Field Preparations : what items should be addressed on the playing field that the refs may want to tend to in the weeks leading up to an event. (theme prep, ground hornets, bees, wasps, snakes, nails, boundaries, objectives, bases, doglegs, chronies, floors, dead trees, briars, garbage, trash containers, stump holes, fire extinguishers, burn barrels, open fires, fire wood, camping, parking, first aid kits, first responders, on-field transport, medical emergency plan, radios, flash lights, cylume sticks, hole punches, water coolers, atv's, air horns, bull horns, stage, signs, chrony calibrations, communications plan)


Im chewing on this one -- stand by..

Field Preparations : what items should be addressed on the playing field that the refs may want to tend to in the weeks leading up to an event. (theme prep, ground hornets, bees, wasps, snakes, nails, boundaries, objectives, bases, doglegs, chronies, floors, dead trees, briars, garbage, trash containers, stump holes, fire extinguishers, burn barrels, open fires, fire wood, camping, parking, first aid kits, first responders, on-field transport, medical emergency plan, radios, flash lights, cylume sticks, hole punches, water coolers, atv's, air horns, bull horns, stage, signs, chrony calibrations, communications plan)



In the weeks leading to to a big game, it is time for the field owners and reffing staff to look at their field with a VERY critical eye towards safety. Soon many players are going to be playing, night and day, in a more intense fashion than the average recballer does, and they will assume the field is ready for play - and safe to play.

It is also time to think along the lines of "what could go wrong.." and then what can I do to prevent it?...or to minimize the possibility?.

Boundary Rope : The field whould be roped at waist high all the way around the property to help players know what is, and is not in play. When running ths rope, try and avoid inward doglegs that would allow players to shoot over out of bounds areas. Try and keep the rope straight and level. One way to do this is to stretch the rope long and straight and anchor it in two point 100 yards apart, and then use shorter lengths of string (stringers) every 50 feet to help hold the long rope up at waist height. 3/8" yellow nylon line holds up pretty well over time. When running the boundary rope take some neon flaging tape with you mark any hazards you find on the way (especially barbed wire).
If the barbed wire must stay on the field, flag it heavily or rope it out of bounds..

Pointy Things : Once the boundaries are in place, go through your list and cut and remove all old fallen barbed wire. Look over all structures with a critical eye for nails sticking up, sheet metal edges, steel rods etc and get them odd the field, or hammered down and safe. Wooden pallets and wooden spools are good example of places for rust nails.

Dead Falls : As you walk the field, look for dead trees. If they are dead, rotten and gonna fall - now is a good time to drop them. Get someone familiar and experienced to do this (if you are not). Frequently the tops of such trees break off as they fall, and these are lethal.

Rot : If the floor has holes or rot - now is the time to replace or repair it. If it wiggles, fix it.

Handrails : Look for places where a player may need a hand rail - and make sure there is one. If it wiggles, fix it.

Slippies : In castles, towers, etc odds are there is accumulated paint goo and shell. A 5 gallon bucket of sand (or bag of concrete sand) would help some. In a pinch, a large piece of cardboard works.

Stump Holes : It is impossible to get them all, but when you do encounter one, take a moment to fill it with logs and branches in the area. Sand is better.

Briars, Thorn trees and wait a minute vines : If you see some thing in a high traffic area that looks nasty - chop it and remove it.

Stingies : If it stings : kill it. Seriously : kill all wasps, hornets, bees, ground hornets etc you can find. Look carefully under stairs, and on ceilings and corners in structures for wasps. The field should have a few cans of hornet spray on hand at all times: just in case - especially in ths summer time.

Safety Signs : It is a nice feature to have signs on the field with arrows pointing back to the staging area. In a pinch a few laminated 8.5x11 neon sheets of paper work well.

Old Objective signs : as you walk an old scenario field, odds are there are old signs marking the name of the location. If laminated paper, remove. If wood - plan on covering up.

