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| Airsoft Goggles |
So you’re minding your own business, watching some TV or
doing some yard work, when suddenly your child asks if he or she can play Airsoft.
You probably have some preconceived notions about Airsoft and that is just
fine, but I’m hoping to convince you that Airsoft promotes good health, is safe
and indeed even beneficial to a child’s development. The fact that guns are
used is generally the deterrent, at least from a parent’s standpoint. At the
end of the day though, Airsoft is nothing more than an advanced game of tag or
capture the flag. The guns just make it more fun. No one is aggressive when
playing Airsoft, fields provide an extremely friendly atmosphere, and basically
everyone is just there to have a good time with their friends. Although there
is an obvious relationship with military forces, no sort of indoctrination
takes place and most Airsoft players don’t have any sort of background in the
military, nor do they ever intend to.
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| Airsoft Masks |
Airsoft guns are not like any toy, they fire projectiles at
high rates of speed. They are capable of inflicting injury if not used
properly, and proper safety rules must be observed. However, if safety rules
are observed, then Airsoft is about as safe a sport as you can get. I played
football as a kid and I’ll tell you it’s a heck of a lot safer than that. I’m
willing to bet it’s safer than hockey, baseball, and basketball too. It is up to the individual to be smart, use
common sense, and follow a strict set of safety rules in order to create a safe
playing environment for everyone involved. For this reason, Airsoft is a useful
tool for teaching children that wonderful concept every parent loves so much:
responsibility. In Airsoft, failure to comply with safety procedures have consequences. If you play Airsoft
you know getting shot with an Airsoft BB hurts, and so children can recognize
the seriousness of the situation. Even if you don’t go along and play together
with your kids, (which I suggest you do, it’s really a whole lot of fun and a
great relationship builder – it forces you to count on each other) they will
have a lot of support from the experienced people that work at the field, and
from the older players. In Airsoft, one person’s safety habits have an effect
on everybody, so believe me the other players will make sure children follow
correct procedures. Trusting a child with this sort of responsibility is a leap
of good faith, and they will appreciate the opportunity to prove themselves in
front of the other players at the field. It is better that children learn Airsoft
gun safety from a qualified referee or field employee, because otherwise they
will probably end up learning a complete lack of it from their friends.
Airsoft, of course, is a physical game. You do a lot of
sprinting, crouching, squatting, carrying a heavy gun around, throwing
(grenades), crawling, and all manner of other physical activities. A game of Airsoft
definitely gets the blood pumping, but is so much fun that it doesn’t really
seem like working out. Try a game of Airsoft out for yourself, play a couple
hours and tell me your thighs aren’t burning. You do a lot of full speed
sprinting, then squatting, then more sprinting. This activity is comparable to
interval training and wears out the muscles pretty quickly. Generally playing Airsoft
involves at least 4 hours spent at the field, so that is quite a lot of
exercise and you will be sore the next morning – from running, not from getting
shot. Core strength, cardiovascular health, and flexibility can all be improved
by Airsoft play, and many children who aren’t the biggest fans of physical
activity end up really loving Airsoft.
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| Airsoft Protective Gear |
Besides physical benefits, there are mental ones as well. Airsoft
is a competitive game where you rely on the skills of you and your teammates to
avoid losing and getting shot. This relying on yourself to not get hurt is a
huge confidence builder. Self-reliance is, unfortunately, a dying skill set
these days in our increasingly padded society. It is important for a person to know
that they can count on themselves to act appropriately in a stressful
situation. Team sports teach about the importance of teamwork, and although Airsoft
is generally played on teams it really comes down to individual performance
whether you tag someone out or get tagged yourself. When you win the big game
you are proud of your team, but when you sneak around to the back of the field
and get three people to surrender at once, you are proud of yourself. It’s
important to know that in a one on one situation, you can get the better of
people and come out victorious.
Airsoft is a game of responsibility, physical activity, and
mental fortitude. It’s enjoyed the world over and increases in popularity every
year. Irresponsible handling of an Airsoft gun can lead to consequences, but
safe operation is a breeze and the first thing taught to new players. Fields
provide friendly environments and stress safety over every other aspect of the
game. So when your child asks you for an Airsoft gun, don’t panic. With proper
safety instruction Airsoft is a perfectly safe activity that promotes
self-confidence and health, and boy is it a lot of fun. So grab some guns from HobbyTron, bring the whole family and I will see you out on the
field.
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