Malta Paintball

Malta Paintball is a Maltese voluntary sporting organisation dedicated to the development and promotion of competitive paintball in Malta. Registered under voluntary organisation number VO/2678, it supports organised participation, player development, international competition and national paintball representation. [1][2]

The organisation is listed among Malta's registered sporting organisations by the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport (AIMS) and states that it has been affiliated with the European Paintball Federation since 2025. [1][3]

Malta Paintball has participated in the Central Premier Paintball Series (CPPS) in the United Kingdom and organised Malta's first appearance at the United Paintball Federation (UPBF) World Championship in September 2026. [4][5]

History

Establishment

Malta Paintball developed from the Maltese competitive paintball community, whose players and clubs had previously participated in recreational and organised competition both locally and overseas.

The organisation was established to provide a dedicated structure for developing competitive paintball, supporting international participation and increasing opportunities for Maltese athletes.

Its official website identifies it as a registered voluntary organisation, VO/2678, and states that it became a member of the European Paintball Federation in 2025. [1]

Malta Paintball also appears on the list of sporting organisations registered with the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport as of 24 September 2026. [3]

The organisation's exact date of legal establishment has not been established from the publicly inspected registration documents.

Earlier Maltese paintball organisations

Organised paintball in Malta predates the establishment of Malta Paintball.

Earlier clubs and associations included the paintball section of the Malta Allied Airgunners Club, which documented activities in 2010 and the Malta Official Paintball League in 2011.

During the 2010s and early 2020s, Maltese players also organised themselves through teams including Southclan Malta, KAO$ and HBI Malta.

The Valletta Paintball Club name was adopted by an AMACS-affiliated organisation following the 2024 amalgamation of Malta Tactical Airsoft Club and HBI Extreme Sports Club. [6]

These earlier organisations form part of the broader history of Maltese paintball but should not be treated as having the same legal identity as Malta Paintball.

International competition

Central Premier Paintball Series

Malta Paintball has participated in the Central Premier Paintball Series (CPPS), a tournament paintball league held in the United Kingdom.

According to the organisation's published competition history, Maltese teams competed in Division 4 during the 2025 season and Division 5 during 2026. [7]

The CPPS official 2026 registration list independently identifies Malta Paintball among the teams entered in Division 5. [8]

At the fourth round of the 2026 season, held on 15 and 16 August at Penkridge in Staffordshire, Malta Paintball finished eighth among 23 teams.

Contemporary reporting stated that the result placed Malta eighth in the division's overall standings at that stage of the season. [9]

The organisation's participation in the British league provided opportunities for players to gain experience against established international opposition.

2026 UPBF World Championship

On 2 and 3 September 2026, Malta made its first appearance at the UPBF Paintball World Championship, held at Ace Paintball in Dreux, France. [5]

Malta was one of four nations making their World Championship debut in 2026, alongside Colombia, Denmark and Kuwait.

The tournament involved 25 countries across five competitive categories: Men, Women, Veterans, Under 19 and Under 16. [5]

Malta entered the Men's competition, with a national squad including players based in Malta and the United Kingdom.

The team's participation was organised by Malta Paintball, with Chris Cioffi serving as president of the organisation. [10]

The Maltese national team competed against Great Britain, Belgium, South Africa and Switzerland.

Although Malta did not win a match, it scored points against South Africa and Switzerland, including winning the opening point against Switzerland. [11]

The appearance was significant as Malta's first entry into a UPBF World Championship, establishing the country as a participant in international national-team paintball competition.

National team eligibility

The organisation's national-team programme follows the eligibility requirements of the United Paintball Federation.

Malta Paintball states that players representing the country at the Nations Cup must be Maltese citizens or residents and provide the identification required by the competition rules. [7]

The eligibility system also allows Maltese citizens living overseas to seek selection, creating opportunities for members of the Maltese diaspora to participate in the national programme.

Development programmes

Player development and participation

Malta Paintball operates a player development programme intended to increase regular participation in competitive paintball.

Its activities include introductory sessions, equipment familiarisation, coaching and training for both recreational and tournament-oriented players.

The organisation has obtained a Sup'Air inflatable-bunker field and is working towards establishing facilities suitable for regular local training and organised competition. [12]

Its development plans include training on internationally recognised tournament layouts and arranging coaching clinics involving experienced overseas players.

