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Darn-U-Kids

Should I let my kids play airsoft?

If one of your kids comes to you and says “Hey, Dad/Mom can you buy me an airsoft gun? Can I play airsoft?” The typical response is two-fold. You think “What the heck is airsoft?” and your hear the word GUN and think “Uh oh!”

What most parents new to the sport don’t realize is that there are a couple of distinct questions buried in there. I’ll pull out what you really need to consider when your kid(s) ask questions about getting involved in airsoft.

1. Is your child somewhat responsible?

Airsoft guns are a great way to break kids into learning about gun safety and teaching them how to responsibly handle firearms. If you plan on teaching your kids to handle firearms at some point in their life, airsoft is a good first choice. Although airsoft weapons are completely non-lethal they are not completely safe either. The fact that they look and feel like their real counterparts can give you or a qualified safety instructor a chance to go through a realistic gun safety course without worrying that your kid might actually shoot something they aren’t supposed to. If the answer to the question above is a big NO, then pass on the airsoft gun and get them a Nerf gun. Again, even though they are non-lethal airsoft BBs pack enough punch that an irresponsible kid can hurt a) themselves b)siblings c)neighborhood animals and d) cause minor property damage (broken dishes, dinged siding, etc).

2. Would you buy your child a BB gun?

If you consider the range of guns for kids, in my mind just short of buying an ACTUAL real gun, the next step down is a BB or pellet gun. A lot of us had BB guns growing up and it was considered perfectly normal for a 10 year old to go tromping through the woods with his trusty red rider at his side.  If your in that camp, then you have probably already considered the question of “when” not if you would buy that BB gun for your kids.  So if you would buy your child a BB gun, then rest assured that airsoft is a safe choice. Airsoft guns are arguably much safer than traditional BB guns, and certainly safer than pellet guns. Airsoft BBs are plastic and lighter than traditional metal BBs which means they are less likely to break skin or pierce other sturdy objects. Airsoft guns also have the benefit that their BB velocities are not adjustable, unlike BB guns where adding a few extra pumps can turn a bouncing BB into a piercing BB. The only other significant factor over BB guns is that airsoft guns (with very few exceptions) are designed to look like their real counterparts with an added orange blaze tip for “toy” designation. If the answer to the BB gun question is yes, you’re probably fine buying airsoft, unless the realism bother you, in which case the answer is obviously no.

Which of these looks more dangerous?

3. Is there somewhere close your child can shoot an airsoft gun safely?

We go over this in the safety section, but parents may not realize that shooting airsoft guns in public, even though they are technically toys, is a BIG NO NO. You should NEVER let your child pick up his airsoft gun and head out without knowing exactly where they will be shooting. If they end up shooting in the streets or public parks, expect to get a call from the police…hopefully one that has you coming down to come pick up your child and not one to come identify a body. Cops will challenge you child if they brandish airsoft guns in public, no matter how old they are, expect this to end badly.

If you live out in the country or you have a big fenced back yard, airsoft offers a great hobby for young kids to hone their early marksmanship skills. Collect some soda cans and draw up some cardboard targets and make a homemade range for them. PLEASE warn your neighbors first if your going to have shooting in your yard, there are too many nervous Nellies out there. You do NOT want the police showing up at your house on a “weapons” call. If they can’t shoot it when they get it don’t bother buying one.

4. Can they go to competitive airsoft events?

For parents who don’t know, competitive airsoft is where large groups of airsofters get together split into teams and run Mililtary or Tactical team simulations. They load up their airsoft guns, put on goggles or facemasks and shoot at each other…and yes, it hurts. The answer to the above question is almost always based on age and maturity. There are some events specifically designed for kids, where older players can teach them to work as a squad and basic military unit tactics. These events are pretty rare but well worth it if you can get your kid to these events.

For non-kid specific events, if your child is under 13 or acts like they’re under 13, the answer as a parent to these events should be a strong NO. The standard airsoft match is 20-40 (or more) adult men and women running around with fully automatic airsoft weapons that are usually tuned up to cause maximum havoc. The games are fast, intense, physically demanding, stressful, and often painful. And there’s no crying…no crying in airsoft! If your child can’t run a hundred yards through brush get shot in the face and walk back that same hundred yards with their gun over their head without crying…then competitive airsoft is not for them. Add to that the fact that many adult players will not ease up just because your precious snowflake is on the field. Many players get extremely aggressive and kids don’t generally handle people yelling and cursing at them very well…and that’s just the players on the SAME team. OpFor players are MUCH worse.

As a parent you should also know that competitive airsoft is addictively fun, incredibly expensive and will eat up most if not all of your kid’s weekends during the non-frozen parts of the year. Matches often require long drive times, run all day and sometimes all weekend, and will expose them to alot of “guy” talk…I would definitely say no to multi-day matches to anyone under 18 and especially to teenage girls.

In Conclusion…

If you want your kids to get to know and handle guns properly and safely with an aim to introducing them real steel firearms later in life, then airsoft is a great choice. If you don’t plan on taking their education any further, stick with Nerf guns. As for competitive airsoft, just say NO until your kids are old enough to buy their own BBs and guns, drive themselves to events, and old enough to take a teaspoon of physical and mental stress without breakdowns. As a parting note for parents, I can’t stress the two basic rules for ALL airsofters enough…ALWAYS wear your eye protection…NEVER shoot airsoft weapons in public.

See you on the battlefield…

Mission Length: 90min (substantial setup is required)

Field Type: Any

Requirements: CDs/DVDs, duct tape, full face mask, helmet and gloves for each “cyborg”

Concept: Cyborgs have been sent to wipe out humanity and must be stopped at all costs.

