A shield is a small, portable piece of cover. It is a good craft project for the hour before the game, and kids care much more about a shield they painted themselves. Everything below is for toy foam, gel and water blaster games only and uses common household items.

Before you start: every player still wears clear safety goggles, and a shield never replaces them. Gel blasters in our catalog are rated 14+ by their makers, so for younger kids stick to foam.

Safety checks for every build

  • Round every corner and edge. Fold or tape over cardboard edges so there are no sharp points.
  • No staples, nails, wire or screws sticking out. Use tape, glue and string.
  • Skip glass, metal sheets and heavy plastic. Light is safer.
  • Keep it small and light enough for the player to carry and drop easily.
  • An adult checks each one before it goes into the game.
  • A shield is for blocking toy darts, gel beads and water in a game. It is never something to swing, throw or hit with.

Build 1: the cardboard shield

Materials: a flat cardboard piece about 40 by 50 cm, duct tape, a paper-towel tube or a short pool noodle for the handle, markers or paint.

  1. Cut the cardboard to a rounded rectangle and round every corner.
  2. Fold a strip of duct tape over the entire edge so nothing is sharp or frayed.
  3. Tape the tube or noodle piece across the back as a handle. Reinforce it with two layers of tape.
  4. Decorate: team colors, a number, a star.

Time: about 20 minutes. Difficulty: easy.

Build 2: pool-noodle forearm guards

Materials: a pool noodle, scissors, tape.

  1. Cut a length that runs from wrist to elbow.
  2. Slice it lengthwise on one side so it opens like a sleeve.
  3. Slip it over the forearm and tape it closed on the outside so it stays on without being tight.

These guard against nothing serious. They are just a fun costume piece that also keeps a player’s arm padded.

Time: 5 minutes. Difficulty: very easy.

Build 3: the padded lid shield

Materials: a big, uncracked plastic lid (such as from a storage bin), a strip of pool noodle, tape, a belt or string for a handle.

  1. Check the lid for cracks or sharp edges and skip it if it has any.
  2. Split a strip of pool noodle and press it over the rim, taping as you go, so the whole edge is padded.
  3. Tape a handle across the back.

Time: 15 minutes. Difficulty: easy.

Build 4: the laundry-basket cover

This one needs almost no building. Turn a plastic laundry basket upside down for low cover, or carry it on its side as a “mobile bunker” while crouching. Tape a layer of pool noodle along the rim if it has any rough edges.

Build 5: the sheet “cloak”

Clip a bedsheet to a clothesline at each end, above head height, to block line of sight in a zone. It looks great and costs nothing. Tie the ends so nobody can get tangled, and keep it away from trees and fences.

Decorating and team colors

Paint or marker designs on cardboard are the fastest wins. Give each team a color and a symbol, and add numbers so the referee knows who is who. Let the paint dry before the game.

Using shields in the game

Agree on the rules before play starts: does a hit on the shield count? Many groups say a shield blocks one hit and then has to be “recharged” back at base. The defend yourself in a blaster war guide has more tactics, and the backyard blaster fort guide shows how to build the playing field.

Halloween game? A painted shield makes a great prop with the Halloween prop set loadout. Local rules vary; check yours before you buy or play.

Frequently asked questions

What age is this for? Craft builds are fine for ages 6 and up with an adult. Blaster choice depends on the maker’s age rating on the box.

Can we use a real trash-can lid or a cooking pot lid? Not metal pot lids. Rigid, thin or cracked lids can have sharp edges, so stick to cardboard or a padded, uncracked plastic lid.

Do shields make the game unfair? Only if one team has them and the other does not. Give both teams the same materials and the same rules.

Should the shield cover the face? No. A shield should never replace goggles, and nobody should hold anything across their face or block their own view.