7 Instructor Mistakes That Can Cost You Customers and Equipment
A laser tag instructor is responsible for more than just explaining the rules and keeping players engaged. They also handle the equipment: taggers, vests, batteries, game scenarios, and statistics. Sometimes, one small mistake before or after a game can lead to technical issues, delays, and unhappy players.
We’ve put together 7 common mistakes that are best avoided. At the end, you’ll also find a short instructor checklist for before and after the game.
1. Forgetting to Turn Off the Equipment After the Game
After a busy event, it’s easy to get distracted: players are returning their taggers, someone is asking questions, and the play area needs to be packed up quickly. As a result, some laser tag equipment may be left switched on.
The consequences are simple: batteries drain, the equipment goes into storage in the wrong condition, and before the next game the instructor suddenly discovers that part of the kit is not ready to use.
How to avoid it: introduce a final check rule. After every game, the instructor should go through the kit and make sure all equipment is turned off, counted, and packed away. The checklist at the end of this article is useful for that.
2. Using the Wrong Charger for the Batteries
Batteries require careful handling. If you mix up chargers, use the wrong power supply, or charge the equipment “however it works,” you can shorten battery life or cause equipment failure.
This is especially risky when chargers are not labeled. When cables, power supplies, and devices look similar, a mistake becomes only a matter of time.
How to avoid it: label your chargers, avoid using random power supplies, and always check that each battery is connected to the correct charger.
3. Transporting Equipment Without Securing It
Taggers, vests, headbands, and chargers do not handle chaotic transport well. If everything is thrown into one trunk without being secured, the equipment will hit against itself on every bump.
The damage may not show up immediately: damaged connectors, cracks, loose mounts, bent cables, and unstable performance after transport.
How to avoid it: use cases, foam inserts, dividers, and straps. Before departure, the equipment should not just be “packed” but securely fixed in place.
4. Putting Wet Vests Into a Case
After an outdoor game, equipment may be damp from rain, snow, grass, sweat, or condensation. One common instructor mistake is to quickly pack everything into a case and close it until the next event.
Inside a closed case, moisture does not disappear. It can lead to unpleasant odors, oxidized contacts, damaged electronics, and a shorter service life for the gear.
How to avoid it: wipe down the vests and taggers before storage, let them dry, and only then pack them into cases. If the game took place in difficult weather conditions, drying the equipment should become a mandatory part of the routine.
5. Updating Firmware One Hour Before the Event
Updates are useful, but not at the last minute. If you start updating equipment right before an event, you may run into incompatible settings, an update error, or simply not have enough time to test everything.
The worst-case scenario is when the guests have already arrived, and the instructor is still trying to get the kit back into working condition.
How to avoid it: update firmware in advance, not right before the game. After updating, run a test: turn the equipment on, check connection, scenarios, sound, hit registration, and basic settings.
6. Mixing Up Player Numbers
It seems like a small thing until the game starts and it turns out that the “sniper” is registered as an assault player, someone from the red team ended up on the blue team, and the post-round statistics are a mess.
Player numbers are not just for keeping the game report tidy. They affect scenarios, team logic, statistics, and post-game analysis.
How to avoid it: before the start, check the numbers of taggers, vests, and players, especially if the equipment is being used for a tournament, corporate event, or scenario-based game.
7. Not Checking Damage, Lives, and Round Time Settings
A classic situation: the game starts, and a couple of minutes later it becomes clear that the damage is too high, there are too few lives, the round time is wrong, or the scenario is still set up for the previous group.
In the past, this meant stopping the game, restarting everything, and dealing with unhappy players.
With a laser tag configurator, these mistakes no longer have to turn into a disaster. The instructor can change parameters right during the game: adjust damage, number of lives, round duration, and other settings without an unnecessary pause. This is especially useful when different groups play on the same field: children, beginners, experienced players, or corporate teams.
Still, this does not replace a basic pre-game check. The configurator helps fix the situation quickly, but a good instructor still checks the scenario, balance, and key match settings in advance.
Instructor Checklist Before the Game
- Check the equipment charge level.
- Turn on the kit and run a test check.
- Check that the firmware version is up to date.
- Match player numbers with taggers and vests.
- Check teams, scenario, and roles.
- Check damage, lives, and round time settings.
- Make sure the equipment is secured for transport.
- Bring spare cables, chargers, and consumables.
Instructor Checklist After the Game
- Turn off all equipment.
- Count taggers, vests, headbands, and accessories.
- Check for any damage after the game.
- Sort kits by number.
- Wipe down and dry any damp equipment.
- Pack the kit into cases only after checking it.
- Connect batteries to the correct charger.
- Note any issues that need to be fixed before the next game.
Conclusion
Most instructor mistakes happen not because of a lack of knowledge, but because of rushing.
A checklist helps you avoid keeping everything in your head and reduces the risk of technical problems at the next event.
This way, the instructor stays in control of the game instead of solving problems during the event.
