Almost every Monday we get emails with questions pertaining to things that happened at local matches over the weekend. The questions range from “did we call this right” to “I believe I was penalized incorrectly” to the very occasional “the RO treated me unfairly”. We always respond explaining which rules apply, and we also ask if the appeal process was followed and if the Range Master was called. If you are saying to yourself that “only big matches have RMs,” then this post is for you!
First, let’s cover the appeal process that applies to all match levels. For scoring issues, the appeal must be made before the target is taped or painted. For penalties and DQs, appeals need to be made before you sign the scoresheet. But how do you appeal? First, you ask the RO to reconsider the call (e.g. ask them to overlay the hole in that target) or number of penalties. This should be done politely. If you still don’t agree, then you may appeal to the CRO of the stage, or in the case of most local matches the CRO of the squad. I don’t think most clubs designate an official CRO, but when issues come up all eyes turn to the most experienced official on the stage. If you as the competitor still don’t agree, then you need to request the Range Master be summoned to the stage. At local matches, the Match Director is usually the Range Master as well, unless someone else has been designated. But there should always be someone acting as RM at all match levels!
As a competitor, what does this all mean in relation to calls you disagree with at local matches? You don’t have to just accept them. Use your right to appeal with the caveat of doing it in a calm and respectful manner. Ask the RO who made the call, and then ask the CRO (or most experienced official on the squad) to reconsider the call. Pro tip, at this point someone (competitor or RO or CRO) should be opening up the rulebook and reading the actual rule that supports the call. Most of the time, reading the rule versus relying on memory helps a lot! And if you still aren’t happy, ask for the RM. And if you still aren’t happy after talking with the RM, if the issue is something that can be arbitrated (see Chapter 11 of the rules), then you can arbitrate it for the cost of the match fee (or $100, which ever is cheaper) and by filling out an arb form provided by the RM.
What does this mean for the folks running local matches? First, always announce who will be serving as RM that day. Second appoint a CRO for each squad. Usually everyone pitches in and helps officiate, but appoint the most experienced rules person (preferably NROI certified) as the responsible adult (a.k.a. CRO) for the day. Third, make sure you don’t stifle rules questions and help educate competitors when they don’t understand the call and this is ideally done by showing them the rule in the rulebook. Also, if the RM gets called and realizes the ROs on the squad don’t understand the rules, make sure to use it as a positive teaching moment to get everyone on the same page.
Contentious calls can be stressful, but everyone needs to keep their cool and work as a team to figure out the correct answer. Now, occasionally rules discussions and rulebook consultations happen and the wrong answer is accidentally applied (the “Did we call this right?” emails). If that happens, once the correct answer is realized don’t beat yourself up and make sure to share it with all parties involved. By that point the match results are final, but learning for next time is super important too! And, most of us learn more from mistakes than when things go right.
Remember that the appeals process applies at all match levels including local matches!