 The player on the left started his run through move. He has an initial target other than the opponent who is on the turf (right).
 The run through move continues, with the running player turning behind the bunker and finding the opponent waiting for him.
 Surprise. In a simultaneous elimination, the waiting player takes out the player who tried the run through. Photos by Skirmish.com
 The run through begins with teammates giving cover fire, and the runner with his marker up and shooting as he moves.
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One of the most impressive and game changing moves in paintball is the run through. When a player or players perform a run through maneuver, it is either to open up the game, or to take out the one of two remaining players, leaving the last player for your teammates to take out.
Run throughs are not just performed without practice. It takes know-how, experience, and timing to pull them off. Don't think that run throughs are only for the fast, front player. A lot of run throughs are done near the end of a game, by back players.
1 You must know where your opponents are, and the direction each of them is looking and shooting. It's especially critical to have all the information if you are blitzing more that one opponent.
Say the blue team is up in numbers and is pressing the red team. The red team is in a defensive mode and tightens up by falling back. Don't get too close to one another when falling back; you'll only be making it easier for the offensive team to pinch and blitz you.
A red player wants to retreat to make it a little more difficult for the blue team. The blue team can send a player all the way down a tape line, and try to get into the red team's backfield. Anytime the heat turns up, this player can duck into a nearby bunker. He then becomes a support player who can pour paint.
Try to get as deep as you can, any game. This takes away as much of their playing field as possible.
Remember side shots are better than angled shots. Back shots are better than side shots because more of the target area will be exposed.
2 A coordinated run through can start with one of your players getting the attention of the last two opponents. He keeps the two opponents pinned tight in their bunkers.
Remember, keeping players pinned in and tight in their bunkers also restricts their vision of the field, and it will be tougher for them to see your offensive moves. Your one player draws attention to himself, keeping the red team focused on where your player is.
While they are having tunnel vision, you run a player down the other tapeline, and take out the nearer one of your opponents. Then, assuming he was not hit, he races farther down the tape and takes out the last remaining opponent.
3 A really nice twist to this is a move my team the Highlanders perfected in the mid 90s. We scouted and probed teams to find out where and when would be best to push or blitz, which is a form of run through. The team captain would call out a code word and give a visual indicator to all teammates-tapping on the head. This signal was relayed to all our players. We would use this play when the other team started its push.
One of our flanks would run down the tapeline and shoot anyone left from the initial run through. Our "runner" could be 1, 2, or 3 players. We could work this play against great teams. This player who makes the run through might become a statistic as he walks off the field. This can be a very tough more to pull off successfully.
Notice: if you play the same team long enough or go up against a great pro team, making this move becomes a lot tougher. Good teams will have a defense against this move. They teach their flank players to keep looking down their own tape part of the team, which can keep the other team from making a successful run through.
When you must have the flag, up or out, you can just keep putting more players into the initial push. If you're losing players, of course, abort the run through and re-group.
4 Even if you trade one-for-one with your first player, his move usually opens up everything for the teammates coming behind him.
Making the run through can be the call anywhere on the field. In fact, the defense can call this play. A defensive run could punch a hole in their lines, and let your player get behind them.
5 Pick as your running lane one where you will encounter the least amount of fire and opponents. This raises your chance of success.
6 As long as you're on the move, remember the flag pull if the flag has not been pulled yet. You would be surprised how many times you can get the flag because people have temporarily forgotten those big flag points.
Practice the run throughs. Practice both as offense, and as defense.
Jim "Roadrunner" Fox writes from Pennsylvania. He has written for APG for over 15 years.
