Airsoft is a tactical sport where you aim to eliminate your opponents by hitting them with non-metallic or plastic BBs. It can be played both indoors and outdoors and the rules of the game are very similar to that of paintball. The primary difference between the two sports is that the guns used in airsoft are mimic actual firearms in their look and appearance and they shoot out plastic BBs rather than paintballs.
Airsoft rules can vary widely, depending on the league you are in or the group that you are playing with, but there are few common themes at just about every league or club where you find yourself. Whenever playing airsoft with your friends be sure that you know exactly what the agreed upon rules are. This makes the game safer for everyone.
Basic Rules of Airsoft
Gun Specific Guidelines
One of the first and most obvious rules of airsoft play is that only airsoft guns are allowed. This means that paintball guns are out of the question.
The next set of rules that groups usually set is a “feet per second” (FPS) rule. Some airsoft guns can shoot up to 1,000 FPS and allowing these type of guns into a group where no one has guns shooting faster that 450 FPS is unfair. Some standard FPS rules are 300-350 FPS for indoor courses and 350-450 FPS for an outdoor one.
Sometimes groups will put gun specific rules on their game play or limit the use of certain guns. For example, it is common to limit rifle usage for shots over 50 feet and only shotguns or pistols are allowed for close combat. This is because rifles have a much higher FPS speed than pistols and shotguns. Groups might also limit the use of automatic or gas powered airsoft guns too.
Safety
All airsoft players must wear eye protection at all times. Eye protection is an absolute must while playing airsoft because BBs are being shot at hundreds of feet per second and can easily damage someone’s eyes and cause them to lose their vision.
Eye protection comes in all different shapes and sizes, but we advise wearing a full-face mask. This offers the most protection and actually looks pretty cool. A close second for eye protection would be goggles that fit tightly around your eyes. The main thing you want to avoid are loose fitting glasses that a BB could find its way around or that could fall off in combat.
While there usually are no other specific clothing rules for airsoft, you might want to wear a long sleeve shirt and pants, especially if you are playing outside. This can shield you from getting cuts and bruises on the terrain of the course.
Rules for Hits
If you are struck with a BB, for the sake of the game, you are considered to be “killed.” This means that you are no longer able to participate until a new game starts, unless you are playing a game where there are medics.
At most leagues, once a player has been hit, he or she will shout out “HIT,” stand up and walk to the safe zone. When walking to the safe zone, you will want to put your gun over your head so that everyone knows you are officially “out of the game.” Some groups have red flags that players will raise in the air once they’re hit.
What constitutes a “hit” varies among groups, so you will want to be sure on exactly what your group classifies a hit. Sometimes a group will not count hits to backpacks, guns, or other gear a hit. Some only consider a hit to a player’s body a hit. Make sure to know all of these rules before you start game play so no one accuses you or your team of cheating.
These are the basic rules of airsoft game play. They’re no necessarily the rules for any specific games like Capture the Flag or Assassins, but as we said above, you always want to be sure you are crystal clear on the rules your group is using before you start playing. Knowing the rules makes you more competitive and also makes you safer while playing.
