Lazer Tag Code of Conduct

Learn the rules and follow them. They lead to good sportsmanship and safe play. Break the rules, and you're out. Breaking the rules means you're either cheating, or risking injury, and neither are acceptable. These rules are amended and expanded from the official Lazer Tag Code of Conduct and Safety guides from LTTO and previous iterations of Lazer Tag (1.)

LAZER TAG is a non-contact sport

This means no physical contact between you and other players - EVER! People who play Lazer Tag should not come into contact with each other. Their taggers should not smack against other players, sensors, or anything else. Accidental contact can happen, but if it is happening often, then the players are doing something wrong. Players should not rush other players or jump out at other players in close quarters. Any activity that may cause physical contact should be avoided.

Respect the players' Zones of Control!
The Zone of Control is the area within an arm's reach of every Lazer Tag player (an area with a radius of about 3 feet). All Lazer Tag players should try to stay outside of other players' Zones of Control. This helps avoid collision and equipment damage. Novice players have a tendency to place their tagger right in front of an opponent's sensor, or even touching the opponent's sensor. This does not ensure a tag and it isn't very safe.

No covering the Receiver Dome/Sensor

This means do not use anything to cover up the Receiver Dome thereby preventing you from receiving tags. If you want to avoid being tagged, you must use your defensive shields or take cover behind something. Covering the sensor with your hand or other object is blatant cheating, and will result in immediate expulsion from the game. If you are being tagged repeatedly and don't want to be tagged out, run for cover. Turning your back or hiding whatever sensor device is on your person, such as the sensor on the tagger, is no better than covering the sensor.
In the same vein, holding the tagger such that the sensor is obscured to other players is also frowned upon. For example, holding the LTTO Deluxe tagger "gangsta" style to line the sight up on top rather than on the side, obscures the sensor to any player on the side that sees only the bottom of the tagger. While this is usually unintentional, it's best to practice aiming with the tagger in its proper orientation to prevent being called a cheater by a player who could not tag you due to the way you hold your tagger.

All is NOT fair in Lazer Tag

LAZER TAG is only a game. It is NOT a war simulation. As such, there are rules to be followed to show your respect for other players and yourself. Cheating of ANY kind is unacceptable, and it is every player's responsibility to know what cheating is in Lazer Tag games. Cheating includes but is NOT limited to things such as:

• Covering the sensor/receiver on your tagger and/or body without taking full cover (i.e. covering it with your hand or body but still being able to launch tags at other players)
• Tricking other players into believeing that you are no longer playing and then tagging them when they are not on their guard against you. Examples include but are not limited to saying you're out when you're not, declaring a time out when there is no reason to do so, offering to help them with a problem, feigning injury or tagger malfunction, ANYTHING that would cause an opponent to treat you as safe rather than as an opponent.
• Spawn Camping. This is when, during a Respawn game, a player waits near, or consistently targets the respawn area so as to be able to quickly tag down opponents that return to the area to respawn.
• Feigning Out status. Do not wait near or at the staging area while you are in the game still. Even though you are not vocally tricking your opponents, by simply hanging around the staging area you lead them to believe you are no longer in the game, and are not a threat, thereby letting down their guard as they approach the area. The ONLY people that should be at the staging area are out players, or others who are NOT currently playing in a game.
• Missile Collecting when it was agreed that spent missile should be returned to the launcher or left alone. It is each player's responsibility to know what the agreement is on missiles before a game begins.
• Playing with malfunctioning gear. If a tagger is known to have problems receiving tags, or even emitting them, or has been modified to be significantly different than a stock LTTO tagger, then the player should NOT play with it unless during a "No mods barred" game.

All Taggers are Equal

While there are a variety of LTTO taggers, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. A good player will know them all and play well no matter what tagger s/he is using for a particular game. A new player should understand that there is a learning process to go through before becoming proficient with all tagger types. Winning or losing a game and then praising or blaming the tagger is poor sportsmanship, and will not be tolerated. Instead of complaining about losing because you used a tagger that you are unfamiliar with, ask a more experienced player for tips on using it, so that you can gain the experience needed to play well with any tagger you use. Note: when playing "no mods barred" games, expect to be owned by someone with a BFG they made. That's why most games are played with stock gear. ;-)

Determine treatment of orphan TMB Missiles prior to the start of a game

To prevent arguments about TMB missiles, it should be decided BEFORE a game whether launched missiles are fair game for other players, or if they are to be left alone except by the player that launched them. Some players prefer to keep track of and maintain control of their TMB missile, while others enjoy grabbing up spent missiles to use in their own TMB during a game, or simply to prevent the TMB player from having it to launch again until the end of the game. This is up to the currently playing group to decide, and all players must agree to the decision or use another tagger, or no missile at all.

