Safe Airsoft Games

I get asked many questions on the Airsoft Battle Zone Forums about "Safe Airsoft Games" and how to play and run them. I typically will answer by saying with safety educated players the safe airsoft games just happen. Our Wisconsin airsoft game field has many rules and regulations in place to help keep everyone on the field as safety minded as possible. Airsoft safety netting (as seen in photo) needs to be in place in "Safe Zones" and players must be aware of the rules associated with these areas.

Players on the ABZ field are required to take the magazines out of their airsoft gun and place a barrel condom or barrel blocking device over the airsoft gun muzzle when entering. This coupled with a keep your finger off the trigger rule keeps everyone in the safe zone, SAFE. Inside of these safe zones is the only place you are allowed to remove your goggles during an airsoft game in play.

This concept only works if everyone is aware of the field rules and follows them. Our job as airsoft field owners and event organizers is to communicate to players what we demand of each of them for the safety of all people participating in the game. Making sure all players hear the game briefing, and announcing special scenario game rules that might be in place for the day is top priority...How can new players be expected to follow the rules if we or you do not tell them. Make sure all players are fully aware of field property boundaries, indoor airsoft CQB-CQC rules, eye protection rules and guidelines plus any other special rules that may be enforced for the particular game you are attending.

We use running vehicles in many of our airsoft games and extra attention to detail must be used to prevent accidents or injuries from a fully armed jeep, or our new Bobcat based airsoft tank rolling across the field with 30 to 50 players running around. Only designated drivers and gunners are allowed closer than 10 feet while the vehicles are moving. Referees are on the field during games for all players safety, listen to what they are telling you their word rules! If you do not listen or follow the rules they will eject you from the game and perhaps from the field itself if you continuously violate the rules.

Most airsoft game fields will have protective clothing and eye wear rules as well that must be adhered to. Some fields only allow full sealed face protection while others will allow just safety glasses. At our ABZ field players 18 and over can wear full seal goggles or mesh type goggles that are safety rated or field approved, but under 18 must wear full face protection. This picture of "snake" shows a player safely dressed for an airsoft game. He is wearing a full face mask with eye protection and also has full skin coverage which allows him to enter and play in buildings on the field. We also require the red rag he is carrying which is a signal he has been hit. Displaying the kill rag and yelling "hit", when you have been shot, helps signal other players to stop shooting at you. The helmet is not required, but is nice to stop bb's from bouncing off your melon...which is not dangerous, but does hurt.

Players over the age of 18 are not required to wear the full face protection, but must have ANSI rated, full seal safety goggles. Below B-rik of the Minnesota Airsoft Association, sports some fine safety goggles along with his "Gucci" style kill rag. The gloves are not required but can stop those painful finger shots from hurting so much. The rest of his gear is completely optional and might change from game to game. Other safety tools like a compass or signal whistle, you might consider carrrying on your loadout as well...Just in case you get lost or sprain an ankle in the woods and need them. Water to most people is not considered a safety tool, but at airsoft games it is very important. Most players have a canteen, or bladder bag style backpack so they have water with them at all times. Playing airsoft on a hot July day and running up and down hills and through the woods can dehydrate a player in full load out gear in a hurry. If you are deep in the woods the dehydration can make you become disorientated in a hurry and suddenly you have a serious situation on your hands. I have seen players become dehydrated just as fast during winter games as well, so be sure and drink plenty of water during airsoft games. Some scenario events can run 1 or even 2 full days so snacks like energy bars or granola can be a good thing as well. Most airsoft players are self proclaimed adrenaline junkies and love the heart pounding intense feeling a full assault on an enemy base can create. 30 players in full load out gear charging down a hill with airsoft guns blazing and team commanders yelling orders and assaulting your teams base or position while you try and hold them off is an exciting time for all. Holding them off and pushing them back up the hill with massive airsoft firepower and watching them retreat back into the woods is more fun than any video game I have ever played, and can be completely safe and harmless fun if you just follow the airsoft safety rules.

One last thing I would like to mention is "where you play your airsoft games" this can be a huge safety factor. Secluded private areas are important so you do not have issues with neighbors or hikers. Our Wisconsin airsoft game field is set deep in the woods of Eau Claire County, on private land. Imagine looking out your window one day and on a tree line across the street from your house you see people dressed like the guys in the pictures shown here and sporting very real looking assault rifles and pistols. Your first reaction would probably have you calling 911 in a hurry. If the police are called to an airsoft game, it means they are responding to a call about people with guns and will react accordingly. They do not know they are airsoft guns until they touch them. This is a very dangerous situation and one you must avoid. Only play airsoft games on airsoft fields or private secluded land that is out of site of the general public, To do otherwise could cost you your life, for real! Airsoft is a fun, social and healthy game sport and will continue to grow in popularity if we all do our best to promote Safe Airsoft Games.

