Speedball (paintball)

Speedball is one of the three distinct game variants in the sport of paintball, woodsball and scenario paintball.

It is a general term for a game in which the playing field is composed of bunkers, of the same location and number on each side of the field, that provide an equal playing field for each team competing. It was created in this way to give a better format for competitive paintball, both in playing and viewing the games.

Paintball is one of the most widely played extreme sports in the United States. Due to the popularity of the speedball variant in professional paintball leagues, speedball evolved paintball into a more formalized game, with each league having a differing format. Paintball was originally a recreational activity, but became a sport with the advent of organized speedball tournaments, professional teams making use of coaching, corporate endorsements, media coverage, and fan followings.

(Paintball actually became a sport in the 1990s with a world cup, governing bodies and international leagues and cup tournaments. There was even a Speedball tournament held annually.)

During the 1980s and 90s, tournament paintball was played strictly in the woods. Because of different terrains the playing field was different at every park. However, a popular playing field in Southern California called SC Village featured a field bereft of trees or natural cover and just contained roofless plywood buildings in the late '80s. However, there was a large water-filled lagoon right in the middle of the field. It was aimed at making the game more spectator-friendly. The term now encompasses just about any game where you start within shooting distance of the opposing team. This was the favorite of many players because of its fast paced action. This is what started a new format of paintball that became known as speedball, because of its speed. The field was tweaked and worked with to adjust to players' liking until 1996 when the first fully inflatable field was unveiled by Brass Eagle. Because of the ability to transport and reconfigure inflatable bunkers, and the lower potential for injury due to players colliding with them, this type of field would eventually become the standard field type for most tournament paintball leagues in North America.

Speedball is a team sport, and can be played recreationally or professionally, with games usually specifying teams of three, six, nine, and twelve. The game is characterized by a small symmetrical playing field, with obstacles (such as inflatable bunkers) placed in various configurations to challenge players, and various game times. The PSP, for example, has varying time limits depending on the division. Stealth and concealment is of little use on a speedball field; there is very little to blend in with. Success is dependent upon teamwork, aggressive movement, and constant communication. Players wear uniforms, similar to more traditional sports.

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