Laser games
What to expect
Laser games are recreational shooting sports where everyone has a gun which shoots a beam of infrared light. The targets are placed around the arena and some are on receivers that everyone wears. This activity can be done both indoors and outdoors and is usually in specially designed arenas. The games played are a mixture of roleplay style and competitive games, with a focus on working as a team.
What you’ll learn
Laser games are very much about working together as a team, communicating with each other and being active. Each game you play will have a different aim, so for each one you’ll need to talk as a team about what you want to achieve, give people roles and talk tactics. When you’re playing the game, communicate with your teammates, tell them if you’ve seen anyone from the other team and work together to achieve the aim of the game. Laser games can be quite physical, as you’ll be moving around the arena, ducking under and hiding behind obstacles. It’s a great way to be active and have fun together.
Fun facts
The first laser gun was created in the late 1970s and was used by the American Military to practice combat training. The first toy laser gun came out in 1979 in conjunction with the release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture and was called the Star Trek Electronic Phaser Gun.
Handy hints
- Bring your camera with you. Getting some action shots of everyone moving around the arena is a great thing to look back on, so remember to bring a camera to snap them.
- Something to drink. All that moving around can be tiring work. Encourage everyone to bring a drink along with them, and also bring some spares just in case they’re needed.
- Dirty clothes bags. If you’re playing in an outside arena, clothes may get dirty, no matter what the weather. Bring some bin bags or carrier bags with you to put any dirty clothes in.
Safety
You must always:
- Complete a risk assessment
- Have the right ratios of number of adults to provide suitable supervision
- Set up an InTouch process
- Know what to do in an emergency
- Share information with parents and carers with an activity information form
- Get approval from your commissioner
Other activities:
- Where an activity is not covered by any other rules members must follow rule 9.1 and assess the risk, ensure that members can be kept safe and that all equipment is suitable for its use.
This activity can be led by you or someone else in Scouts
You can go to a centre or use an activity leader who is not part of Scouting:
You must find a suitable provider who meets the following requirements:The provider must have public liability insurance.
Guidance
Reflection
Laser games are all about working together as a team and trying to score as many points as possible. You had to communicate both in the safe place and also around the arena. What different ways of communication did you use? Think about talking, hand signals, whispering and coded signals that only your teammates will recognise. As a team, what did you find was the most effective way of communicating that worked for everyone?
Each game may have been different in the way it was structured. This might’ve changed how you planned to work together as a team. How did you adapt your team tactics to suit each game? Did this help you achieve what you set out to do? Laser games aren’t always about winning, and it doesn’t matter if you didn’t win. Remember, as long as you tried your best, worked together as a team and had fun then that’s the main thing. You can always try again next time.
Some instructors will have different games or activities to do, which can be easier or harder. If your group has a mixture of skill or experience levels, talk to the instructor and they’ll be able to adapt the session.
Laser games can often be adapted so more people can give it a go. Many centres have facilities that cater for people with additional needs and experienced instructors to help everyone achieve their goals. Get in touch with your local provider to chat through the needs of people in your group - make sure you give them plenty of notice.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
If anyone enjoyed this, have a look at the Scouts Master at Arms Activity Badge or the Master at Arms option of the Explorers Physical Recreation Activity Badge.
If anyone has done this before, encourage them to share their knowledge beforehand with everyone. They could do a presentation or have a chat with everyone about what to expect in the activity.