Airsoft - 14 yr old ?

1966

hi there just looking for some advice.
14 yr old son is really keen to start but we know nothing about this and just looking for guidance really with regard to how safe the activity is and feedback from other parents who have experience with their own kids.....feel he is a bit young etc and worry in general about his interest in guns / fighting etc - you know the usual parents worries.....

Damo 2k9

http://irishairsoft.ie/
Just about everything you need to know about airsoft is on that site, also dont hesitate to contact the IAA about the sport as there always happy to help

MagicIRL

Damo beat me to the link >.<

Also, Im sure any of the Airsoft site owners would be happy to discuss young lads playing, They would have seen it before and know the pros and cons

gerrowadat

Yep, the IAA can probably put you in contact with other parents, when I was on committee we had a lot of contacts from parents and the like.

Jams

Hi

I brought my 14yo son and one of his friends out for our first airsoft day out yesterday. We went to HRTA ( www.hrta.ie ) and has a great day.

I was wary originally, 'cos I'm not really into the idea of him playing with guns, but I did agree to get him a basic airsoft rifle in France last year and we used it for shooting paper targets on holidays.

Anyway, he had wanted to take it a step further and so we went out to HRTA a week ago to find out what it was all about and spoke to Paul, the guy who runs the place. He explained how the safety aspects works - he rents full face masks which seem to work well. Once you go into the game area, when the guns are loaded, you have to wear the mask. They are strict about this and that's good !

The three of us turned up, in the pouring rain yesterday morning, I decided I'd be brave (at 45yo) and have a go too. It was great fun - damp - but great fun. There were only two other people who turned up, but all five of us has a very good time. There were various formats of games, sometimes team based, sometimes everyone for themselves.

I thought the competitive and teamwork elements were very good. In many ways the fact that we were using guns was secondary. It was good exercise, an excuse to run around in the open air and a great way to go out and have fun with your 14yo. We're definitely going to do it again.

I would be wary if there were guys there who were too focued in the whole war / guns / killing aspect. I saw no indication of that yesterday, but, as I say there weren't many of us there.

The gound is rough so good solid boots with ankle support are a good idea. There is lots of stuff around the HRTA site to provide cover e.g. and old bus, various pre-fabs and rubble of different sorts. It's a good idea to keep your wits about you and look where you're going. My two 14yo's were sensible enough and came back with no more than a few bruises - mainly on the knees from diving for cover !

Hope this helps

Silent Death

there are these pages on the site as well. You might have already seen them

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055353671
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055163577

Its a great sport, most of the people playing are absolutly sound and there is never a problem with them. Great sport to get involved in
One warning though; if you get hooked you are well and truly hooked. It is stupidly addictive.

longwhitecross+

Plenty to gain... teamwork and such, socializing; respect for the honour rule in taking hits would have knock on effects too..

Shiva

Jams wrote: »

I thought the competitive and teamwork elements were very good. In many ways the fact that we were using guns was secondary. It was good exercise, an excuse to run around in the open air and a great way to go out and have fun with your 14yo.

Thats a brilliant impression to take away from the day, especially the part I've highlighted. Too many people just look at the guns and forget everything else.

Kudos Mr. Jams