"Hey, he didn't call his hit!"

"Hey, he didn't call his hit!"

If there's anything that a team leader doesn't want to hear, it's this. Unfortunately, in the game of Airsoft it's pretty common. Airsoft works on an honour based system, unlike paintball we don't have marks that determine whether or not we're out. A hit is a hit, and a non-hit...Well, it's a non-hit. Different fields have different rules, sometimes gun hits count, other times they don't. 

Last weekend a bunch of our Covert Ops guys were out at a local field playing when we were approached by Game Control and told three of our guys, specifically two from my Fire Team were being accused of not calling their hits. As a Fire-Team leader I take this pretty personally, as I am good friends with everyone on my Fire-Team and in this case have played with them both for a long time. I know the way they play, I know that they know what is and isn't acceptable. 

Rewinding for a second here, we need to look at the nature of Airsoft. It's broader community and why hit calling is so important. Calling your hits and recognizing when you're out is a major part of our sport. Surpassing athleticism, your oper8r-ness and ego all at once. If you're playing with someone who doesn't call their hits, you're essentially playing with an 80's action movie hero...You know, the one that NEVER dies?

It ruins the sport and sours the community as a whole. Even just one person cheating can be the catalyst that sours the game, airsoft and the local community as a whole. It can drive people away from your field and cause division in the community. As such, cheating of any form should never be tolerated by anyone. 

That being said, the emphasis also has to be placed on prevention from other aspects as well. Safeguards should be implemented both within the teams and fields to prevent cheating of this manner. It should also be drilled into the heads of the accusers that just because you THINK you're hitting someone doesn't mean you are. Airsoft rifles are not real rifles, they in fact do not shoot 110% straight. I'll explain...

I previously mentioned my guys were accused of cheating. What GC nor the accuser understood is that I was there with them the whole time. The fire we were taking on our position was ineffective at best. The BB's coming at us were from quite a way's away and we could physically see them. Our profiles were low and bunkered very well that it made their target openings quite sketchy. I managed to advance a good one hundred feet or so before running into effective fire and calling myself out. 

Is it possible my guys didn't call a hit? Sure, I'll accept that. Only because the BB's had lost the majority of their power by the time they reached them, so I can see one maybe bouncing off a pouch unnoticed. I however cannot see them blatantly taking hits and not calling it. Especially since I was in the same position as them not five minutes prior. 

Even still, I sat the next game out and watched them carefully and saw they were playing fairly. It's important to keep in mind we play a game, it's not serious and no one is dying. It's important to remember that even though you think you're getting hits, you may not be. BB's are 6mm plastic balls that can veer in any direction. If you think that you can track that 6mm BB over a hundred plus yards, be my guest. I'll only trust those who play with upgraded DMR's and bolt actions designed for long range engagement. 

"But Juice, how do I approach cheating then?"

Firstly, check yourself. Are you the one accusing? Are you frustrated? If so, calm down first. I've seen people call others out of anger and frustration, hell I've done it before too. Think about whether or not you can see those hits being made. If not, how do you know they're cheating? If you're thirty feet from them and hitting them and they're flailing; it's obvious. If they're a hundred yards out and your rounds are trailing, there's room for doubt. When it doubt, shut your meat hole and keep playing. Re-position yourself and keep firing. If you're playing with a DMR or Sniper Rifle and you're running certifications and can see that BB impacting, by all means call it. 

First, inform Game Control. Don't approach the player screaming and yelling at them, because all that serves to do is piss the other person off and give them an excuse to yell at you back. Game Control should be pro-active on the approach and address the issue immediately. 

"I'm Game Control, how do I approach this issue?"

Simply put, GC shouldn't be playing. GC's entire role in the game is to be able to ref the players and call plays. Quite often a lot of GC's will play while running games, if this is being done then you should at the very least have referee's on the field. 

As a GC your first job is to investigate the issue quietly. Watch the accused offender from afar and see if they're cheating. If you don't see cheating use a sidearm to test fire off their plate carrier. If they don't see you and call that hit, it's likely they're not cheating. Or if they did, it was an accident. 

If you see cheating, pull that player from the field. Give them a warning and make them wait until the next game. If they give you attitude, eject them. The sport of Airsoft has no places for cheaters or people with big heads. Do everyone a favour and make sure don't play on that field again. 

"I'm a team leader, how can I approach the issue of cheating?" 

Proactively of course...Every team should hold themselves to a high standard where cheating is not-acceptable and is grounds for dismissal. This is the only way to get some players to understand that cheating isn't the right way to play. As a Team Leader you should request that you be informed when someone on your team is accused. Take it upon yourself to watch them, make sure they know you're now eyes on. 

Keep an un-biased view, but at the same time support your guys against the accuser if you feel that the call wasn't right. Anytime someone accuses your players of cheating, they're accusing your whole team by proximity. 

"I got accused of cheating, how do I handle it?"

Don't get pissed, just accept it. Were you cheating? No, then don't worry about it. If you were though, keep a good attitude and try to understand that being Mr. 80's Action Movie Hero is only making people hate your guts more. Fix it and come back a good sport. Don't ruin our sport.

FINAL WORDS

Remember guys, Airsoft is a sport for the community. Not just you and your buddies. Keep your wits about you and be conscious of things around you. If you see someone on your team cheating, call GC on it. Pay attention to any sounds or tugs on your kit, it may be a BB hitting your back dump pouch from a hundred yards away, or it could be nothing. 

Keep your minimum engagement distances in mind, understand how far you can effectively shoot by having spotters and testing it out. Remember that just because you think you're hitting something doesn't mean you always are. Last, but not least. Have fun! There's no point to airsoft if you're not having fun. Play the game honourably and remember you represent your team and your sport respectively. Make sure to do a good job while doing so.