From Mike: As we get back into the swing of things, we’re starting off today (with a rare Tuesday post!) with a new segment that we’ll rotate in occasionally: Half-Minute History. In each installment of Half-Minute History the goal is to give you a bit of history that you can learn in 30 seconds or less, and then try to relate a laser tag strategy lesson to the snippet of history. Enjoy!
In the entire American Revolution there was only one full-scale battle fought, and not only was it the first battle overall, but it was also the biggest loss for our side. George Washington lost miserably but thankfully the lessons he learned allowed him to be far more successful than in the Battle for New York City.
Can Washington’s loss in the Battle for New York teach us laser tag strategy?
When the British sent their army in August 1776 to crush what they thought was a traitorous uprising, they landed 35,000 troops in Brooklyn in boats like the picture above. The American Rebellion only had about 25,000 troops and over the next four months (through November) they lost three-quarters of them! George Washington, the general of our army, had no experience leading an actual battle of that size and losses mounted quickly. The battle actually raged from New York City all the way to New Jersey. (Four months is a LONG time to fight!)
Fortunately for us, this huge failure at the start didn’t mean the end of the war. Washington paid close attention to what succeeded and what failed, and only a few weeks later won the Battle of Trenton, a major victory for the Revolution. While the overwhelming troops of the British allowed them to hold ground that they won, Washington focused on slowly winning back lost ground, eventually winning the war.
Lessons for Laser Tag
Some games you’ll win and some games you’ll have the other team wiping the field with you and your teammates. It’s easy to get discouraged, especially after a huge loss, but the best players and the best teams are going to take time in the reset between games to refocus. Each game is a new battle, with no ties to the last, so hit each whistle blast with the same energy and excitement as you did the last time. Teams that win consistently bring the same level of energy to every game, even if they just lost a minute ago. Shake it off, figure out where the wheels came off last time and hone your team’s strategy. By coming back strong it’s entirely possible to catch your opponents off-guard. Also, after a huge loss focus on small improvements: improving your score can still be a victory even if you lose overall.
Most importantly, have fun and remember that our referees are there to help. We’re also trying to balance the game as fairly as possible, so let us know if there’s something that seems wrong.