Thoughts on a High School Airsoft team

[Jon The Student]

Good morning/afternoon/evening everyone, firstly I would like to point out that I have a smidge of common sense, and I know that brining any form of weapons, replicas or not, to school is not allowed.  Furthermore, I would understand any games/scrimmages, and practices would be on private or communal property,  and not on campus. As for why I am even bothering, I think it would raise awareness of airsoft in our local area, and also it would look good on my college application.

So with that out of the way, my plan as of now is to talk to my high school counselor, and get the requirements and rules to start up just a club/team.  From there I plan to start getting potential members from school together, and put together a presentation for the school board / or extracurricular board.

Any comments, suggestions, and insight into the school system and its extracurricular activities would be GREATLY appreciated. 

[SJrowland]

Is this just going to be for your school??? If so you need to get others schools involved because they would probably only let the team play against other schools, i guess?

[C Taylor]

Make sure you find something positive you can report to them. or else they will see it as high schoolers running around with guns. When talking to them explain the benefits and educational use of it.

[PRincess]

Does your school have a JROTC team? That would be a big help if you got that group involved. You could possibly get someone who is retired military or currently active in some branch to back you and set up one day where they will run through team building exercises involving airsoft to show how positive this club will be.

[stuckmojo]

chad and jon brought up excellent points...it would be a very good idea to talk to the jrotc leader about this and as to what chad said airsoft has alot of good qualities for kids for example:  it builds self confidence and discipline and teaches you how to work with a group which all are skills that future employers are looking for as well as the military.  take my son red for example anyone who knew him when he started airsoft 2 years ago compared to now will tell you he is a totally different kid.  i have seen his self confidence sky rocket as well as his abilily to work within a team and follow a chain of command.  dont give up on this jon i think its an excellent idea

[Felix]

This sounds awesome, but just be ready.  It would be like starting a paint ball club, except everyone who came in would just have to borrow a gun and get into it, by banzai charging and so forth.  This is good for starting awareness but the majority of kids who come want to be like half my high school team, they want to run in and shoot a bunch.

Just wondering what school would this start in, because if you can get a program started i wouldn't mind giving it a shot at LHS, and if we get enough schools and good players we can have small scale competitions.

[SJrowland]

My school district is building a new high school. It is set to be finished in july. I will talk to them about making an airsoft club. they might do it because they are requesting school clubs

[PRincess]

Jon the Pilot, If you need help with anything just let me know. My email is jonathan.r.leonard@gmail.com.

[Jon The Student]

Greatly appreciating all the feed back, just got back from work.  As for my JROTC (Currently a LET 3) at the school, there is currently problems, as for the fact that it appears that it is training cadets to be soldiers, or shifting them more so in the direction of military activities, which would raise  and give them all lot of flak, I will talk to my SAI again, but he shot down the prospect of a shooting team, and a paint ball team, so its probably a no go.  (Math teacher is neat, he will probably host it in his room, but I will have to organize and lead it)

From what I understand, a teacher needs to sponsor the team/club, not necessarily monetarily or as a coach, but just to reserve space and time for the group to meet.  As for the positive effects, we could go on and on (Honesty, Gun Awareness, Safety, Hand Eye Coordination, Team Work, Communication Skills, Physical Fitness, Reacting Calmly under stressful situations, Introduction to Mechanical Machines [Gearboxes], etc)

However I will make it extremely clear and constant that we will make it safe, we will wear goggles and mouth guards, and if that  doesn't work, paintball masks will be issued.

Clemson has an airsoft team, so does UConn, in addition I have read some high schools doing it, however they provide no specifics, so take from it what you will.  I'm sure I'll be able to get it going, I have a group of 4-8 that actively play airsoft locally, and fund raising will be no problem, so gentlemen, I'll keep you up to date as this progresses, starting tomorrow morning I will get in contact and get the ball rolling, take care fellas.

[Jon The Student]

Talked to the principal's secetary today, all I to do need is create a presentation for the principal, have him approve and wham, I am good.  A few kinks stand in the way of approval however, first, I must emphaize safety, secondly, we need an advisor to reserve time and space for us to practice at the school, for tactics, logistical and other topics.  All airsoft would be off campus.  Thirdly, we will need a few things, physical exam and waiver for all members to get completed, proper protection, and semi decent grades.

Will have most of these done by Friday, so I will be in cohorts with Mr. Dievendorf by the end of the week. SJrowland, I will have a guide if it succeds for you to use at your school, in addition I attend Bluffton High School.

[Echo1 Operator]

I would be surprised if you get complete approval, but stranger things have happened.  These are from a HS in Florence from years ago.
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[Felix]

Hey if this works man, send me that guide too. I know i can get a school or maybe even two over here. We can start an actual High School level Tourny if youd like

[Jon The Student]

Jeez that would be sooo awesome to play at school.... but back to reality, yeah i ll get a guide together and shoot it out.  I am confident after talking to the secretary today that it will happen.

[SteevoLS]

Here's a question. Even assuming you do get a club started, what is the point? What could it offer that you can't achieve simply by putting up a few posters around the school?

[Jon The Student]

Granted, this kinda selfish, I know, I would like to have started and organization and orchestrate it, and frankly, I think it would look good on a college application.  Other than that, it is kinda meaningless.