Always obey authority

If a figure of authority appears, such as a park ranger, police officer, or security guard, IMMEDIATELY lay down ALL taggers and loose accessories and hold your hands in the air. Do NOT approach the person. Allow them to approach and question you. Not following these rules could result in injury or death. Do not goof off or tempt fate. A Lazer Tag game is not worth your life!

Know and Respect your Playing Area

Know the area.
Every player should be familiar with the playing area, which is usually in a specific place with defined boundaries. Geographical dangers, such as potholes, slippery areas, low branches, unfriendly dogs, and more, should be noted to all players so that they can be avoided. Play very carefully during an indoor game, as it is very easy to roll into a table or lamp, not only damaging the furniture, but also hurting yourself. In addition to knowing your play area, it is important that you understand what kinds of areas are off-limits for Lazer Tag games:
The following types of locations are generally off limits:

• Public shopping malls, stores, or busy areas with pedestrians moving around;
• Schools, unless the principal has given permission for the activity;
• Churches, unless permission is given;
• Police, security, military, or government areas of any type;
• Hospitals, infirmaries, or health clinics;
• Sports events such as football, basketball, and baseball games;
• Movie theaters;
• Near large gatherings of people who do not know that Lazer Tag games are being run in and about their area;
• Moving vehicles of any kind, including bicycles, skateboards, roller skates/blades, go-carts, mini-bikes, skis, and sleds;
• Busy traffic areas such as highways, alleys, roads, cul-de-sacs, etc.

Always mark your play area.
It should be obvious to passers by that the area you are in is hosting a Lazer Tag game. If it is not a private area, signs should be posted at all entrances to the area, especially near the boundaries of your play area. Private areas should also have clearly marked boundaries.

Respect the environment you play in!
Never deface property, litter, or damage the environments you play in. If any damage is caused, it is your responsibility to fix it. Similarly, it's a good idea to bring some garbage bags and clean up any area that you play in by picking up garbage left by others, and/or clearing away debris from paths and clearings to make the area more safe to play in. By taking good care of the places in which you play, you are more likely to be welcome there in the future.

LAZER TAG is a Game

Players must remember that LAZER TAG is only a game. It is designed purely for recreational use and for fun. Not having fun is against the code.

Equipment Failure means Disqualification

In the event that your TAGGER fails to work, you are disqualified and must wait until the end of the game to join the next one. Please check your TAGGER and HUD (HEADS UP DISPLAY, if used) carefully before entering a game to ensure that it is working properly. Custom or modified gear may need to pass qualifying tests by the game organizers to ensure that they meet and/or do not exceed allowed specifications. Players should not have a distinct advantage or disadvantage in the game based on their gear alone.

LAZER TAG is (sometimes) a Team Sport

Although LAZER TAG is a highly competitive sport, in many of the games you must consider the success of the team first. Players will win and lose as teams, not individuals. When you move from a Free For All (Classic) game to a team game, leave your selfishness behind and think of the team.

Do not use or tease bystanders

People who are watching the game but not playing should not become tools for the player to hide behind or be used in any way. This is especially important with people who come by and don't know that you are playing a Lazer Tag game. The sight of someone aiming what appears to be a pistol could cause non-players to become alarmed. A little courtesy to outsiders is appreciated and is much safer as well.

Refreshments and a resting area should be available

Lazer Tag can be a strenuous sport. Refreshments such as water or electrolytic beverages should be available. Food and snacks are a good idea as well. A designated area for non-players and players who are out or wish to rest should be available. Anyone in this area should be considered an observer/bystander, and treated as defined above. A single area is often used for refreshments, resting, hosting, and debriefing games.

Always warm up before the game

Lazer Tag is a strenuous sport. Is it a good idea to perform some stretching exercises before beginning any game. This warms up the body and helps prevent muscle strain during the game. Proper exercises can easily limber up the arms, legs, ankles, neck, and waist.

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(1.) Lazer Tag: The Official Game Handbook, and The Official Lazer Tag Tournament Book, copyright TSR, Inc., 1987.