basic airsoft rules for close quarter combat (CQB)

[dmhikaru]

These are the rules of the game that Airsoft players must abide by in order to play in CQB (Close Quarter Battles).

The Basic Airsoft Rules of Play:

1) All participants use ONLY Airsoft guns in their games. These guns must conform to the FPS (Feet per second) limit that a group or a country has decided on. Usually this means an Indoor limit of 300-350fps and an Outdoor limit of 350-450. Some countries have legal limits on the power/fps of Airsoft guns so make sure to check with the area.

2) All participants MUST wear eye protection! Ideally, all Airsoft players should have full face masks, long sleeve shirts, full pants, and gloves whenever they play Airsoft. If playing at any professional Paintball/Airsoft locales then a full face mask is necessary. This is for legal/insurance reasons and cannot be avoided. It is strongly recommended that anyone who continues to be a problem in terms of wearing eye protection during games be banned from playing with the group. Nobody wants to be responsible for shooting someone’s eye out. If the mask is fogging or needed to be cleaned during a game, crouch or lay on the ground with the face as close to the floor as possible and quickly clean the goggles.

3) If struck by an airsoft BB then the player is hit and for purposes of the game is considered "killed." This means that the player is out of the current game unless special rules are being followed (see below for scenarios). Most times when "killed" in a game there is a safe-zone where the killed player waits for the next game to begin. Hits to the weapon is not considered a kill for some scenarios, so make sure that it is clearly agreed upon before starting a game. While playing the game, if uncertain about whether being already hit or not, then this is the benefit of the doubt is considered and the player must count himself or herself KILLED, eliminating silly arguments during a game. Whenever someone player is hit during the game, he or she must call out “HIT!” and then walk to the designated safe-zone with the weapon held high over the head with both hands. Be sure to do so since other players may assume the killed player is still in the game if not. A player that repeatedly causes problems with calling himself out should not be allowed to play any more.
How to Play

Learning how to play airsoft in CQBs can be a fun experience. However, there is a couple of things a player needs to know in order play the game correctly.

Game Responsibilities

A. Field Conduct

i. Airsoft is a game of honor, and as players one must take faith in the fact that other players will play honestly and call themselves out when hit. As such, it is each player's responsibility to maintain a proper attitude toward all other players. Any player guilty of un-sportsmanlike conduct, including yelling, obscene behavior, cursing, or disrupting play can be suspended from play.

ii. If another player is seen getting hit and they did not feel or hear it, do not yell at them. Just indicate to them the specific area that he or she is seen hit by a BB. If the hit player is not responsive to the indication and a second player also saw the hit, that player should respond with "I second that hit." Upon hearing this, the indicated hit player must call himself out immediately. If said player is still not responsive, "parley" must be called and followed.

iii. If a teammate gets hit, and he or she did not feel it, inform them of the hit so that he or she can call himself or herself out.

iv. Any form of physical altercation (i.e. fighting) will not be tolerated. If a player is ever involved in a fight, he will be suspended from SOCAL play for a minimum of two (2) months. If that same player is ever involved with a second fighting occurrence, that member will be banned from all future SOCAL games.

v. Do not walk into a game that is already in progress. If not ready by the time a game starts, wait for the next one.

vi. Do not shoot at the players in the field from the sideline.

vii. Do not intentionally block or provide cover for teammates after being hit.

viii. Eliminated players are forbidden to communicate with those still playing. This includes giving supplies (gas, BB's, etc.) to those that are still playing.

B. Hits

i. Any hit to any part of the body counts as a kill (including camel baks, etc).

ii. Hits to the gun do not count as a kill for most cases. However for some scenarios, it is. So make sure about what the players had agreed upon before starting a game.

iii. Friendly fire counts! If hit by a fellow teammate, then this is considered a KILL.

iv. When two players engage each other in combat (whether at a distance or in close quarters), and both players get hit, both players are out regardless of who said "hit" first.

v. Rubber knife hits count as a kill (this includes being hit by a thrown rubber knife).

vi. Ricochets do not count.