New Objective Signs : Every objective, base, and spawn on the game map should be marked and accurately labled on the field. Laminated 8.5" x 11" neon paper works well. Furthermore, there should no signs on the field that conflict with these. One sign per objective is sufficient. Make it obvious and clear. A good staple gun is nice. If you think you are going to use specific locations on the field for future events, it may be a good idea to nail up a 18" x 24" piece of treated plywood to mount the laminated signs on.

-- enough for now.. more later

Scenario Reffing : Field Preparations : what items should be addressed on the playing field that the refs may want to tend to in the weeks leading up to an event. (theme prep, ground hornets, bees, wasps, snakes, nails, boundaries, objectives, bases, doglegs, chronies, floors, dead trees, briars, garbage, trash containers, stump holes, fire extinguishers, burn barrels, open fires, fire wood, camping, parking, first aid kits, first responders, on-field transport, medical emergency plan, radios, flash lights, cylume sticks, hole punches, water coolers, atv's, air horns, bull horns, stage, signs, chrony calibrations, communications plan)

By John "Thumper" Edens
1.22.2008
with contributions as noted.


In the weeks leading to to a big game, it is time for the field owners and reffing staff to look at their field with a VERY critical eye towards safety. Soon many players are going to be playing, night and day, in a more intense fashion than the average recballer does, and they will assume the field is ready for play - and safe to play.

It is also time to think along the lines of "what could go wrong.." and then what can I do to prevent it?...or to minimize the possibility?.

Boundary Rope : The field whould be roped at waist high all the way around the property to help players know what is, and is not in play. When running ths rope, try and avoid inward doglegs that would allow players to shoot over out of bounds areas. Try and keep the rope straight and level. One way to do this is to stretch the rope long and straight and anchor it in two point 100 yards apart, and then use shorter lengths of string (stringers) every 50 feet to help hold the long rope up at waist height. 3/8" yellow nylon line holds up pretty well over time. When running the boundary rope take some neon flaging tape with you mark any hazards you find on the way (especially barbed wire).
If the barbed wire must stay on the field, flag it heavily or rope it out of bounds..

Pointy Things : Once the boundaries are in place, go through your list and cut and remove all old fallen barbed wire. Look over all structures with a critical eye for nails sticking up, sheet metal edges, steel rods etc and get them odd the field, or hammered down and safe. Wooden pallets and wooden spools are good example of places for rust nails.

Dead Falls : As you walk the field, look for dead trees. If they are dead, rotten and gonna fall - now is a good time to drop them. Get someone familiar and experienced to do this (if you are not). Frequently the tops of such trees break off as they fall, and these are lethal.

Rot : If the floor has holes or rot - now is the time to replace or repair it. If it wiggles, fix it.

Handrails : Look for places where a player may need a hand rail - and make sure there is one. If it wiggles, fix it.

Slippies : In castles, towers, etc odds are there is accumulated paint goo and shell. A 5 gallon bucket of sand (or bag of concrete sand) would help some. In a pinch, a large piece of cardboard works.

Stump Holes : It is impossible to get them all, but when you do encounter one, take a moment to fill it with logs and branches in the area. Sand is better.

Briars, Thorn trees and wait a minute vines : If you see some thing in a high traffic area that looks nasty - chop it and remove it.

Stingies : If it stings : kill it. Seriously : kill all wasps, hornets, bees, ground hornets etc you can find. Look carefully under stairs, and on ceilings and corners in structures for wasps. The field should have a few cans of hornet spray on hand at all times: just in case - especially in ths summer time.

Safety Signs : It is a nice feature to have signs on the field with arrows pointing back to the staging area. In a pinch a few laminated 8.5x11 neon sheets of paper work well.

Old Objective signs : as you walk an old scenario field, odds are there are old signs marking the name of the location. If laminated paper, remove. If wood - plan on covering up.

New Objective Signs : Every objective, base, and spawn on the game map should be marked and accurately labled on the field. Laminated 8.5" x 11" neon paper works well. Furthermore, there should no signs on the field that conflict with these. One sign per objective is sufficient. Make it obvious and clear. A good staple gun is nice. If you think you are going to use specific locations on the field for future events, it may be a good idea to nail up a 18" x 24" piece of treated plywood to mount the laminated signs on.