Understanding the rules of laser tag ensures everyone has a good and safe time.
Laser tag is a fun, fast-paced game that players of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy. Whether you’re playing with family, friends, coworkers, or people you have yet to meet, laser tag offers its participants a memorable and exciting experience.
Winning the sport requires strategy, skill, and a bit of luck. To be successful, players must be aware of their surroundings, move swiftly and stealthily, and have good aim. Winning also requires players to understand the rules and nuances of the game to their advantage.
Continue reading to learn more about the dos and don’ts at your local laser tag fun center.
The etiquette and rules of laser tag: dos and don’ts you need to know
To have a fun, safe, and successful time at the laser tag fun center, players need to know the rules of laser tag. In addition to rules, understanding etiquette and behavioral expectations is essential. Here’s what you need to know before you enter the arena.
DO stay low
Staying low during a game of laser tag is one of the most important strategies you can implement. It helps minimize your target profile while increasing your chances of staying alive. When you crawl or crouch, you reduce your body’s surface area that’s exposed to enemy lasers, making it more challenging for opponents to hit you.
This tactic also makes you less visible, as you can hide behind obstacles or blend into the dimly lit laser tag arena. Remember, being careful when crouching and crawling is critical. You don’t want to hurt yourself or others or damage laser tag equipment. Ensure you have a clear view of your surroundings and be aware of potential hazards and obstacles on the floor.
DON’T use inappropriate language
Remember, laser tag is a family-friendly sport. Nearly every laser tag fun center prohibits bad language due to their safety policies and the hope to maintain a family-friendly atmosphere. Using offensive, abusive, or derogatory language is grounds for a warning and may result in removal from the game. In extreme situations, it could even lead to a ban from the facility.
Keep interactions between players, teams, and staff respectful and positive to ensure you and your crew have a good experience playing laser tag.
DO keep moving
Staying mobile is one of our best tips and tricks for success. Standing still or in one place for too long makes you an easy target. Keep moving, change your positions, and avoid predictable patterns.
But don’t move randomly. Plan your movements based on the laser tag arena’s layout and use obstacles and covers to your advantage. Constantly moving will make it harder for your rivals to catch up to you, and you’ll be able to catch them off guard more easily.
DON’T make physical contact with anyone
Laser tag is a non-contact sport, meaning there is never any reason for one player to touch another. Direct physical contact between you and another player could result in game expulsion. We do not tolerate violence of any kind.
DO keep your speed down
Laser tag is an exciting game, but maintaining a safe speed is essential for the safety of everyone in the arena. Because lights are dimmed during play, fast running almost always results in a nasty collision, causing harm to players and equipment.
Players must slow down and walk in the arena and keep their focus on the mission objective: hit your opponent’s targets. Remember, speed does not mean success.
DON’T give yourself up
Using the element of surprise is an excellent strategy in laser tag. Don’t let your opponents pick up on your patterns. Keep moving, change positions, and try to catch your enemy off guard by popping out from behind obstacles and aiming from unexpected locations.
This will make it harder for your opponents to anticipate your moves, giving you a significant advantage in the game. Remember to stay alert and avoid being caught off guard by your opponents’ positions.
DO stay aware of your surroundings
If you’re here to win, staying alert is crucial. Take note of your opponents and the obstacles. Try to think like your “enemy” and consider where they might be coming from.
Use your peripheral vision to your advantage, watching the other players while focusing on your target. Staying aware will also help you identify ideal hiding spots and ambush points, giving you a strategic edge.
DON’T cheat
Like all games, we do not tolerate cheating in any form, including covering or removing laser sensors. Doing these things puts yourself and your team at the risk of disqualification or removal from the fun center entirely.
DO be a team player
Some sports are individually competitive, while others are team sports. In laser tag, some games could be about players, but in most of the games, consideration of the team’s success should be your number one priority. Scoring in laser tag is always considered a team effort first and a player’s performance second.
When playing team laser tag, working together and communicating effectively is key. To be successful, make a plan and coordinate your movements with teammates. Assign roles and stick with them. By working together, you increase your chances of winning and outsmarting the other team.
DON’T participate in inappropriate behavior
There is zero tolerance for bad sportsmanship-like behaviors. This includes being disrespectful to players on either team, staff members, and the fun center property. Bad language (as previously mentioned), threats, and abuse will also not be tolerated.
This also includes the use of an outside weapon, real or fake. If you cannot respect everyone around you, you will not be allowed to participate.
DO use cover
Utilizing the arena’s obstacles to your advantage is a crucial strategy to employ if you want to win. Use the available covers to protect yourself from enemy lasers, such as walls, pillars, and blockades.
When you’re undercover, your sensors are harder to hit, and you’ll have an easier time spotting your rivals. Remember, your enemies will quickly find your hiding spots and take you out, so stay mobile and move to other places to take cover.
DON’T climb on the barricades
Yes, we want you to use the blockades and walls to your advantage, but you need to do this without climbing on them. The design of our arena provides places to shield yourself and hide from opponents’ fire. These obstacles don’t support any amount of body weight. Climbing will result in harm or injury to yourself or others.
DO stay calm
Staying calm and level-headed in laser tag is essential. Panicking during the game can lead to poor decision-making and result in a careless mistake, costing you and your team valuable points.
Take a deep breath and try to assess the situation calmly. If you are taking on fire, quickly move to find cover and make a new plan. Remember, laser tag is meant to be fun. So don’t let the pressure get you down. Moreover, staying calm ensures you don’t get ejected from the game.
DON’T forget to dress appropriately
Dressing appropriately is a key part of playing laser tag. Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely, such as athletic wear. Wearing shoes with good traction, like sneakers, will help you navigate the arena effortlessly.
Avoid loose clothing with hanging parts that could get caught on obstacles and hinder movement. Also, consider wearing darker colors that do not glow under black lights.
DO have fun
Laser tag is all about exercising your body and mind. If you aren’t having fun, something is amiss, and you should consult a teammate or staff member for some insider tips and tricks to improve your game.
Remember, this is only a game; try to enjoy the experience with your loved ones. When you’re having fun, you’re more likely to be relaxed and focused, allowing you to perform your best.
Skinny Dogz: Utah’s best laser tag arena
Knowing the rules of laser tag and basic etiquette of the game will help you be most successful.If you’re looking for a great place to experience the game in Northern Utah, visit Skinny Dogz. Whether you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend or need a place to host your next family gathering, party with friends, or work event, Skinny Dogz laser tag fun center in Ogden is here for you. Contact Skinny Dogz to learn more.