C. Once a Player Is Hit

i. Immediately yell "hit" as loud as all the players can hear while raising both hands/gun in the air and RUN off the playing field. It is highly recommended to have a red rag that a killed player can place on his or her head as he/she leaves the field to indicate a kill.

ii. Do not shoot after being hit, while leaving the field, or as a spectator.

iii. In some cases other behaviors (i.e. playing dead, standing in place, etc.) will be agreed upon before a game starts. In these cases, observe the appropriate conduct diligently.

D. Surrender

i. Asking for a surrender and surrendering is optional, but it is highly encouraged to ask for a surrender when a player is within 5-10 feet of the other player and his or her back is to the surrendering player, or under similar situations. Please treat others with respect.

ii. If a different surrender rule is declared prior to a game then it must be followed.

E. Parley

i. If there is ever a dispute during play, call "Parley." Once this is called, both parties must immediately exit the field to reach an amicable resolution.

Other Rules of Play:

Safe Zones

Having an area where players can retreat to if they are not playing is very important. It allows them to safely remove their eye protection, have a break, a drink, and of course, reload. Naturally, safe zones MUST be protected from playing zones by either solid or mesh fencing that BBs cannot get through. The best material to use is debris netting, as used on building sites. This can be a bit pricey, but is BB-proof, see through and will not get caught by strong winds.

Entrances should be a simple double turn so there is easy access, but still no risk of BBs entering. If playing in a large area, it is important to remember that players would prefer NOT to walk 200 miles to the nearest safe zone. With two teams in a playing area where they meet in the middle, it would obviously help if each had a safe zone near their respective bases.

If planning to play into darkness, it is also important to remember to light the safe zones. If a mains powered floodlight is not available, a battery operated strobe can light up a large area with great effect and can provide a valuable beacon to guide players.

A number of games with breaks in between

The most common option amongst skirmish sites, it allows tighter control over how games are run. There is plenty of time between scenarios for players to rest and reload. Scores between teams are easier to keep and scenarios are easier to control. Fewer marshals are required as once a game ends, players are no longer still in the playing area. This option allows marshals to leave the safe zone.

Medic Rules

When players get shot, they stay where they are, and call for 'Medic'. A ‘Medic’ is a player who can revive the player who gets hit. There are two variants of this rule. One is either any other player can be a ‘Medic’, and the other is that there can be only one nominated ‘Medic’ in each team.

Out of game for a certain time

A timer that resets automatically or needs to be started by people entering the Safe Zones is needed. This allows for an unregulated Safe Zone and longer, more intense scenarios (of 30 minutes or more) in a small area.

“One hit and you're out of the scenario”

This allows players a longer break when they are hit at the beginning of the game which has its advantages. However, if he or she does not want to stay out of the game for a long time, this can be a disadvantage as well, especially during longer games.

This rule also allows improvement of the players’ skills since they will try harder to stay in the game longer.

Continuous play with scenarios injected

Continuous play throughout a day out is very tiring, both for players and organizers. It does not allow everyone to get together to discuss team tactics and play is often too fragmented to control. Having run such an event, it is not recommend using this style of play because of the logistics. Marshals and players must carry a lot more equipment with them as well in the playing area. This is a good option for realism though, and if interested in recreating historic scenarios, then this is definitely a good option to choose. With very large events, where not all players take part in every scenario, this is a good idea. Different scenarios can involve different groups of players on different areas of the playing site and can run independently (or not) of each other.

Scenarios for Airsoft Close Quarter Battles (CQB)
Elimination Rules:

This scenario is as simple as it sounds. Each player in a team will try to eliminate every single player on the other team without getting hit.

Capture the Flag:

- Flag Placement:
Each team's flag must be placed at the home base, and be easily visible from 360 degrees. The flag may not be tied tightly or otherwise secured.

- Stealing a Flag:
A player may 'steal' the enemy's flag by removing it from their base.

