From swimming lessons to gymnastics to competitive sports, childrenB次元官网网址檚 lives are becoming increasingly busy, structured and scheduled.
But sometimes kids just need to run around, be goofy, and shoot each other with Nerf guns: thatB次元官网网址檚 why Mike Innis is starting the Victoria Nerf Association.
B次元官网网址淭he rules are kind of silly and thatB次元官网网址檚 kind of the point,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not for serious at all, and you run around and blast each other with foam.B次元官网网址�
There are 22 brightly-coloured Nerf blasters on a table in InnisB次元官网网址檚 Greater Victoria living room, all used toys he bought from VarageSale and Used Victoria. For ammunition, he has hundreds of dark blue foam darts, and 10,000 more he bought in bulk are on their way from China.
Innis, who by day works at a Victoria-area insurance company, said when he bought a Nerf gun for his three-year-oldB次元官网网址檚 birthday, he remembered how much fun he had playing with the toys when he was younger. He and his friends would duck behind furniture and shoot back-and-forth at each other.
Now 32, he thinks kids and their parents together, and adults, could benefit from a fun, unstructured activity, something more casual and less intense than competitive sports.
The University of Victoria sometimes hosts an event using Nerf guns B次元官网网址� Humans versus Zombies B次元官网网址� but there isnB次元官网网址檛 a regular venue for this kind of play.
B次元官网网址淗ow many kidsB次元官网网址� sports are taken wicked too seriously by the time theyB次元官网网址檙e like five and six years old, like hockey, soccer B次元官网网址� definitely, on the Island,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淣erfB次元官网网址檚 not that. Not even close.B次元官网网址�
Nerf isnB次元官网网址檛 meant to be played competitively, says Innis. The guns fire at an average speed of about 70 feet per second and even when fired at close range, the impact is so gentle you may not even know youB次元官网网址檝e been shot. Unlike paintball, there is no visual marking that youB次元官网网址檝e been hit, so players rely on an honour system.
B次元官网网址淲ithin the hobby, thatB次元官网网址檚 a big deal. You have to call your own hits,B次元官网网址� he says. The hobby is typically so casual there isnB次元官网网址檛 an official national association or genuine rule set: B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 kind of the point.B次元官网网址�
In November, Innis started Foam Blaster Supply, a company that would supply rental Nerf guns and darts to the association as a way to fund the non-profit leagueB次元官网网址檚 insurance and facility rental fees.
He also hopes he can rent the blasters out for office and birthday parties.
B次元官网网址淕ive everyone a Nerf gun and let them go nuts B次元官网网址� That sounds pretty fun, actually, right?B次元官网网址�
