Equipment Classification & Eligibility

Overview

How equipment is classified for regulated paintball, including permitted, restricted, and prohibited categories.

Key Points

• Equipment is classified by safety function, impact on gameplay, and manufacturer intent
• Certain devices may be restricted to specific divisions or formats
• Prohibited equipment includes items that create unsafe force, concealment, or unfair advantage
• Eligibility may change over time based on updated league or field policies

Details

Equipment classification establishes which items may be used, under what conditions they are allowed, and when they are prohibited entirely. Common categories include required protective gear, optional but permitted accessories, restricted equipment with format-specific limits, and fully banned items.

Eligibility is influenced by safety, visibility, and fairness. For example, equipment that obscures identification, significantly alters hit-detection, or produces excessive force is often restricted or disallowed. Likewise, electronic devices that provide real-time external information, covert communication, or automated targeting may be prohibited in regulated play.

Because rule sets evolve, an item that was previously acceptable may become restricted or banned as new data, incident reports, or competitive trends emerge. Players and teams are responsible for staying current with the eligibility lists published by leagues, events, and local fields.

Officials may reclassify an item on-site if its condition or modification changes its functional category.

Related Topics

• Rules, Safety & Player Conduct
• governance
• marker-regulations
• gear-requirements