can cover the chest, back, neck, hands and head.

Consider a barrel plug or a barrel sock. These devices are designed to prevent paintballs from exiting the barrel accidentally. Barrel plugs and barrel socks should be used any time the player is not playing.

Paintball guns have safety mechanisms to prevent accidental gun firing. Individuals should always have their safety on when they are not playing.

Adding extra safety precaution never hurts. Using the safety on your equipment along with barrel plugs and barrel socks will help reduce the chance of misfire.

Referees are used in game play to enforce safety and to make sure that the game is played fairly by all. Referee's can also be responsible for making sure that players gun velocity is not too high.

When learning about safe game play, it is always best to lead by example. When players lead by example, other players look up to them.