Tag team: Combat Sports Laser Tag Park

Robert Peppard likes to call the experience at his Combat Sports Laser Tag Park in Englishtown (866-926-6228, www.outdoorlasertag.com) “exer-tainment.” “Laser tag combines exercise with playing your favorite video game,” he says.

Robert Peppard likes to call the experience at his Combat Sports Laser Tag Park in Englishtown (866-926-6228, www.outdoorlasertag.com) “exer-tainment.”

“Laser tag combines exercise with playing your favorite video game,” he says.

The “lasers” are actually safe infrared units much like a TV remote. Each player is equipped with a firing unit (with cool battleground sound effects) and a lightweight sensor headset. The headset picks up the beams from the firing units to record a “tag.”

During each 90-minute session, players are dispersed in ageappropriate teams across the two 7- to 10-acre wooded playing fields. They’ll then play five to six staff-supervised “missions” in one of 23-plus games, including Capture the Flag, King of the Hill and Team Elimination. Adult groups are given more sophisticated missions, some of which employ GPS tracking.

Jackie Grasso, trip coordinator for the Manalapan Department of Recreation’s Summer Program, says Combat Sports is the most popular trip destination with day campers. “We have to run this trip at least three times a summer so everyone gets a chance to come,” she says. Tenyear- old Quentin Pickering was one of her happiest campers—probably because he’s pretty darn good at the games. “My favorite game is Team Elimination. I had seven ‘kills’ in my last mission,” he reports (which, Peppard remarks, is “better than a lot of the adults do”).

While Combat Sports is big with groups, walk-ons are welcome to join the fun. It’s $25 per person.