Paintball equipment is central to the sport of paintball, given its equipment-intensive nature. Although goo equipment by no means guarantees a good player, a good player's ability can be seriously hampered by poor-quality equipment. In order to safely conduct a game of paintball, every player requires, at a minimum, a marker with propellant to fire the paint, a mask to protect the eyes and face, paintballs, and a loader to hold them. To ensure safety off the playing field, a barrel sock or plug is also considered compulsory.