originally published in the August 2008 issue of Action Pursuit Games
You
and your team are slowly moving toward the enemy base in single file,
keeping five yards between each player. You know the other side is
close. Your adrenaline is pumping, your eyes peeled, your mouth is dry,
and you can feel your heartbeat in your ears.
Just ahead behind
a stack of logs you see a quick flash of light as the sun reflects off a
mask lens. You know the other side isn't just close - they are really
close!
The bushes ahead erupt as streams of paint come your
way. You haven't walked into an ambush; you have walked into attacking
force of the other team.
You
can't pull back or you will be cut to pieces, and you are outnumbered.
Now is your chance to be a 'Star'. To set up a hasty 'Star' defense that
is.
The 'Star' defense is your best bet when you are on the
move and need to set up a defense quickly. It is called a 'Star' defense
because when all of your players are deployed each player will take up
position on a point of an imaginary star.
Moving into the Star defense is easy. Look at the drawing and follow the movements players need to make.
The player in the front of your column (player #1) immediately drops and starts to return fire.
The next two players (players #2 & #3) move wide to the left and right of player #1 to give supporting fire.
The last two players (players #4 & #5) also move left and right only not as far as players #2 & #3.
Setting
up the 'Star' defense works best with five players but it can be set up
and work effectively with as few as three players or as many as nine.
The 'Star' is without a doubt the most effective hasty defensive
tactic. There are five main reasons why the 'Star' is so effective.
Maximum Volume of Fire
No defense will work no matter how well executed unless you can bring
the maximum volume of fire on to the attacking force. When you make
initial contact the maximum number of markers can quickly be fired at
the enemy to the front without running the risk of accidentally
eliminating your own team mates.
Volume of fire alone will not ensure victory but a lack of fire will guarantee defeat.
Defense in Depth
Once the 'Star' is set you will have a defense in depth. If the other
team tries a frontal assault they will have three layers of defense to
penetrate before your team is eliminated.
A defense in depth is much more effective then one line of defenders.
Covering the Angles
Once your players are deployed you will have every angle of approach to
your position covered. No matter from what direction the attackers
approach you will have one of your players returning fire.
Supporting Fire
Your players will give each other mutually supporting arcs of fire in
every direction. From every angle of approach there will be minimum of
three markers that can return fire to an attack. Four or five markers
that can return fire will cover most angles of approach.
Cannot be Flanked
The most important reason for using a Star defense is that the
attacking team cannot flank your position. Your set up is equally
effective from any side so no matter from which direction your defensive
perimeter is approached there is no weak point. Your players need only
to shift to cover all angles of approach, have defense in depth and will
have mutually sporting arcs of fire.
Win Or Be Wiped Out!
It is never a good thing to run into the other side when you are on the
move. You are in their territory. They are waiting for you, The other
team has the initiative.
If you do not react quickly all will be lost. Everyone on your team must know what to do when the time comes.
Quickly
deploying a 'Star' defense can turn the tables on the attackers and
snatch victory from what would normally be certain defeat. Practicing
and using this simple and incredibly effective hasty defensive set up
can not only mean the difference between having your side wiped out, and
winning the game. Do it properly it can also make you a 'Star'.
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