Airsoft CQB Games... Indoor Games

Airsoft close quarters battles or CQB games are held mostly indoors although I have played many cqb outside games as well. I am going to talk mainly about the safety precautions that must be taken to provide a safe indoor, airsoft gaming environment. First you need to be aware that airsoft bb's will damage most interior wall coverings like drywall and paneling. Airsoft bb's will also damage wood, break windows, light fixtures, light bulbs and other indoor home decorations. With that in mind one of the simplest DIY setups for cqb is in Altoona,Wisconsin and we like to call it becks basement of d00m. This area is setup with a grid work of plastic tarps strung on cables to create interchangeable pathways and cubicles that can be changed by simply sliding the tarps along the cables to make new pathways and dead ends. The lights have all been covered with steel 1/8 inch hardware cloth to prevent the fixtures from taking bb hits. We just played a game there last week as recent Midwest snowstorms have kept us inside. We follow the same cqb rules and guidelines for these smaller games as we would for a large scenario game at our air soft outdoor field. One rule that is mandatory for airsoft close quarters battles is full face mask and full skin coverage. In a cqb game the whole idea is to be stealthy and sneak up on your opponent to get the "jump on them". Please keep in mind that as the name implies "close quarters" is just that, proper air soft safety precautions must be taken to assure a safe and fun game for everyone as many BB hits will be from 5 feet or less. Feel free to look over and use any safety tips and suggestions from our wisconsin airsoft games page. The rules that have been established for our outdoor airsoft game field are proven to promote safe and injury free games. Typically the attack and defend type scenarios work best inside but the story line possibilities are endless. I am a big fan of using my GBB pistol inside, but many of the players choose to use AEG's. Regardless of which airsoft model you wield during the game, well thought out safety precautions will assure you its as fun as it sounds for all players.

Indoor CQB Another One Bites The Sawdust Game Rules

Ok, here we go again with another great airsoft scenario game behind us and frost bit fingers and toes we are now moving indoors. Come join the fun with us on January 14th,2007 for Operation "Another One Bites the Sawdust" You can get all the hottest information about this airsofting event on line at airsoftbattlezone.com
Because we want every one to have a safe and fun airsoft event please find the indoor cqb game rules as follows:

1. GOGGLES AND FULL FACE MASKS MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WITHN THE PLAY AREA AND TARGET RANGE. At no time during the game will a player be allowed to break the seal of the goggle from around their eyes. Only goggles / eyewear that meet the following requirements will be allowed:
• The impact standard for goggles is ANSI z.87.1.
• They must fully encompass the eyes, with no gaps.
• They must be fitted with a head strap to keep them from falling off during a game.
• The lens frame must be sturdy enough to keep the lens in place during play.
In addition, all players will be required to wear full face masks covering the mouth, ears, and nose areas. Paintball masks may have the cheek areas cut away to allow the proper shouldering of long arms, as long as all openings in the head are fully covered by the remainder of the mask. Cloth coverings such as balaclavas, scarve, shemeaghs, etc., will NOT be considered adequate face protection for this indoor CQB event. Rental masks will be available onsite.

2. BARREL BLOCKING DEVICES ARE REQUIRED. Barrel blocking devices such as the red barrel caps that come with most AEGs, paintball approved barrel socks/condoms, or holsters for sidearm’s are required to be secured over player’s gun barrels at all times. The only exception is at the target range or within the playing area after a game starts. Violators will be asked to leave the building with no refund issued.

3. ALL GUNS MUST BE MAGAZINE FREE OUTSIDE THE PLAY AREA. All handheld or slung guns must be loading magazine free (“Mag Free”) in the staging area. Sidearms are not required to be mag free as long as they are holstered. When leaving the play area, a player must remove the magazine from his gun, fire 2-3 clearing shots in a safe direction, and cap his gun barrel with his barrel blocking device before proceeding to the staging area.

4. ALL GUNS MUST BE SAFELY TRANSPORTED. All guests must transport their guns in a safe manner. Specifically, a gun must be carried in a soft or hard shell case suitable for real firearms, or within its original factory shipping box, until you are in the staging area inside the building. Since the building we are using is within the Osseo city limits, guns MUST NOT be removed from their cases until they are inside the building – removing a gun from its case in the parking area could result in confiscation of that gun by the Osseo police, as well as ejection from the event without a refund. All guns must have a factory-installed trigger guard.

