Foam bullets fly through the cool spring air as students engage in stakeouts, battle, and dueling. Bowie Nerf War is back for 2024, bringing new rules to the age old tradition.
Seniors Lucas Burcham and Colin Rice, who are running the competition this year, made the account and detailed document of rules.
“We definitely used some of the same rules as the people who ran it last year,” Burcham said. “But we added a few new rules too.”
A notable regulation for this year is that players have the ability to open doors of opponents cars and shoot into the vehicle or hide in the vehicle and wait for their opposition.
“I think the rule could definitely be an issue between strangers,” Burcham said. “But most people playing know it’s good fun.”
During the first week of the Nerf war, a video made its way around campus via Instagram of a car door being pulled open on the busy intersection of Brodie and Slaughter during the lunch period.
“The people in the video are friends of mine,” Burcham said. “They are also friends with each other so that situation was a good laugh.”
Rules have also been put in place to ensure that people playing the game will not be interrupted during work so as to not get in trouble with their employers.
“I think the rules that protect people at work are probably the most important,” Burcham said. “I’ve heard that people have gotten in trouble for opponents showing up at their jobs and we don’t want to get their jobs involved.”
Outside of school and work almost everywhere is fair game. Some students even utilize their parents to assist them in the war. Glen Lewis, a Bowie Social Studies teacher, has been helping his son Easton throughout the war.
“It kind of builds community, it’s something fun for students to do.” Lewis said. “And they can win money in the end, which is awesome.”
Lewis has been teaching at Bowie for many years and has seen many Nerf wars although he is a fan, he does have concerns about the way some students drive.
“As a parent it can be a little worrisome seeing the way many teens are driving,” Lewis said. “Of course, we want our kids to be safe. It’s pretty crazy to try and catch or evade an opponent in a vehicle.”
Students who have parents helping them out can have quite the advantage, parents have been lookouts, decoys, and even planners.
“I help strategize for Easton’s’ team; they’re not really sure what to do,” Lewis said. “And I’m just thinking if I was playing the war would be over by now.”
Information is key in Nerf War, students must figure out their opponents addresses, workplaces and even car make and models.
“During the first round I was pinned against a team with just one team member who knew me well,” junior Hayden Dusterhoft said. “They knew my address and where I work and what my car looks like.”
Dusterhoft who was a victim of the ‘unlocked doors is fair game rule’ plotted diligently with his team members until his unfortunate loss.
“We had a plan we were going to do that night,” Dusterhoft said. “My doors unlocked when I put my car in park and I was done for.”
Knowing your teammates is a huge advantage but some people can be very hard to find.
“One person on our opposing team knew all our addresses and cars,” Dusterhoft said. “He was also the only person on that team we had information on.”
