The players decided that the next game would be Woodsball. In woodsball, it is basically as the name sounds - a game in the bush where cover and camo rule. The players were quick to explain the basic rules and mostly safety. Always wear your goggles!!! (A tip here is to buy a good quality double thermal mask. Fogging your mask up and problems with your goggles will take away from the paintball experience.) Walking in towards the field and well away from the field, we were told that from a certain spot we must keep our masks on at all times. When we arrived at the field we split in to teams. My son (aged 12) and I were on a team of 4 against 4 that were decked out with markers, nitrogen, remote lines and camo. Well did I mention our intimidation was peaked!! We had never been hit by a paintball, let alone shoot anyone. We were not army veterans, marksmen, or athletes. We were just a father and son wanting to shoot paintball but at that split moment, we new we were in too far to back out and not far enough to stop. They told us some more basics like what "army rules" meant. The term is used to describe the rule that we would only be out if we were hit on the torso or head (not limbs). They told us not to remove our mask and to raise our arms if surrendering or hit. We were told to walk out with your arms raised until you are off the field. Do not shoot anyone too close and ask them to surrender. If you run out of ammunition or air, you are also out. This would explain why the "intimidator" team had gear belts that held extra paintball "pods" (plastic tubes that hold a fill of paintballs for your loader) and a place for an air tank or extra air tank.

Okay we were positioned. We were split up and both teams had called out to the referee that we were ready to play. It was game on. Instantly the excitement peaked and we were in the game. My son flanked to the left. We stuck together and moved forward until we found some cover. All of our "Call of Duty" online experience flashing before our eyes. Don't give away our position, be patient...ah just shoot!!!! One of us hit a player...a head shot. We both took credit for that one! We felt cocky now. Shooting and exhilarated. I decided to move to another spot. Started to move and then in an instant.......ouch. I was hit in the back and out. I raised my hands over my head and called myself out. Moved to the edge of the field and watched from the sidelines. Reflecting how stupid I had been to just move without being more stealth like. Crap, now I had to wait until the next game. The earlier "ouch", was not too bad. We felt our wounds but they were not very painful. We could describe it as an isolated almost sunburn feeling.

Soon after my son was also hit and he came out. Both of us could not wait to go again and like the first dive in to a pool - our hearts beating with excitement and exhilaration, we were hooked!

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