Women's paintball development

Malta Paintball maintains a programme intended to increase women's participation in paintball.

The initiative seeks to provide opportunities for women as players, referees, officials, photographers, pit crew members and sporting administrators.

The organisation has made a limited amount of loan equipment available and is seeking additional funding to expand access to the sport. [13]

One of its stated objectives is to develop a women's national team capable of entering a future UPBF Nations Cup.

As of October 2026, the organisation was recruiting participants and had not yet assembled a complete women's national team.

Referees and officials

Malta Paintball is developing a programme to train referees and tournament officials.

The proposed programme includes classroom instruction, practical officiating experience, competition rules, player safety, marker chronographing and tournament administration.

The organisation has identified 2027 as the intended start of structured referee training, subject to funding and the availability of suitable trainers. [14]

It also intends to obtain equipment including chronographs, referee uniforms, scoreboards, timers, scoring buzzers and other competition infrastructure.

Facilities and training

A major objective of Malta Paintball is to establish permanent access to suitable competition-level training facilities in Malta.

Historically, Maltese competitive players have travelled overseas to practise tournament paintball, particularly at facilities in Sicily.

Malta Paintball's official development programme identifies regular local practice and access to tournament-standard layouts as priorities. [12]

The organisation's facility plans are intended to support player development, local competitions, referee training and future international preparation.

These initiatives should be distinguished from existing recreational paintball businesses and from earlier team training grounds, such as Epic Fields Paintball in Burmarrad.

Organisation and governance

Malta Paintball operates as a registered voluntary sporting organisation.

Its governance structure includes an executive committee responsible for the administration and development of the organisation.

Chris Cioffi is publicly identified as president in contemporary reporting concerning the 2026 Nations Cup campaign. [9][10]

The organisation also maintains programmes relating to player participation, women's development, referees and national-team representation.

Malta Paintball is registered with the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport, which administers registration and regulatory requirements for sporting organisations in Malta. [3]

Funding and support

Malta Paintball combines voluntary contributions, sponsorship and fundraising to support sporting development.

The organisation's 2026 national-team campaign received support from VisitMalta. The sponsorship supported the team's participation and the introduction of national uniforms incorporating Malta's red and white colours and the Maltese cross. [9][15]

The organisation also maintains a fundraising campaign through SimplyGiving, supporting equipment purchases, safety infrastructure, referee training and the establishment of local competitive opportunities. [2]

Its published fundraising priorities include tournament bunkers, chronographs, secure storage, portable infrastructure and equipment for introductory sessions and competitions.

Historical significance

Malta Paintball represents a new stage in the institutional development of competitive paintball in Malta.

Earlier Maltese paintball organisations had organised recreational events, domestic competition and participation in overseas club tournaments.

The 2026 UPBF World Championship marked a different milestone, with Malta represented by a national team in an international championship contested between countries.

The organisation's activities also demonstrate an effort to develop a broader sporting structure encompassing player development, national representation, refereeing, women's participation and domestic competition infrastructure.

Its longer-term goals include expanding the number of active players, increasing opportunities for regular competition and establishing sustainable local training facilities.

References

Malta Paintball, official website. Organisation information, registration number VO/2678 and federation membership.
Malta Paintball, Grow Paintball in Malta: More Players, More Opportunities. SimplyGiving.
Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport, Regulatory & Legal Affairs. Registered sporting organisations as of 24 September 2026.
Central Premier Paintball Series, official website. Competition information and historical results.
United Paintball Federation, World Championship 2026: The Story of Dreux. 11 September 2026.
AMACS, Valletta Paintball Club. Historical organisational development and amalgamation.
Malta Paintball, National Team & Nations Cup. Official programme and competition history.
Central Premier Paintball Series, 2026 Team Registration. Lists Malta Paintball in Division 5.
MaltaSport, Malta Paintball prepares for historic Nations Cup debut. 17 August 2026.
Rowen Camilleri, Malta to make historic debut at Paintball Nations Cup in France. MaltaSport, 13 August 2026.
MaltaSport, Malta Paintball makes historic World Championship debut. 9 September 2026.
Malta Paintball, Player Development & Participation. Official development programme.
Malta Paintball, Women's Paintball Development. Official programme.
Malta Paintball, Referees & Officials Development. Official programme.
Malta Daily, Malta Set for Historic Debut at Paintball World Championship. 11 August 2026.

External links