5. FPS LIMIT WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. All guns must be chronographed prior to game time. Players may also be chosen at random for handheld chronograph spot-checks.

FPS Limit for all guns: 350 FPS w/ .20 gram BBs.


All guns will be chronographed prior to the beginning of the game using .20 gram BBs. You will be given 2 attempts, consisting of no more than 3 shots each, in which to chronograph at the appropriate FPS. If your gun is unable to chronograph legal after 2 attempts, you will not be able to use that weapon in the game. Once your gun passes the chronograph test, it will have a colored zip tie attached to it. No weapons without zip ties will be allowed in the play area. All guns are subject to a chronograph test at any time deemed necessary by the Event Organizer or referees. Any modifications made to your gun after being chronographed found to increase your FPS will result in your immediate and permanent removal from the game. No refunds will be issued.

6. 6mm PLASTIC OR BIODEGRADABLE BBs ONLY. Metal BBs are not allowed. Once your gun has been chronographed, you may choose to fire .20 gram or .25 gram 6mm BBs during the game. .20 gram and .25 gram BBs will be available for purchase in the staging area before and during the game. BBs heavier than .25 grams are not allowed. Weapons firing 8mm BBs may not be used.

7. SHOOTING SAFETY. Players may only discharge their weapons at the target range or within the play area. No shooting into or out of the staging area or outside the building. NO BLIND SHOOTING - players must be able to see what they are shooting at. Players may never shoot at another player who is closer than the minimum engagement distance of 10 feet. If an opponent is closer than 10 feet away, a player should shout "BANG!" in order to notify the opponent he/she has been eliminated at extreme close range. You must have an open line of sight to perform a “bang” kill - a "bang" kill may not be performed through a barrier or through netting. While head shots count, players are asked not to intentionally target another player’s head. Full automatic fire may be allowed during particular scenarios at the discretion of the Event Organizer.

8. KNIFE KILLS. Players are allowed to bring rubber knives for use in silent eliminations. To eliminate a player from behind with a knife, lay the knife on the player’s shoulder where he or she can see it with a head turn, and whisper “KNIFE!” A knifed player is immediately eliminated the moment the knife touches their shoulder, and may not cry out or do anything but collapse to the ground. If two or more players face off against each other with drawn knives, both are considered to have stabbed each other and both are eliminated automatically. NO PUNCHING, GRAPPLING, BLOCKING OR ANY OTHER PHYSICAL CONTACT OF ANY KIND IS ALLOWED!

9. MOVEMENT. Players may not construct anything that will hinder the movement of or cause injury to other players. Players may not alter or move any non-prop features or barriers in the play area. Players may never climb onto or under features. Players may shoot through any opening in a wall, but may only pass through doorways – climbing through windows or holes in walls is prohibited. Do not charge blindly into a space or around an object, as the area may already be occupied. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL NOT TO STEP ON ELIMINATED PLAYERS!

A player may leave a scenario at any time by calling “I’M OUT!”, raising their hands above their head and going to the target range. All guns must be either holstered or mag-free with barrels blocked before they may be carried into the staging area.

10. NO UNAUTHORIZED EQUIPMENT. The building is heated to the mid-50s in winter, so dress appropriately. Since this is normally a paintball facility, the walls and features will have paint on them and players should bear in mind that they are highly likely to get paint on their clothing during play. Players are not allowed to bring into the building any equipment deemed unsafe by the Event Organizer. Players in the play area are not allowed to carry real knives of any kind, metal tools of any kind, explosive or other pyrotechnic devices, real firearms, or other non-Airsoft related items. No metal cleats on shoes or boots. Smoke grenades are not allowed. BB grenades or other non-pyrotechnic explosives simulators must be individually approved by the Event Organizer before use in a game.

11. NO ALCOHOL OR ILLEGAL DRUGS ARE ALLOWED ANYWHERE ON SITE. No smoking within the building. Smoking is allowed on the sidewalk outside the building and in the parking area.

12. NO VERBAL ABUSE OR PHYSICAL CONTACT. No profanity, name calling, or slurs against anyone’s race, color, national origin, family members, teams or equipment will be tolerated. Guests wearing clothing with offensive wording on them will be asked to remove the garment. A player may not touch another player or their personal equipment at any time without their express permission, except to tap a shoulder during a knife kill.



