At nationals and other major matches, the range officials are always watching for premature target pasting that is not accidental. Sometimes, a target gets pre-pasted to help get a squad mate a reshoot. That is unsportsmanlike behavior. What do the rules say that the Range Officers and Range Master can do about that?
Yes, sometimes premature target pasting is truly accidental. When it occurs, stage staff should let the Range Master know the names and squad number of the parties involved so it can be tracked throughout the match. If it was truly accidental, then there isn’t an issue. But if a squad has pre-pasting incidents on multiple stages, then it usually indicates a larger issue.
But which rules come into play? The first is 9.1.3: Prematurely Patched Targets – If a target is prematurely patched or taped, which prevents a Range Official from determining the actual score, the Range Officer must order the competitor to reshoot the course of fire. However, if following the scoring of a target by any assigned Range Officer, the target is patched or taped by anyone other than a Range Officer, the score will stand as called regardless of the competitor’s opportunity to see the target in question and the competitor will not be permitted to appeal the score as called. Reviewing previous score sheets is prohibited; targets must be scored as is, using the actual target as the basis for the scoring call.
That rule basically says if the pre-pasted target cannot be scored, then a reshoot must be ordered. Which means that ‘accidental’ pre-pasting of a target when the competitor had a no-shoot or misses is highly suspicious. Let’s say that the ROs have determined the pre-pasting was intentional, what can they do? That rule doesn’t mention a penalty.
We have 9.1.2, and sub-rules, that applies to the competitor and their delegate: Touching Targets – While scoring is in progress competitors or their delegate must not touch, gauge or otherwise interfere with any target without the authorization of the Range Officer. Should a Range Officer deem that a competitor or their delegate has influenced or affected the scoring process due to such interference, the Range Officer may: 9.1.2.1 Score the affected target as a missed target; or 9.1.2.2 Impose penalties for any affected no-shoots; 9.1.2.3 The Range Master must be called in all cases and will make the final decision to either score as a miss or impose penalties.
But pre-pasting is usually done by someone other than the competitor or a delegate which is why we have 8.7.5: Any person interfering with the scoring or resetting of a course of fire in any way may be assessed a procedural penalty or be subject to the provisions of 10.6. The Range Master shall be called in all cases and will make the decision as to what penalty to assess.
This rule applies to any interference, by anyone, during scoring and resetting a stage and requires the RM to be called. The RM can assess a procedural or a DQ because 10.6 is the unsportsmanlike conduct DQ section of the rulebook.
When you are working a stage and have premature pasting that causes a reshoot, always let the Range Master know. If you are a competitor and are pasting targets, always make sure the target has been scored before restoring the target. Accidental premature pasting does happen, but if everyone pays attention it should not happen.