After the ‘Make ready’ command, the main duty of the range officer running the timer is to monitor the competitor. But what happens when you notice a target that isn’t restored or reset or a popper falls down before the start signal?
The primary duty of a range officer is safety. And when you are the timer RO, your main focus is the competitor. Occasionally, some thing happens after the competitor has loaded the firearm, and before the start signal, that require you to pause the range commands. Examples include you notice a target that isn’t taped or a gust of wind knocks a popper over or the swinger isn’t reset or anything else that prevents you from being able to proceed with the range commands. But as the RO who is in control of the competitor, should you go fix it or have someone else do it?
Once the competitor has loaded their firearm, as the RO on the timer you should never leave the competitor. You should send someone else to fix the issue and stay with the competitor. If it is a competitor shooting a handgun, you can ask them to stand easy and not touch their pistol. You stand with them until the stage issue is resolved. Some people feel more comfortable with having the competitor unload before sending anyone downrange. That is fine as well. If it’s a competitor shooting a PCC, they have to handle the firearm to hold it, so you should have the PCC competitor unload and flag the PCC before sending anyone downrange.
If you for some reason cannot stay with the competitor and need to resolve the issue, the best practice is to unload the competitor for safety and also for competitor mindset after the issue is resolved. If the issue is so involved that the timer RO needs to get involved, there is no reason to make the competitor stand at the start position the whole time.
Remember that safety is the number one job of the timer RO. You are there to make sure everyone stays safe and sometimes that means directing others to complete tasks.