The Kill Train
A most excellent idea, spawned from a double run-through seen several months ago by Evan and me, is the Kill Train.
Something that’s fun to do is to have your whole team take off down one tape side, preferably the right tape is everyone is right handed. This can be done right on the break, or immediately afterwards and usually works best against inexperienced people who enjoy running to their bunkers off the break without looking up.
The lead-man or “Engine” shoots straight, aiming at the outside corner of the right back bunker, or whatever other bunkers are occupied along the right tape. The “Freight Cars” gets to shoot at a forty-five degree angle, in and across the field. The “Caboose” is in charge of shooting straight across the field, perpendicular to the tape, making sure everyone gets mopped up.
That’s about all there is to it! Now go try it, and be sure to yell “Kiiilllll Traaaaiiiiin” while running down the field.
August 24th, 2007 at 11:00 am
You know, though the idea is certainly excellent, it’s the Kill Train picture at the bottom that makes it. Nicely done.
September 6th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Old post, just read it now, but an even older concept.
This was called “Freight Training” back in the day of woodsball tournaments. IT was devastatingly effective, as the rules weren’t written at the time to stop or prevent it. The problem with the move is that it’s a CHEATERS PARADISE.
The lead man of the train gets hit, and in the 3-4 seconds it takes for him to get out of the way, the train moves forward. Plus he’s taking all the shots for his teammates, giving them ground they shouldn’t have been able to get otherwise. The referees had no way to stop it, other than start to pull players but by then it’s too late. The “train” had done it’s damage. The “attacking” team gains ground and superior numbers while the “defending” team loses players because a guy basically acted like a meat shield for the rest of his team.
The end result is that the lead guy takes all the hits, and bonus balls, while the people behind him stay clean while they do runthroughs. Arguments / fights are soon to follow. And yes, there were more than one “tanking incident” due to freight trains.
It was so bad that the NPPL actually wrote a rule specifically to address this tactic. In fact, it’s still there. 21.02 is the “no freight train” rule. It’s been there since the early 90’s, when 15 man teams would storm 10 down a side.
And just remember, in NPPL you’re not “out” until a ref can not only catch up with you but also pulls your armband!