- Carrying a Flag:
While carrying a flag, at least half the flag must remain visible (a player cannot hide it in his/her pocket.) If the player is shot while carrying a flag, drop the flag on the ground where he/she was shot. The player may also choose to drop the flag at any time of your own free will (although you may not throw the flag to another player, simply lay it on the ground.)

- Dropped Flags:
A dropped flag may be picked up by either team. If it is picked up by a member of its owning team, the flag must be returned towards the base.

- To Capture a Flag:
To capture the enemy's flag, the opposing player must deliver it to his/her own base and place it alongside his/her own team's flag. If the flag is not currently at his/her own base, the game is still not over.

- Death:
When a player is shot, he/she must raise both hands above the head and walk back to the base, where he/she may re-enter play.

Pistol Only:

- CQB games that allow only pistols to use as a weapon excluding the use of rifles, bayonets and other firearms during the game.

Variation of "Pistol Only":

- All Players are only allowed 8 BBs in his/her pistol clip.
(All Players are limited to have a total of 8 Shots in his/her clip. He/She can not have any more, or any less in his/her clip. All players are limited to only Pistols.

- If any player fires his/her 6th shot, he/she is considered a Rogue.(Once the 6th shot is fired, he/she must remove his/her Team Tag. Once the Team Tag is removed; he/she is now considered a Rogue. Rogues belong to no Team. They can be killed by any Team or by any other Rogue. Note: Once the 6th shot is fired, he/she is now a Rogue and has 2 shots left.)

- Knife kills are permitted. If a player is touched by a person from the opposite team, that player is considered "killed by knife", and all rules apply as if they were shotrules.

- All Players are only allowed 8 BBs in his/her pistol clip.

(All Players are limited to have a total of 8 Shots in his/her clip. He/She cannot have any more, or any less in his/her clip. All players are limited to Pistols only.

- If any player fires his/her 6th shot, he/she is considered a Rogue.(Once the 6th shot is fired, he/she must remove his/her Team Tag. Once the Team Tag is removed; he/she is now considered a Rogue. Rogues belong to no Team. They can be killed by any Team or by any other Rogue. Note: Once the 6th shot is fired, he/she is now a Rogue and has 2 shots left.)

VIP / Assassination / Body Guards:

Team A: Has their team start on one end of the field, and wait there. They choose a specific player, give him no weapon, or arm him lightly. He must stick out from the rest of the group in some way, and the other team must be told before hand who it is going to be.

They must transport this person from one end of the field to another, without him getting killed. Everyone can get killed except for him, but he has to make it to the pre-determined point.

Optional: If there is a some kind of road/path on the playing field that goes pretty far, a rule can be agreed upon so that Team A can only stay on the determined path. This makes it so the other team has an idea of where they will be which is quite common in real life situations. If someone was trying to be assassinated like in this scenario, the opposing force usually knows where the guy will be.

Also, it can be made so they have a couple of different paths to choose from making it more difficult for the opposing force.

Team B: must set up somewhere between Team A's starting point, and objective point (place where specified person needs to get to). They will hide, camp, ambush, and do what ever they like when the enemy comes; they just need to take down the one guy. Everyone else they kill does not matter to the scenario; they can not win unless the one VIP gets hit.

Hostage Rescue:

- Extraction Point:
Prior to the start of the game, an extraction point must be agreed upon by both teams, a fair distance from the terrorist base (preferably out of line-of-sight.)

- Hostages:
The four hostages are to be represented by helium-filled balloons on strings, with weights attached to the bottoms. A hostage is considered dead if the balloon is shot. Prior to the start of the game, the Terrorist team may hide the four hostages anywhere in their base (either all together or split up.)

- Rescuing a Hostage:
To rescue a Hostage, a SWAT member must carry the balloon to the Extraction Point. Hostages must be carried in a SWAT member's hand(s) (the weight may not be placed in a pocket, or attach the string to the rescuer's body.) Each SWAT member may only carry at most two Hostages at a time. Once a Hostage has been delivered to the Extraction Point, the Hostage is considered rescued and cannot be killed.

- Draw Games:
If two Hostages have been rescued, and the other two remain alive and captive at the end of the time limit, the game is considered a draw.