Point of Contact

The point of contact is a more focused idea than the initial engagement. While initial engagement describes a phase of the point, the point of contact refers to a particular instant and location where two sides finally meet in a clear, direct way. This can be a single duel, a small cluster of players confronting each other, or the first time one side challenges an angle that has been held quietly up to that moment.

Points of contact arise in many situations. A wide runner who reaches a corner bunker may encounter a defender who has been holding a lane toward that side. Two players in mirrored bunkers can establish a point of contact the first time they both actively engage the same angle. A player who moves forward into a new bunker may create a point of contact by suddenly seeing an opponent who had not been in direct interaction before.

Discussions about points of contact often highlight how preparation, posture, and angle control affect the way these moments unfold. For example, a player who arrives in position with a stable body position and a clear understanding of likely sightlines may be ready to interact quickly when an opponent appears. Similarly, an opponent who is already watching that bunker may see the arriving player first, which changes how the exchange plays out.

The importance of a point of contact varies by context. Some are brief and lead to no immediate eliminations, serving mainly to reveal information about locations and intentions. Others result in quick eliminations that alter which lanes are active or which bunkers are now safe to enter. Using the term point of contact provides a neutral way to describe these local turning points without prescribing how players should approach them.