More often than any RM would like, we run into competitors, especially newer competitors or those who have decided to campaign in a new division, whose equipment has run afoul of the rules. The oft heard phrase of “But the advertising said it was USPSA legal” or “my buddy said it was legal” is uttered usually followed by someone saying “Welcome to Open”, if they are lucky. But should you believe everything you see in advertising, on websites, on packaging or hear from others? Read on…
[Read more…] about Caveat EmptorFree Advice
Who should know the rules?
When I teach the RO seminar I always tell the class that taking the seminar will not only teach you how to officiate, but also help improve your game as a competitor. Why? Because if you know the rules, you understand what is allowed and not allowed and also can be an advocate for yourself if you encounter an official who may not know the rules.
[Read more…] about Who should know the rules?Shoot Somewhere Else
Are you comfortable shooting at your local club, but haven’t shot anywhere else?
Go shoot somewhere else. Big match or little match, go shoot someplace different than your home club.
When Nature Calls
It is a fact of life, everyone needs to perform certain bodily functions. In fact, if you aren’t having to perform one of them during the course of a match, it can be a bad sign. At a recent class, we ended up having a rather interesting discussion about this which has inspired this post. So let’s examine the finer points.
[Read more…] about When Nature CallsPreparing to Make Ready
I often go to matches and hear folks comment on how it takes 3-4 hours for only a few minutes of shooting. Yes, it’s true that SCSA and USPSA matches are half day events where the competitors spend very little time shooting. The time is spent on stage reset between competitors and socializing with squad mates. However, sometimes there is a lot of time wasted between competitors, especially at local matches which lack stage ROs to keep things moving. Let’s look at how you can be ready to Make Ready and keep your match flowing.
[Read more…] about Preparing to Make ReadyLocal DQ Policies
Now and then we get queries about “DQ Policies” that clubs or sections impose on competitors wherein if a competitor gets more than X DQs during Y period of time they are ineligible to participate in matches for Z period of time and/or they complete other requirements. Folks seem to have a couple questions about these so let’s dig in.
[Read more…] about Local DQ PoliciesWe are all on the same team
As major match season winds down, we are all sharing stories about things that have happened at matches. We hear talk about the stage designs, about the prize tables, about the food on the range, the tight races for the top competitors, things that happened at chronograph, and about match staff. It’s always appreciated when Match Directors and Range Masters get positive reviews and comments about match staff. But it is very frustrating when negative comments are brought up post-match and nothing was said during the match.
[Read more…] about We are all on the same teamTalking to Others about the Rules
We’ve all been there. A call is made at a match, or not made, and there is a query about if that is the right call, or non-call, and the response is “it’s just a local match”. I’m on my twentieth year in this sport and I’ve heard that response more times than I can count and, as an instructor, have fielded questions about how to handle it even more often. A lot of this directly relates to so called “club culture” which has also been referred to as the “Good Old Boys” syndrome. So let’s dig in a bit and talk about what does and does not work.
[Read more…] about Talking to Others about the Rules