How to Make or Find an Airsoft Field
Any airsoft enthusiast knows that part of being able to get to truly enjoy the sport is having a great place to play it. Good airsoft fields are few and far between, and in many areas any type of paintball or airsoft field - good or bad - can be hard to find.
There are certain factors that must be taken into consideration when looking for an airsoft field for your team to play on.
What Type of Field?
There are a few categories of airsoft fields that you can choose from. Knowing in advance the type of field that you need can help you to drastically narrow down your options and make finding a field that much easier.
In general, the three main categories of airsoft field are:
-
Open Terrain/Open Area
-
Close Quarters, Indoors
-
Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT)
These three types of courses are all very different from one another. As such, it is critical to be sure that you are scheduling an event at the right type of course. Checking it out in advance is recommended.
What are Open Terrain Airsoft Courses?
Open terrain airsoft courses are made up of the good old outdoors. They consist of grass, trees, bushes, and rocks. Anything in nature is part of an open terrain course. In open terrain courses, shooting at wildlife is prohibited.
Not every open area course is created equally. Some are better than others. Some provide better cover areas whereas other courses contain nothing but open space and blow-up obstacles.
Decide in advance what you are looking for. If you are lucky, you will have more than one to choose from!
What Are Close Quarter Indoor Courses?
Close quarters indoor courses are like obstacle courses inside. They are great for many players because of the fact that you don't have to play outside in the rain, mud, or sun.
Close quarters courses can be used in the dark or the light, but they are not very big. For this reason, players are best on this type of course when they have had some practice with safe mock indoor close quarter combat.
Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT)
Military Operations in Urban Terrain courses are best left for those who are more experienced. Also called MOUT airsoft fields, these are a combination of field courses and buildings.
As such, these fields are likely the most realistic courses of them all, as many military operations make use of areas that are combined between natural areas and urban areas.
MOUT fields can make use of close quarter combat protocol or normal airsoft rules and regulations. The specifics are up to the host of the course and the teams playing on it.
What to Look for in an Airsoft Field
When searching for an airsoft field of any sort, there are some aspects that must be taken into consideration.
Keeping these things in mind can help making the selection of the right course for your team much easier, hopefully making the process of finding a home field for your team easier in the process.
Consider the Cost
The cost varies between the different types of airsoft fields out there. Usually the cost correlates with the quality of the course, but not always.
Keep in mind that the cost of the course is split between all of the players, which can make it important to have as many players on the field at once as possible. A field that is too expensive is almost not worth it, so it is important to keep this in mind.
Consider the Type
As noted above, there are three different types of courses to choose from. Different courses are best for different types of players, and it is important not to use cost or availability as a total influence when deciding on the field. If the course is not appropriate for your type of team or skill level, the cost and availability are irrelevant.
Consider the Quality of the Obstacles
Many airsoft fields are set up as an obstacle course of sorts. This is very much like most paintball fields, especially since they so often share the same space.
When you are looking into airsoft fields, it is important to visit all of the ones on your list before making a final decision - especially for those who are looking for a permanent home for their Airsoft team or league.
How do the obstacles look? Are they clean or dirty? Are they flimsy? Do the brush or obstacles on the course provide adequate covering, or is everybody left out in the open? The last thing you want to do is find out after having already started the game on the course is that it isn't going to work for your team.
Choosing an airsoft field doesn't have to be rocket science. You don't want to waste the time or money of your team on a field that simply won't work for your needs or be enjoyable. Take the time to choose the right field at the right price, and enjoy the sport of airsoft with your fellow players.
