One thing all of us paintball players run into constantly is the issue of bunkering. This article will cover both the aspects of bunkering and the heated debate between bunkering players or surrendering them, an issue field owners and referees at recreational fields run across all the time.Bunkering 101
Bunkering can be defined as eliminating an opposing player at close range, usually within 7 feet of each other. As simple as this may sound, the concept of bunkering and tactics involved in actually performing this maneuver can be quite complicated and exciting. This section is designed to give you, the experienced reader, some tips on performing this maneuver, or backing someone up who is attempting to bunker an opponent.
Back Player Strategies:
Always keep an eye on the target of whom your front player is aiming to bunker. As the bunkering is about to commence, make sure to keep a steady stream of paint to the side of your rushing front player to keep the receiver of the bunkering down.
Another, more effective strategy, is attempting to keep the target busy. Keep popping out of your bunker and distracting the target, let him attempt to shoot you out. While he is busy working on marking you, your front player can hurry to the opposite side of the players bunker and shoot the target on his blind side. Always keep in mind that if the target has supporting players, have your other teammates try keeping them down so your front player will not get shot out while on the run to bunker one of your opponents. The most important tactic in supporting your front player is to keep in oral contact with him. Shout as much information as you get to him, and cue to him when he should run up. Of course though, do not make obvious comments such as Go for it! Bunker the dude in the dorito NOW!, or you may be more of a disadvantage than an advantage.Front Player Strategies:
As the front player, you obviously hold the most important position in bunkering someone. You should be close up in the action, near the center of the field named the 50. Always keep your eyes open and do not develop the horror in paintball known as tunnel vision, where you concentrate only on a single point, and ignore your surrounding, which can and probably will lead to you being eliminated from the side or getting bunkered yourself. Always expect to be rushed up on, and be aware of what is happening. You should always be talking with your supporting back player, and popping out the bunker and shooting at the opposing teams back player to keep him down, to prevent communication between the other teams back and front players, which can help prevent yourself from getting bunkered and your team trampled upon. When getting prepared to bunker your opposing front player, expect the other teams back players to lay paint on you.
Stay low when running and NEVER keep your gun down. With experienced players, it is not be a good idea to shoot a steady stream of paint at their bunker while running up to bunker them, as they will usually recognize this sign and get ready to counter you. Stay low and quiet, and run as fast as you can. When reaching the bunker, try to hit the opponents blind side. Many players tend to fire off a certain point of their bunker for a minute or two during the game. Look at their patterns and try to intercept them while they are looking in a different direction. Going over the top of their bunker to bunker them can be very useful too when you are being shot at constantly by the opposing back players. In all cases, one of the most important things to remember is that you are just as vulnerable as your target when attempting to perform a bunker.Bunkering vs Surrendering
Recreational fields where weekend warriors can get away from the hassle of daily life often face monetary, hiring, and other important aspects of running a field. The most common rules controversy between recreational fields is the decision whether to use the surrender rule or play without restrictions, and allowing bunkering. The surrender rule has the very simple concept, but often tedious execution of not allowing players to shoot each other within 10 feet of each other, but rather yelling surrender at them to avoid close-range shots which can often be painful and discouraging to newer and younger players alike. The problem with the surrender rule is the lack of a player having a built-in distance sensor in their brain.
Yes, this may seem a bit absurd, but players cannot always tell the distance they are from the other. In a related anecdote, I was recently playing at my local indoor field, which had the surrender rule in play. After going around an inflatable bunker at the 50-yard line and screaming for my neighboring enemy to surrender, I promptly received a shot to the goggles. The player was new, and did not quite remember the rule. So what should have been done here? Both the player and I who shot me were pulled from the game and counted as being eliminated. In a related story, at the same indoor field, I attempted a few games later to surrender a player by screaming surrender! at him from 11 yards away (sorry, no sensor in my brain), and of course, got shot. After consulting the referees of why I was pulled from the game, they told me that I was just a tad too far away to surrender the player. I had tried to show mercy on the new player that game as he had his entire side of the body exposed to my paintball marker. It is my belief that until a universal rule is established that can be easily followed by everyone, such being no rule at all (bunkering not prohibited), that incidents such as these can be avoided. If players are afraid to be shot from close range, they should select another group of players to play with that can follow and acknowledge the surrender rule immediately. Many fields now are resorting to splitting up groups of players between a bunkering group for the more experienced players, and a surrender group for the less experienced, which is for now the only solution to this problem.
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