Teams: Players are split into humans and cyborgs with a 5:1 or higher ratio

Objective: This is a highly modified variant of team deathmatch. Cyborgs vs. Humans. Play is simple, eliminate the opposing team.

Rules: This game type takes a little bit of setup but is worth it. Event refs will need to take volunteers for the cyborg team, keep at least 5:1 or higher humans to cyborgs as cyborgs will have a substantial tactical advantage. Cyborgs (for safety sake) MUST have full face mask, helmet with ear protection and gloves at minimum. I would recommend two layered field jackets and a vest as well as knee and elbow pads too. This game type will deal out tons of punishment to the cyborgs so be prepared. Cyborgs are taken aside after armoring up and a CD (or DVD, doesn’t matter) is taped in the center of their back silver side up. Use a simple loop of duct tape to adhere the disc firmly to the cyborg. These discs are the “cpu” of the cyborg and can be shattered by airsoft BBs at 50-100 feet normally. MED rules are still in force.

Humans are allowed to take the field first and given 5 minutes to position themselves. Cyborgs take the field when the match starts and proceed to hunt down the humans. Rule #1: Cyborgs can ONLY be eliminated by shattering the cpu on their back (you can hear and see it shatter so there should be no question). Rule #2: Cyborgs can NOT stop to take up defensive positions they must continue moving forward on the battlefield as long as humans are still in play. They can sweep side to side or back to front on the field but they cannot hunker down and hide. If you play as a cyborg expect to get hit hundreds of times and keep moving. The only advantage to playing as a human here is that you get to light up the cyborgs with impunity, and that since they can’t stop you should be able to bait them and surround them. Also there is a good chance that over-enthusiastic cyborgs with run out of ammo at some point and be helpless. The match is over when time has elapsed or all of one team has been eliminated.

Respawn Rules: For best results there should be no respawns on either side, once your hit your out.

Scoring: Win/Lose, the team that eliminates all their opponents wins. Scoring, Cyborgs score 50 points for each cyborg alive at end of match, humans score 10 points for each human alive at end of match.

-1 Difficulty: Cyborg cpu is placed in the center of the chest and not back, providing a much easier target.

Mission Length: 90min

Field Type: Woodlands/Any

Requirements: None, but works best on a large field

Concept: Which squad kicks the most ass

Teams: Players are broken out into 3 man, 4 man, or 5 man squads depending on your preference. Each squad is on its own in battle.  For extremely large matches, this can be setup tournament style with brackets for squads.

Objective: Teamwork is critical in this game. You stick with your squad and you win, fail to work together and you get dead. The objective is to eliminate all the other squads and maintain yours, the last squad on the field is the winner.

Rules: This is a variation on last man standing but with squads to force some teamwork on players. Players squad up in even groups, event coordinators be careful on your counts, every squad HAS to be the same number or the game becomes unfair. Squads draw straws and take the field in 5 min increments, longest straw to shortest straw. Shortest straw squad should remain in safe area until the match starts. Squads should not be closer that 50yds to each other at the start, but the field size may make you may have to fudge this a bit.  There are 2 critical rules in this game:  One, the players in each squad must maintain visual contact with each other at all times.  Two, a squad must have half its players alive to remain on the field.  What does this mean?  In a 4 man squad, when 2 players are killed the squad is still valid and alive, once the 3rd player is hit the squad it out…no matter how good the last player is no single player is a squad themselves.  In a 3 man squad, the squad can take 1 casualty, in a 4 man squad, the squad can take 2 casualties, in a 5 man squad, the squad can take 3 casualties before being called out.  The killed players in the squad DO NOT RESPAWN, only the squad as a unit can respawn.  This is why you have to maintain visual contact with all squad members, if you’re battling it out and your 3rd teammate goes down, even if there 50ft away in a bush…you are out.  If squads lose visual contact of each other during the match they are out, refs should call them on it and force them to ID their members.  If a player is wandering alone he can be tapped out by any nearby squad.  You must move as a pack, there are no lone wolfs in this game type.  When time is up or the last respawn is used and the last squad is on the field the game is over.  Important note: If one of your squad gives up or runs out of ammo or has a gun jam…tough shit.  You either go back to safe area and use up a spawn or you fight it out and protect the dead weight in your squad.  You fight as a team, you fail as a team.

Respawn Rules: Each squad gets 2(TWO) respawns at 5 minutes long each, 3rd time on the field is your last.

Scoring: Win/Lose, the last squad on the field wins.  Points, each respawn ticket is worth 50pts, a squad that uses no respawns scores 150pts, 1 respawn 100pts, 2 respawns 50pts.

-1 Difficulty: Each squad has a medic who can revive squad members from non-lethal shots (arms, legs, etc)

Mission Type: Minor

Mission Length: 45min

Field Type: Any (Same size as football field with marked endzones)

Requirements: Rucksack for a football, marked endzones

Concept: Football with guns

Teams: ~20 players total, divided into 2 teams

Objective: Score the most touchdowns

Rules:

Set up a football shaped and sized, or smaller field with end zones at each end.

Place a flag on top of a heavy rucksack at mid field. Each team will start at their 30yd line and race to the flag. The first to the flag grabs it and the rucksack and run it to the end zone, not back the way they came but through the other team’s line. Once the flag carrier is hit he drops, goes to the sideline and respawns when allowed (must wait for 2-3 more). the flag is then once again fair game for the other team to take and run with.

The team with the most touchdowns at the end of time wins.

Respawn Rules: Respawn points are all along the sidelines. Depending on the number of players to may be best to wait for 3-4 minutes or so players to be out before respawning.

Scoring: Win/Lose, the team with the most touchdowns wins, Scoring, same as football

-1 Difficulty: Pistols only is probably safest for this game type