REBECCA BARNETT The Roanoke Times

Tyler Severa, 12, and his dad, Roger Severa, take aim at the opposing team during an airsoft game at their club course in Bedford County. Made to look like firearms, the toy airsoft guns can typically shoot their tiny plastic pellets between 100 and 600 feet per second.

REBECCA BARNETT The Roanoke Times

Tyler Severa (left, kneeling) loads his airsoft gun with airsoft BBs before playing a game with his friends. Tyler started the Star City Airsoft Club so he and his friends would have a place to play. "It's fun getting to hang out with friends, and then the action's fun," he says. "It's something to do in the summer, too."

"Y'ALL READY?" Tyler Severa screamed to the other side of the dense woods.

A voice softly returned, "No."

The 12-year-old adjusted his goggles and yelled back: "Well, we're coming anyway!"

And with that, Tyler and three of his friends spread out, hid behind trees and started shooting at their enemies.

For years, Tyler has been longing for somewhere to play with his airsoft guns. So, with the help of his father, Roger, the young Vinton teen is now an entrepreneur.

He started the Star City Airsoft Club last winter so fellow airsoft gun players could have a place to play. The club's first game day was July 21, and 10 boys came and went during the five games played. As of now, Tyler said, the club doesn't have a schedule for games, but he posts updates of when they're playing on the business' Facebook page.

Starting the business

Roger Severa said Tyler is a straight-A student at William Byrd Middle School, where he'll soon be starting seventh grade. He plays basketball, loves video games and hopes one day to be a professional basketball player. But for now, he's just focusing on his new business.

Airsoft guns propel tiny, 6-millimeter plastic pellets by way of spring, gas, or battery power. Made to look like firearms, the toy guns can typically shoot between 100 and 600 feet per second.

Airsoft gaming is similar to paintball. You can create teams or play free for all, and hold different types of matches, such as capture the flag or deathmatch -- a military style objective where the team with the most "kills" wins.

Tyler has been playing airsoft games since he was 6 years old, when his mom brought home a toy gun from a flea market. He was instantly hooked.

Last winter, Tyler put together his own team with a few of his friends. However, he couldn't get sponsorship to compete against other teams because of his young age, and his team had nowhere to play.

He persuaded his dad to lease 5 acres of land behind his race car workshop on Stewartsville Road in Bedford County so that anyone could come play.

Roger Severa used to play paintball before the fad faded, he said. Once Tyler became interested in airsoft, he began playing with him.

"I like scenario games," Severa said. "They use airsoft with police training and things like that, and Tyler and I are both military buffs."

Severa also said that airsoft is less expensive than paintball.

But the sport hasn't been the cheapest hobby, either. The recession has affected Severa's income, so leasing an extra 5 acres of land and collecting airsoft guns hasn't exactly helped.

But Severa likes being able to spend time with his son, and he loves that Tyler's taken such initiative.

"Tyler fantasizes about this business," Severa said. "But I'm just proud of him. It's ambitious, impressive."

Safety is important

The 5-acre playing area doesn't contain much yet, but Tyler has big plans. As of now, he and his friends just use natural features like hills, valleys or fallen trees as hiding places and bases.

Currently, Tyler has two bunkers hidden in the deeply forested acres. He wants to have many more in the future.

A family friend who owns the granite workshop in front of his dad's business is giving Tyler some extra materials. He wants to create "bunkers, trenches, and places for cover." He's working on a tank -- a yard cart with a wooden body.

Tyler also says his business offers an "urban" setting because when there aren't cars around, he and his friends can play around the race car workshop.

"It doesn't look that professional," Tyler said. "But it's a war game; it don't matter about the looks."

Tyler makes sure that everyone who comes to play is safe. Those who don't wear eye protection are disqualified. He also provides vests and face masks for those who don't bring their own. At the club, players cannot shoot at anyone unless they are at least 20 feet away.

Tyler suggests long pants and sleeves to prevent the pain of pellets hitting bare skin.

"The first time I got hit, it was the most painful thing I've ever felt," said Seth Culbreth, a 12-year-old from the Mount Pleasant area who started playing this year. "But you get used to it."

"Boys are going to be boys," Severa said. "What's the difference of being on a skateboard and falling and busting your knee?"

Severa said it's a great way for the boys to stay in shape, "sweat a little bit," make friends, and have something to look forward to.

He said that even if the business doesn't work out, the whole experience has been a "highlight for Tyler."