[GuyGrim]

I am watching a lot of paintball tournaments and I keep seeing / hearing about minor and major penalties. However, I cannot tell is what and what is not a penalty.

I am hoping you folks can explain this to me.

[NJC]

a major penalty is signaled by a red flag, and the offender is sent to the penalty box for 2 minutes and will serve the 2 minutes of the penalty no matter what
a minor penalty is signaled by a yellow flag, and the offender is sent to the penalty box for 1 minute and the penalty will come off if the team loses the point
minors are normally 1 for 1's and majors are either 1 for 1's or 2 for 1's. if bad enough a 3 for 1playing on- continuing to play with an obvious hit. this normally constitutes a major. wiping a hit is a major/gross penalty. playing on normally constitutes a 1 for 1 or if the offending player eliminates another player a 2 for 1. wiping will most likely be a 2 or 3 for 1.
talking after hit normally constitutes a yellow flag and a 1 for 1.