Lots of things we do in life require ongoing training to stay up-to-date with the latest tools, techniques, laws, etc. Everyone from folks in the medical field to auto mechanics to pilots and on and on all have to undergo some form of on-going training to receive updates to remain current. Part of that on-going training means staying up-to-date on our own while, often, another part is more formally scheduled as a refresher.
[Read more…] about It’s a Start…Last Shot…Now what?
It’s been a good match. The squads came and went smoothly, the weather was decent and the range food wasn’t terrible. Now it is Sunday afternoon and you just ran your last shooter on the last squad of the match. Now what? Why tear it down, pack it up and head home or to find a frosty beverage; that’s what! Whoa! Not so fast there!
[Read more…] about Last Shot…Now what?Beep!
Stand by! BEEP!
Whether it be the growl of the old speaker style timers or the modern piezo driven squeal, it all means the same thing; time for the fun to start! Or, for many of us, “Stage plan? What stage plan?” Regardless, it is the signal from the RO that it is your turn to draw/retrieve your firearm and get to shooting.
[Read more…] about Beep!Remembering Your Why
Sometimes it is important in life to stop and remember our “Why”. Why are we doing something; be that being involved in a hobby, a sport, or even as drastic as our job. Some call it soul searching, others have other terms for it. Regardless, it is often a good idea to break the repetitious cycle and really spend time determining why we are doing something.
[Read more…] about Remembering Your WhyWhat’s Your Line?
In USPSA we have two types of “lines” that we use to define boundaries on stages. Note that we differentiate between lines and other barriers like walls, barrels, and other physical barriers to movement. Lines are defined under 2.2.1 and subs as “Fault Lines” and “Off-Limits Lines”.
[Read more…] about What’s Your Line?O Range Master, my Range Master…
O Range Master! my Range Master! our fearful match is done,. The stage has weather’d every squad, the prize we sought is won… (With apologies to Walt Whitman.)
I suspect we all expect to see someone occupying the Range Master position at major matches because the rules require them and they are always there…right? But what about at your local matches? Is someone designated as the Range Master (RM) there? Do the rules require one? Do you take advantage of 7.3.1 and just have the MD be the RM? Or do you suddenly find yourself in need of an RM and go figure out who will do that task today?
[Read more…] about O Range Master, my Range Master…Plates: Just for Dinner?
Metal Plates (see Appendix B3) and things that use plates like various stars, racks and so on can be popular with stage designers and shooters alike so why don’t we see more of them in major matches? It’s simple: Range Equipment Failure (REF) and then the shooter gets to reshoot the stage costing the match schedule time maybe worse. A fellow RMI once told me that “The only use for a plate at a major match is to put food on.” He’s likely right.
[Read more…] about Plates: Just for Dinner?Bootcamp? What’s That?
Bootcamp? Well, if you have visions of running five miles with a full size popper on each shoulder or overhead pressing wall sections, …wrong type of bootcamp. A few years ago NROI started field testing a new concept for the Level 2, Chief Range Officer course called a Bootcamp. This was the brain child of Instructor Ray Hirst and it entirely changed the way we do the CRO class now. Years ago, the CRO course was more about stage design, mostly in the classroom or by correspondence, and less about running a stage efficiently. That left us with a problem finding people that actually knew how to run stages at major matches. The Bootcamp format of the class changed all that.
[Read more…] about Bootcamp? What’s That?