If you’re asked whether you play any sport, you might want to bring up your airsoft hobby. But that can lead to a debate about whether the tactical game can be considered a sport. If you want to know whether airsoft is a hobby or a sport, you should look no further.
Airsoft is a sport but not a professional sport, which is why almost all airsoft players are hobbyists. Since sports can be hobbies as well, airsoft is a hobby too. Referring to it as either a hobby or sport could be correct.
In this article, you will learn more about what makes airsoft a hobby and a sport, so if your choice is questioned, you can tell people why airsoft can be considered a sport. By the end, you will also find out a few ways in which you can make money from airsoft, even though you can professionally play to earn from it.
What Makes Airsoft A Sport?
Airsoft can be considered a sport because it requires athletic ability, has rules, and has clear winners and losers. All of these markers make airsoft a sport. However, the cultural attitude towards airsoft and tactical games isn’t the same as it is towards traditional sports.
The closest conventional sport to airsoft is hunting. But the same definition that makes big game hunting a sport and MMA a sport is what makes airsoft a sport. MMA and hunting can also help you debunk any myths regarding the validity of sports.
Common misconceptions around the definition of sports include:
- Anything involving guns cannot be a sport – This is untrue because hunting is a sport featuring guns.
- If a game is not standardized by a professional association, it is not a sport – This would indicate that wrestling wasn’t a sport until a federation was formed to make it a profession. Obviously, this isn’t true.
- A game with roleplaying elements cannot be a sport – Almost all combat sports and target sports involve simulation and roleplaying. In fact, the Olympics itself is a roleplaying festival of international proportions.
As you can see, most attempts at dismissing airsoft aren’t grounded in actual arguments but are based on erroneous judgments. In reality, airsoft is a sport by the strict definition of the word, as it fits all the criteria to be considered one.
The following criteria dictate whether something is a sport or not:
- Physical exertion – airsoft can be more tiring than sports like cricket and golf.
- Competition – airsoft tournaments have clear winners and losers.
- Skill – airsoft requires more athletic skills than many mainstream sports.
If airsoft fits the criteria of sports and all the arguments against it being a sport are actually invalid, why is it seen as more of a hobby? Because it is a hobby as well. And it is easier for people to accept it as just a hobby.
What Makes Airsoft A Hobby?
Airsoft is one of the few sports which is played almost exclusively by hobbyists. Because airsoft players engage in games out of passion, the game itself is considered a hobby.
But the choice between a hobby and sport is not mutually exclusive. In any country where professional soccer doesn’t exist, any child playing it would say, “it is my hobby.” The reason an entire sport might get dismissed as just a hobby is that it is played by hobbyists only.
The lack of professional structures that allow players to make money has turned airsoft into more of a hobby and less of a sport. As everything is getting commercialized, sports are no exception. The word sport has become synonymous with professional sports.
That’s why, the moment gaming tournaments started making money, they were rewarded the title of “e-sports.” When sports have come to mean “games that make money,” airsoft is seen as a mere hobby.
Many people believe that a sport is what makes you money and a hobby is what you put money into. And while that isn’t how sports are defined, there is an element of truth to that. Airsoft does cost money.
Airsoft: Not A Professional Sport, But You Can Still Make Money
Airsoft might not be a professional sport, but it is still a sport that can make you money. The way you monetize airsoft skills or your interest in tactical games is different than how you would monetize conventional sports excellence.
In this section, we will look at a few ways in which you can make money from airsoft. As you will see, some of these overlap with sports, but most are ways to monetize any game or hobby.
Airsoft Training
You can teach people how to play airsoft and make money in the process. This education can be given remotely via video as well as in person. Monetization options include ads on online content or direct payments from students. This monetizing method is closer to how hobbies are monetized.
Flip Airsoft Gear
You can refurbish, upgrade, or simply sell airsoft gear to make a profit. This way of making money is common in sports as well as in games and hobbies. It isn’t how players make money, but it is how people who want to make money make a fortune. There is no upper limit to how well such a business can do.
Be A Paid Referee
If the entrepreneurial angle is too alien for you, you can use the employee angle to make money. For this, you would need to find an airsoft field or group looking for a referee. Usually, friend groups that want to play the game won’t find a single friend willing to watch from the sidelines. If you check out Facebook groups and relevant boards, you will find calls for referees.
Own An Airsoft Field
This one is a monetizing method not accessible to most people. Still, it is a way to make money. Most money made in airsoft is in producing and selling gear, followed by owning the airsoft field and charging for access time. It requires serious investment, but after the field is built, there is little else one has to worry about.
Seek Sponsors For A Local Game
This monetizing method is close to sports monetization because it relies on sponsorship money. You can seek sponsors for a local game and get paid and provide brand visibility and goodwill to the local business sponsoring the event.
Organize An Event With An Admission Fee
Finally, you can charge other players to play without owning the airsoft field by simply being the middleman who gets the cut. It isn’t how sports enthusiasts make money, but it is surely how most gaming and social events professionals make money.
Final Thoughts
Airsoft is both a hobby and a sport, but it is definitely not a professional sport for now. When people think about sports, they think about ones with pro athletes who get paid for playing. And as of now, the ways to monetize sports are limited to selling and flipping gear and renting equipment and field time.