Dads that have young kids that play

[Brandon]

My sons 10 now and he wants to try paintball, I do not want to send him out at 10 with no protection at all!
I've looked at all the sites (Ans, Lone wolf, etc.. ) and I cant find any protective gear that's specifically labeled youth. I've suggested to him that we use an old set of his slightly outgrown CCM hockey pads for the chest at least, and this is looking like the route well have to go.

I have goggles he can use, but again I want something with more protection...

What are your kids using and what would you suggest.

[Cdn_Cuda]

I’m collecting gear for when my niece comes to play. I’ve got a JT full head mask, gloves and a tac vest with padding that will hopefully fit. She’s over 5 feet tall, so should work as the vest is adjustable. Likely lend her my Emek as well. Light, easy to shoot.

[NONOBLITUS]

[NONOBLITUS]

Ok I tried to type on those pictures but messed up. So that’s my Son at 10 starting and now 17. Pretty much he played with an old chest protector that first year with stock class guys to get the hang of it. Kids will be fine I don’t think he complained once about a shot hurting. So maybe play stock class first so it’s one shot at a time and they will get the thought it doesn’t hurt. That’s all he wore for his first couple times.

[Memornix]

Good advice, only one problem. I started playing pump and stock class as a middle schooler and never went semi, now I am one of the weirdos on MCB. I started 2 of my nephews on pump 20 years ago and they never went semi and now they are some of the weirdos on MCB as well 😀.

Seriously though, I have started a few kids on slow play pump or stock but was fortunate enough to have good land for outlaw ball. Did this for awhile before taking them to a public field

[Cyberpyr8]

Protect his neck and hands. These get overlooked and a lot of smaller kids end up getting shot in those areas and we all know how much they can hurt. That can scar a kid from wanting to play. A neck gaiter and a pair of gloves would be great.

I would say any of the protective vests should work. A bounce cap or beanie for his head to be sure he doesn't get hurt there. Pants and padding for the legs is hard to find for smaller kids. Not many companies make pants that size. I think Social can make some for you. I believe I heard someone else say that's what they did. I have a pair of protos from the early 2000's that my kids all wore that were youth sized and worked great. They are hard to come by these days but they worked well and are still holding up.

[shooter311]

I have a soon to be 8 year old, and I have had the same questions. Once he is 8 this summer I plan on taking him out to play .50cal to get him started.

I bought him a full head mask. I am super tall so most of my hits are on on the top of my head, and know how much that smarts! I also bought him some x-small armored gloves. The kind that has the hard plastic covers on it. I also bought him a chest protector which is large but it goes on over his clothes and I feel that will be much better than if it was under clothes padding.

[Brandon]

what mask did you end up getting, I see crbn has one. I'm only familiar with the JT spectra flex ones https://www.amazon.com/Carbon-Paintb...98W62523&psc=1

[shooter311]

That crbn mask is a really good price.

I bought him a JT Flex 8. I bought it from Dick's Sporting Goods. I bought a Gift Card for 20% off so I used it for the mask. It is a bit big on his head, but it has a chin strap so there isn't any worry of it coming off on the field. I think the chin strap is a must for new players. It keeps them from having the instinct of pulling their mask up as soon as they get hit.

[grendal50]

I took 2 of my kids out last year for the first time(13 and 10) and they LOVED it! They each took a shot to the top of their heads during play, but came right back for the next game. As far as protective gear we just had sweatshirts and a camo jacket on top with a pair of gloves, as well as the standard mask.

[rawbutter]

If you can't find perceive gear for kids at paintball sites, go look at some sporting goods places instead. There's a ton a good gear out there made just for kids. Look at skateboarding stuff, dirt bike stuff... Even baseball and hockey.

