Anything boys can do, girls can do better. Including paintball.

Just ask Kim,14, and her friends Erica, 16, Melissa, 15, and Brittany, 14. Kim held her 14th birthday party at Rush Paintball in Jupiter on May 24. It was the first time any of the girls had played and asked if they would do it again, it was a resounding, "Yeah!"

Also on May 24, was Ron's birthday party. His sister Morgan, 15, and her friend Samantha, 16 came along to play paintball. Both girls have played paintball before, and would love to play every weekend. "Paintball is fun and anyone can play," said Morgan and when asked if she thought paintball was violent, she replied, "No, not at all."

A paintball game is similar to hide and seek, tag and chess. Players are eliminated when they are tagged with a paintball, which is a gelatin skinned bath bead filled with non-toxic, food grade water-based "paint." Getting hit with a paintball is a little startling the first time and stings for a few seconds. Women are supplied with complementary chest guards for additional protection. Sometimes the paintball impacts leave small welts and occasionally bruise.

On Sunday, May 25, Stacey, 17 and her sister Natalie, 19, came out to give paintball a try. Natalie was a little afraid in the beginning, but Stacey said it got better as they went along. "I liked to watch the teams practice and I like the adrenaline pumping rush," said Natalie, after watching a couple of teams run a scrimmage, "I think it would be cool to be on a team."

Girls have broken the gender barrier and are playing paintball more than ever before. As beginning players, girls are much more methodical when playing and usually play better than boys. "It's great to see so many girls out here playing," said Don Guest, owner of Rush Paintball, "They are usually a little nervous at first-- much more than boys--but once they get hit with a paintball and realize it really isn't that bad, they have a great time."

"It only stings for a couple of seconds," said Monica, 16, who was here for her brother's birthday party on May 25. "This is so amazing. I never new it was so much fun. I just came out to humor my brother and now I want to have my birthday party here."

Shakira held her nephew's birthday party at Rush Paintball on May 25. She had never played paintball before. After the party was over she realized, "It's not just for boys. Everybody should try it. And it's good for all ages."

Just ask Loraine, mother and grandmother. She came to play at a family gathering on May 25. She was sharing a bunker with her granddaughter, Tiffany. They were shooting paintballs across the field at other family members and paintball were whizzing by their heads, when Tiffany exclaimed, "Grandma, don't leave me."

Yeah, paintball isn't just for boys.

For more information, contact Don Guest at Rush Paintball 561-596-8171 or visit the website at www.rushpaintball.net.