The time again arises when 17- and 18-year-olds are running around their cities wearing Floaties and Goggles. Every movement makes them jump. Hearts racing, these teens are trying not to get “assassinated” by their fellow classmates. This crazy looking game is called “Senior Assassin” and has been happening for years all over the country. The main premise of the game is, you are given a target that you must eliminate or “assassinate” with a water gun or your school “weapon of choice.” This game can be very fun for the seniors, but it is concerning others throughout their communities.
Where did it all start?
When looking at the modern game of Senior Assassin, there is not a lot of information about its origins. Some research from journalist Jazmin Towe with Parents.com has stated that it could have possibly started from shows like iCarly and Gossip Girl. I have seen other variations on the Disney Channel show Liv and Maddie where they had to place a cowbell over someone’s neck for the person to be “eliminated.” The game has continued to grow exponentially throughout the last few years with the increased use of social media. There are now more videos being filmed and posted about the game, and it is spreading the game like wildfire throughout high schoolers.
How do you play, and what are the rules?
With Senior Assassin being played all over the country, there are many different variations of the popular game, but there are some universal rules. There is now an App called Splashin created to house all of the players and the rules. The app houses a map at gives you your target’s location throughout the game. It updates every 10 minutes, so your “assassin” does not have your live location all the time unless they pay for the premium accounts, which can give you live location and other advantages. When looking at the list of rules within the Splashin app, the main rules are as follows: each player/team is assigned a target and becomes an assassin, the game continues until there is only one player or team left standing, and every elimination will be uploaded in a video format to count as valid. Some schools play the game slightly differently from others. Here at SPASH, the tool to eliminate your target is a plastic spoon; lots of other schools use brightly colored water guns to take out their target. Different protection tools can be used to keep you safe from being eliminated. At SPASH, our only protection is wearing goggles over your eyes; at other schools, they must wear a floatie to keep them safe. There are other rules in place to keep all of the players safe and comfortable. Some of those rules include no trespassing on private property, you must have permission to enter someone’s house, and you can not be eliminated while working a shift. Even with these rules in place, there can still be lots of concern throughout the community.
Community and players’ input on the game
Around the same time of year, high school seniors start to “stalk” their targets at their homes and in public. This can set off some alarms for people who do not understand the game. A statement from Jazmin Towe with Parents.com says, “Police departments are issuing warnings and urging parents to talk with their kids about the potential dangers, while principals are sending letters home.” (Towe) Enforcement throughout multiple communities is getting involved, trying to protect the teens while teens are just trying to have fun. An article published by CBS News said that “police in Groton, Hopkinton, Wilmington, and Walpole said this week that the water guns can be mistaken for real firearms” (Riley), concerning the public that people are waving around weapons, or making people uncomfortable due to the possible threat. For the schools that do play with water guns, it is required for the water gun to be brightly colored so that onlookers can tell that it is not a real weapon and no one is in danger. Talking with students at SPASH and other schools all around the country, there are a lot of common themes about how they have been feeling, from excitement to fear. Thomas, a Senior at Merrill High School, said when asked how he has been feeling throughout the game, he said, “I would have to say I have been feeling a little bit nervous when I go out into public places, because there could be an assassin around me.” Lots of other students say they do really enjoy playing the game, but it has been getting very stressful trying to stay safe while still trying to find time and a way to get their target out. There is not much that can be done to help make the game seem less concerning to the people who see the game. The only thing that could be done besides not playing is to inform people about the game more, so they can see what is happening and understand that there is no danger.
Personally speaking, playing Senior Assassin is ultimately up to the senior. They should have a good background and understanding of the game and what it all entails. Thomas said it best, “just give it a shot and see how well you can do, it’s not a game for everyone, but if you like shooting people with water guns, go for it.”