[evilfishsticks]

I took my 10 year old out last fall where he just bundled up for the weather and was fine, apart from taking a throat shot in his first game. Since then, I've picked up a few things. He's got a big head so goggles weren't an issue. I found some tippmann gloves in small that fit him ok. I had an old Sheridan neck protector that fit well. HK army sells youth size jerseys on their website which I couldn't find on online stores, i got him one of the padded jerseys and it fits nice. My only issue is that he thinks all my guns are too heavy and he gets tired of holding them, so I've set up a remote/ t-stock for him.

[Chappy]

My Daughter started at about 11 and the only protection she had was me making sure we played in a private group that treated her well. Controlling the environment and the group that your playing will will be far more protective than any vest or padding ever will. Just my $0.02.

[latches109]

I remember  as a kid ~10 on being shot point blank in the stomach by a middle aged guy. He said “I take no prisoners.” It was just past the half-line on beirut @ SC village. The ref happen to be standing right there, they ended up banning him from the field.   Understanding who you play with is important.

[Chappy]

Ooof that had to hurt.
Conversely, I will never forget my appreciation to Netsurferdude when he was yelling to my kid giving her tips so he didn't shoot her in the top of the head. That's how the real playas play.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Mine are still to young for paintball but I plan on having Evil Gerbil just make me a nice bull denim jersey and getting some thick BDU type pants. I got a nice youth flying skulls sandana I found and I’m holding onto an dye I4 with a few HD lenses because it will fit a kids tiny heads perfect.

I plan on introducing them to paintball in the back yard with the stock class markers before I take them to a commercial field. Slims or one of our outlaw games with friends would probably be the only exception. I want them to have a good first experience in a controlled environment.

But not going to lie I have been collecting OG gear for the boys when they are ready for it.

For now I picked up 8 Jelly blasters and the entire family has been having a blast with them. Even the grandparents are getting in on it. Easter we had a killer battle with em.

[Chuck E Ducky]

They are cheap as dirt to shoot. Charge last a long time 20,000 shots is like $7 take 2 Hr to hydrate the ammo. They shoot far hurt just enough to know your hit leave no marks they are bio degradable so no mess. Safety glasses is all you need. You can lower the velocity to 75fps if you want but my 3 year old plays at full velocity. They shoot full auto or semi. They rock!

[Cdn_Cuda]

Going to have to look into these jell blaster. My kids would love these! How long do they take to biodegrade?

[maggot]

Thanks for the idea! Looking into them now.

[grendal50]

My kids are using Spyders/Clones with Freak barrels. Probably could get something lighter, but Spyders are cheap and simple, and I can teach them to maintain them themselves.

[NONOBLITUS]

Memornix , oh he’s a stockclass player for the most part.

[Memornix]

Always good to have new blood using the old ways.

[Chuck E Ducky]

Kids a baller to…

[zenmic]

I thought that the minimum age for .50 and .68 paintball was 12 years old as a general rule. Is that not the case anymore? Have insurance companies relaxed their requirements?

[Chuck E Ducky]

Depends on the insurance company my local spot is 9 for regular paintball. It’s not like they are checking ID tho.

[Cyberpyr8]

Well they should be checking ID's mister! J/k. I have seen fields let 6 year old's on to play 50 cal but I think that's too young. Not for the hits but for the masks. Smaller kids want to take their masks off CONSTANTLY. I think 8 is about the minimum you want to do for any paintball. Younger than that play gellyball or nerf. I've reffed enough parties to know the younger they are the more likely they are to rip their masks off mid game.

[Chuck E Ducky]

If they can take a shot and can follow directions I say let them ball. Honestly I see more 20 something city kids having a hard time with simple directions then young kids playing with there dads.

[Meleager7]

If its an option near you, .50 cal goes highly recommended. .50 cal can sting in the right spot, but you won't get those potential "never play again" big, bleeding welts that can happen in .68

With a paintball that hurts less, you can alter protective gear accordingly as well.

That said, if you can reduce some sting , to zero sting instead, all the better, and the younger players in our family will play .50 cal with baseball caps worn backwards, long sleeve shirts, chest protectors, and youth gardening gloves.