13. REFEREES’ DECISIONS ARE FINAL. Any decision a referee makes is final and will not be discussed in the play area. The referee will discuss any calls in a calm manner in the staging area after the scenario is over. Players who are found by a referee to have violated any of the rules listed here will be asked by the Event Organizer to leave the game with no refund issued.

14. AGE REQUIREMENT. All players must be sixteen years old or older to participate. Players under eighteen years old are required to have a Parental Waiver signed and dated by their parent or legal guardian. NO EXCEPTIONS.

15. ELIMINATION. A player is eliminated from play if a BB strikes any part of his/her body, from the top of the head to the tips of the fingers to the bottoms of the feet, including any of equipment or gear worn. When a player is eliminated he will call out loudly “I’M HIT!” He will immediately fall to the ground as if dead, and remain in this position until time is called on the scenario. No players are allowed to fire upon eliminated players.

Live players are not allowed to “play possum” or otherwise pretend to be dead in order to lure other live players closer. Live players are not allowed to move or reposition eliminated players.

Eliminated players are considered dead and MUST NOT talk or communicate in any way with their teammates until the scenario is over. Eliminated players are not allowed to give any equipment or supplies to any other player, but may quietly leave equipment lying where they were eliminated. Hits to a player’s gun do not eliminate a player; However, they do eliminate that weapon. The gun is unusable until it has been returned to the staging area. An eliminated player must immediately drop any game props he or she is carrying.

Airsoft is a game of HONOR and Sportsmanship. ALL players strive to exemplify fair play and call their hits, regardless of circumstance. In situations where a player isn’t sure, they should give their opponent the benefit of the doubt and simply call themselves out. You will not have to wait long to get back into another scenario if you are eliminated, so please take your hits!

Players must exercise particular caution during indoor Close Quarters Battles to not over-shoot an opponent, or fire upon an opponent within the 10-foot “no-shoot” range. Any player who, instead of using the “Bang!” call, fires upon an opponent within 10 feet will be automatically eliminated the first time by the referee whether or not their fire hit their opponent. That player will also be warned that they will be ejected from the building if they do it again. Players who are determined by the referees to be over-shooting their opponents will be warned once, then ejected from the building without refunds if they continue to over-shoot,

Cheating will not be tolerated in any form by any player. If you are caught cheating you will be ejected from the building and you will NOT get a refund. Period.


16. GAME PROPS. Game props supplied or personally approved by the Event Organizer are the only props authorized for use in the play area.

17. ROLEPLAYING & SCORING. There will be no Medics or wounding in these scenarios. Eliminated players do not reinsert, but remain lying on the ground where they were eliminated until the end of the scenario is announced. In the building we will be using, indoor scenarios go quickly. There will be many scenarios throughout the day, with players rotating in and out of the play area. Players may be assigned specific roles at the discretion of the Event Organizer. The scoring of each scenario will be explained by the Event Organizer before the scenario begins.

18. LOOTING. In some scenarios, eliminated players may be looted for their game money and/or game props by live players. Only game money and/or game props may be demanded by a looter, no other item or equipment may be demanded. To loot an eliminated player, an active player must move to within arm’s reach of where the eliminated player lies and say, “Looting!” If the eliminated player has any money or prop items, he or she must immediately give ALL of it to the first active player to say “Looting!” If the eliminated player has no money or props, he or she simply ignores the looter AN ACTIVE PLAYER MUST GO TO THE ELIMINATED PLAYER TO LOOT, THE ELIMINATED PLAYER DOES NOT MOVE. AT NO TIME MAY THE ELIMINATED PLAYER SPEAK OR OTHERWISE COMMUNICATE WITH AN ACTIVE PLAYER.

19. COMMUNICATIONS. Squads are allowed to use walkie-talkies if they so desire. Channel 5 with all its subsettings is the Event Organizer’s/Referee’s channel and its use is restricted.

If you would like to have some safe and fun airsofting adventure sign up now, there is only 40 tickets for sale and they are going fast.

Mr & Mrs Armsdealer

January 14th Airsoft CQB Rules

The Indoor airsoft CQB game has some revised game safety rules. We have posted the revisions along with the airsoft scenario event rules on the Airsoft Battle Zone website. Just visit our Wisconsin Airsoft Games page for event rule updates. Also the tickets for this event are now available online as well as the airsoft game waivers. ABZ will be onsite with rental airsoft guns and bb's. For the latest in air soft gun news, guns and gear visit Airsoft Battle Zone Wisconsin's airsoft gun headquarters

Armsdealers