-"Check your goggle lenss frequently and replace your lens at the slightest hint of a crack. Be sure to only use recommended goggle cleaning sprays or else you will weaken the lens, as well.

Even if your lens is still in pristine condition, you still need to replace it about every 6 months to a year. Check your manufacturer's safety information on your lens since it tends to vary. This is extremely important since the loss of your eyesight is at stake. "

"Safety is the most boring thing to talk about, but it is too huge to ignore. You can learn about safety on your own or you can be taught, but ignoring it can be real painful to say the least.

-Two main areas that must be focused on are the air system and the gun itself. Paintball guns are not toys. You can even read that statement on every gun on the market. It should be treated with the same respect and care as a real fire arm. I know you are trying to talk your mom into letting you get a “Marker”, but this safety tip may not help your cause.

- Your gun is always loaded. YOUR GUN IS ALWAYS LOADED! I wrote it twice because the most used excuse for accidental shootings is, “I did not think it was loaded”. This means, keep your gun aimed down to the ground, your finger off the trigger, and keep your barrel sock on at all times when not playing. Even in pro events now, players are only permitted to take their barrel socks off 10 seconds before the game starts.

- Now, we have all heard by now, how dangerous high pressure air can be. Never work on your own air system. If you are having trouble with your air system, have an expert at your local paintball store look at it. Always have certified tech work on your equipment. You can even learn how to do the maintenance and basic safety inspections for both your marker and air system. Ask to be shown the best ways from your local store.

- My last safety tip is to not eat paintballs! They taste bad and can cause an upset stomach. If you are hungry, please eat an apple. If you saw what these gelatin paintballs are made from, you might change your mind. Plus, you may stain the toilet bowl. Just kidding :) "

-"Always treat ever marker as if is loaded and has air in the valve. Sometimes you can take the bottle off and the valve will still have air in it so use barrel condoms/socks, no matter what.

It's probably been said before, but its the most important next to keeping goggles on!!!"

BeA Safe Player

"Be defensive when it comes to staying clear of harm's way. In this day and age where people can easily be sued, don't set yourself up to be the victim of a lawsuit. Something as easily as you having a friendly paintball game in your backyard can get ugly if someone gets shot and didn't like the way it felt. It could be just as silly as a circumstance where the kid who got shot goes home to tell his "mommy" and then they come back to you with a lawsuit because you didn't have the proper requirements by law to be considered a "paintball field".

That's why it's not such a great idea to play paintball in areas where it's not a true paintball field ran by a legitimate staff of knowledgeable people who know how to keep you safe at all times. Something as simple as keeping your goggles on whenever a barrel bag is off your marker is vital to keeping paintball one of the safest extreme sports in the world. The most important safety rule is having your goggles on at all times on the field, even in the chronograph area.

Dry-firing, too, in the parking lot, or even in your garage at home can be dangerous if you're not wearing goggles. Reason: A ball or two may still be in the chamber, even though you emptied out your hopper by turning it upside down and replacing the paintballs back into a pod or box. It's important to shoot out the rest of your paint while you are still at the paintball field running itself like a business, not some outlaw or renegade place for playing paintball.

There are traveling paintball businesses that actually can come to your house if you've got a big enough backyard that's a huge field with no other homes in sight, that can set up a private party of paintballing fun. These businesses have licenses, as well as the insurance to cover you if a mishap should occur. But, it's not recommended that you go and try to build your own paintball field with netting, poles, and all because your home may not be zoned for paintball playing activities.

To be safe, just play at a local field and wear your goggles when you are suppose to. Your sight is a most precious thing, so don't prevent yourself from ever being able to see again, let alone play paintball again, because you were lazy to just put that goggle system over your face when it was supposed to be on.

Be defensive. Be aware of the people around you, because they may end up injuring you."

"Outside of practicing your own personal safety, make sure you take into consideration the safety of others around you, particularly players that you've identified as moronic newbies. You can normally spot these players by the number of patches on their 1970's Army Ranger camouflage jacket. 5 patches or more? Hardcore. 4 patches or less? Trying to impress.

Many times you can catch a problem with someone else's gear and prevent an accident from happening. Also, try and stop yourself from shooting up the local wildlife while on the field and save that mindless aggression for where it belongs, in the home. "

"Plug IT!!!!!!!!"

Bud's quote is short- but he simply means to keep a barrel plug or sock on your gun when not in use.