There is only one SCSA stage that requires movement during a string which means competitors have the chance of earning a foot fault while moving between boxes. Let’s learn the rules behind SCSA foot faults in this Question of the Month.
The competitor is shooting the SCSA stage Outer Limits and is moving from the left box to the center box. The competitor fires one shot with his feet in the position as shown. As the RO, do you apply a foot fault penalty?
I guess this question was too easy! ‘No’ is the correct answer, but which rules apply? In the SCSA rules, foot faults are covered under 10.1.2: A competitor who fires a shot while touching the ground outside the appropriate shooting box is considered to be faulting that box. Shots fired while faulting a box will result in a 3 second penalty for each shot that a fault occurs.
And the sub-rule 10.1.2.1 further clarifies: Placing the foot on top of the raised surface of the shooting box itself is not a foot fault. A foot fault only occurs when the foot touches the ground outside the box.
In the picture we see one foot inside the box and the other off the ground. This means that any shot fired is not penalized. And, if the competitor was standing with one foot on the ground inside the box and the other on top of the fault line, that is also not a penalty. Penalties are only applied if any part of a foot touches the ground outside the shooting box while shots are fired.
Good job on this question and make sure to cast your vote in the current Question of the Month.