A Christmas present Junior McCoy received 13 years ago changed his life. The Princeton father says a paintball marker, or gun, gave him a business idea and improved his relationship with his then-teenage son, Brandon.

McCoy's wife bought her husband and son paintball markers after seeing paintball equipment advertised on TV. At the time, the sport was gaining popularity, but McCoy had never tried it. After the first game, he was hooked.

"I just fell in love with it," says the eastern Kentucky native. "I immediately wanted to play more."

McCoy, who now owns Real McCoy Paintball in Princeton, embraced the sport in part because it brought him and his son closer. "Brandon was 13 years old, and we had nothing in common," the father says. "But playing the game was something we were able to do together. Later my wife started playing, too."

In a game of paintball, players eliminate opponents by hitting them with paintballs -- gelatin capsules filled primarily with polyethylene glycol and dye and fired from a compressed-gas-powered marker. A game usually involves two teams seeking to eliminate all of the other team's players. Players can also try to complete an objective, such as retrieving a flag.

An average, nonprofessional game usually lasts from five minutes to half an hour and can be played on a field made to resemble a jungle, a city or woods.

Most of McCoy's customers play on weekends. They show up alone or with a friend, sign in and pay a fee. For $25, a player can rent the needed equipment and play all day. Referees run the field and tell players when and where to play. Part of the referee's job is to instruct players in proper play so everyone's safety is guaranteed.

The Sporting Goods Manufacturer's Association estimates that more than 10 million people play paintball annually in the United States.

While paintball has a reputation as a safe sport, veteran players still stress the importance of appropriate equipment. Players should always wear goggles and have a barrel cover to prevent the marker from going off accidentally.

In paintball, teamwork is usually more important than equipment or the skill level of individual players. A well-organized team that works together can win over a team whose players are not cooperating as well.

That is appealing to George King, a player who takes part in tournaments across the country. The 37-year-old Raleigh resident, who trains at McCoy's fields, said good communication between team members is crucial to a successful game. That is also one of the reasons why many work, church and civic groups use the game for team building.

King, whose 10-member Hail Storm team won most of the events in the now-defunct EXP Series last year, also loves the way playing makes him feel. "It's fast, and the adrenalin rush makes it addictive," he says.

"I want to experience that feeling again and again."

Patrick Noelke and Chance Martin of Pine Hurst agree. The friends, who played at McCoy's fields on a recent Saturday, say speed and intensity make the game interesting every time.

"Normally you are wiped out after playing, but it's a great feeling," Noelke says.

King, who has been playing for about six years, also thinks almost anyone can play. "You don't have to be an athlete, and it doesn't matter if you are 15 or 65 years old or weigh 300 pounds or 100 pounds," he says.

A few years ago, a woman in her 70s brought her grandchildren to play at McCoy's fields. "She ended up playing more than the kids," McCoy says..

Gail Upchurch, who ran paintball fields west of Knightdale for five years, says most people who try the sport love it. "One reason for that is being able to get your frustrations out," says the owner of AIM Straight Paintball. "And it's a lot of fun."

McCoy, who also sells and rents paintball equipment, agrees. "So far I haven't met a person who didn't like it," he says. "I'd estimate 98 percent of people who try it come back."

The game can also be good for a marriage, Teresa McCoy says. "You can get out there and do something fun together, and if you are playing against your spouse, you can even shoot at him," she says, laughing.