One-for-One Penalty
Overview
A one-for-one penalty is a rules enforcement action where a referee removes one additional live player from the offending team for every player found committing an infraction such as cheating, playing on, or wiping.
Key Points
- Triggered by major infractions like wiping, playing on, or physical interference.
- Referees pull one additional live player for each offending player.
- Used to restore fairness when cheating creates competitive advantage.
- Harsh enough to deter intentional rule violations.
- Applied immediately and without warning during live points.
- Can drastically change point outcomes and match momentum.
Details
A one-for-one penalty is one of the most severe and influential penalties in tournament paintball. When a referee determines that a player committed a major infraction such as wiping paint, deliberately playing on after being hit, interfering physically, or falsely calling hits on opponents they eliminate that player and one additional live teammate.
This type of penalty exists because cheating can directly alter game flow, eliminations, and map control. Removing an additional body compensates for the unfair advantage gained and discourages intentional violations.
The penalty is applied instantly. Referees usually signal the infraction by pulling an armband, shouting the call, and removing the nearest live player. If only one player remains, the point may be awarded automatically.
One-for-one penalties are rare at high levels because teams emphasize clean play and risk management. However, they remain an essential tool for maintaining fairness, integrity, and safety across competitive formats.
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