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We South Bay Tactical Recon (SBTR) take pride in our hobby of airsoft. We are a local group of players (In the Bay Area) that partake in airsoft games at local and sometimes far fields. We as of now have not been to a huge operation yet, but maybe it will happen in the future. Don't let our age fool you, we have been playing the sport of airsoft for many years, some players more than others. Our mission is to do one thing, to spread the news of airsoft in a positive way, and of course to have fun. Most civilians still do not know the truth of airsoft, and consider it unsafe or just plain immature. We will not rest until our local communities learn the reality of airsoft. Sure there were a few deadly occurances, but in truth airsoft is safer than most sports: Football, baseball, basketball, soccer, and even golf just to name a few. Most parents do not want there kids dressing up in full BDU's/ACU's with airsoft replica's, but really... who do you want your children to look up and be proud of? Drug addicts that attend dog fights "cough" Vick "cough", or the men and women who sweat, shed blood, and die for the future and health of the country.
For more information here is a article from Combined Airsoft Operation Command (CAOC). CAOC is the OFFICIAL Airsoft Association. It has staff of ex-military, airsoft players, and more.
To the Parents of Young Airsofters,
Thank you for taking an active role in your child's interests. We understand that having your child play Airsoft can activate that natural parental instinct to of being weary to a game that is played using replica guns. This page is designed to show you how we are devoted to making Airsoft safe for your children and the entire community. The thought of your child putting on camouflage, toting realistic looking weapons, and firing BBs at his friends can be nerve racking, but here are a few things about CAOC and Airsoft that may put your mind at ease.
There are unique risks associated with Airsoft that no other sport deals with. CAOC is striving to deal with theses risks by circulating proper safety information for all Airsoft players. By using a standardized set of guidelines and regulations, proper replica handling, uniformed transportation procedures, required safety equipment, as well as promoting the use of licensed and insured fields, CAOC hopes to minimize these risks for everyone involved.
Airsoft replicas themselves are the greatest risk to everyone involved. When you are dealing with something that resembles military or civilian issue firearms, great care must be exercised to avoid confusion with the actual weapons they emulate. We here at CAOC promote the use of lockable gun cases or gun bags in the transportation and storage of Airsoft replicas. All participants in CAOC events and at CAOC certified fields must transport, and handle their replicas properly or will be denied admittance.
We also promote the use of licensed and insured fields. With the recent increase in Airsoft’s popularity, there is an unfortunate increase in so-called “backyard” or “neighborhood” games. We cannot stress enough how bad this type of game play is. It is illegal, and could be dangerous. These types of games are not only detrimental to the sport of Airsoft, but can be harmful to the players involved, as some replicas are difficult to differentiate from their real steel counterparts, which can lead to misidentifications by law enforcement and ultimately leading to use of deadly force. We believe that you, the parents, can help by not condoning this type of game play.
Airsoft guns shoot a 6 or 8mm plastic projectile, weighing between .12 grams to .43 grams, at speeds varying from 150-550 feet per second (FPS). This converts to 100-375 mph. This may sound outrageously fast, but the energy contained in a projectile as light as an Airsoft bb is very small. It is much less than a paintball, or even a racquetball at full speed. We believe in strict caps on maximum projectile speed, based on the skill rating of the event, in order to prevent a replica that is “shooting hot” or above the field limit. Such actions will not be tolerated by the CAOC, and the player will be asked to leave.
Proper eye protection is a necessary Airsoft accessory. We are not flexible on proper eyewear rules. You MUST wear proper eyewear, be it a full seal paintball mask, or at a minimum, shooting glasses rated at for Airsoft use. CAOC requires the use of proper eyewear, and violators will not be tolerated. Parents, if you are purchasing your child an Airsoft replica, ensure that you purchase proper eyewear, and talk to your child about wearing them whenever Airsoft guns are in use. Inform them of the consequences of not wearing them, such as possible blindness, or other serious injury.
Many people believe that Airsoft is a dangerous, overly strenuous sport, but studies show that compared to football, baseball, or even golf, it is much safer. The risk of injury is very low with Airsoft, as there is no player on player contact, or heavy projectiles coming in contact with the player. It is important to be in good physical shape, as to be competitive; you must be able to move quickly, for possible extended periods of time. Airsoft promotes a healthy lifestyle, free of drugs or alcohol, with positive role models to look up to. Would you rather have your child look up to football player who promotes alcoholic drinks and dog fighting, or a member of the armed services or police department, who fights everyday to preserve their freedom? But, CAOC and Airsoft in general is by no means a recruiting service. We are not breeding the Army of tomorrow, but sculpting the Leaders of tomorrow, by teaching and encouraging attributes like courage, teamwork, and most of all, honor. These are real-world traits that will forever change your child, building their self-confidence, as well as instilling a positive mental attitude, both of which will lead to further success in life.
At CAOC we are trying to do something that no other Airsoft organization has ever done. We are making Airsoft into more then just a hobby, more then a past time, but into an organized and regulated sport. As you can imagine the workload is immense. Our main goal is to have a league, just like any nationally recognized sport, a sport that players from any background can come together on a single platform and compete. Until now games have been locally organized, and several individuals and organizations have stepped up and hosted large-scale games on a national level. We use their model as a guide for CAOC. Organization is the only way to keep the game that we all love playable. Too many uneducated players are getting into confrontations with law enforcement; this hurts Airsoft as a whole. We will bring Airsoft together and stand strong together.
With the sport of Airsoft being established nationwide, players will have options of game play. Not a die-hard COMSIM (Combat Simulation) player? There will be a level of league play structured around that style of play. Want to stay in the woods for 4 days straight, eat MREs (Meals Read to Eat), and be as immersed in the game as possible? League play will accommodate you as well. The point is that the sport of Airsoft will be formed around its players. Options for players will be available, the option to play for a sponsored team, to have player's insurance, to play at licensed fields, and one day to be a professional airsofter.
As CAOC grows, and has some weight behind its name, you can expect to see large-scale COMSIM games all over the United States. These games will be as centrally located as possible to ensure that the maximum level of participation by players from every corner of the nation. Courses will be held across the country on safety, and in-game tactics by well qualified instructors. Theses instructors will be hand selected to represent CAOC from civilian, military and law enforcement personnel.
CAOC strives to educate ALL Airsoft players. Education is the key to preservation of our sport. Rules have been implemented to ensure player safety in game, such as FPS (Feet Per Second) rules, minimum engagement rules, and mandatory eye protection for any one on the field. We also strongly encourage real firearms safety classes. The Staff of CAOC have a safety class offered online, mandatory for members, optional, but encouraged for all players. Safety is of course paramount in all endeavors of CAOC. Safety courses and briefings will be mandatory at all sanctioned games. Safety is always first on our minds. Organization and the healthy growth of Airsoft are second. When Airsofters come together under CAOC anything will be possible.
This is where we ask you, the parents, to evaluate your child, and see if Airsoft is right sport for them. Do they possess the maturity to follow not only your rules, but CAOC rules as well? Are they ready for the responsibility that is inherent with owning and operating an Airsoft replica? These are very serious things to consider before you purchase your child an Airsoft replica. Sadly, too many people have not considered these things, and placed these replicas in the hands of children who were not ready for the responsibility of owning an Airsoft gun. This has lead to tragic accidents, and that is the last thing anyone involved in the sport of Airsoft wants. If you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact the staff here at CAOC, who will be happy to assist you.
Thank You Again,
CAOC Staff
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