Did you know that it’s your job to verify that your score is accurate? Do you know when this should be done at the matches? Let’s talk about score verification and what to do if something is incorrect.
When I started this sport (late 2008), we recorded scores on slips of paper. The sheet looked very similar to the screen we see in PractiScore, but didn’t have the modern safeguards PractiScore provides. The scorekeeper had to write legibly so it could later be read by another person, had to add up the total number of recorded hits to make sure they matched the expected number of hits, write down the time, record the number of no-shoots, and the number of penalties and also write down what the penalties were for. The sheet was then initialed by the scorekeeper and the competitor. This sheet was then collected and delivered to stats who, by the time I joined the sport, entered that info into a computer program called EzWinScore. Before that, scores were calculated by hand. Pre-PractiScore the chance of errors from not being able to read handwriting, to transcription errors from paper to computer, to scoresheets accidentally missing some of the data like total no-shoots was much higher than what we see today. And being able to see results throughout the match didn’t really happen. After all the scores had been entered at the end of the match, the standings were actually printed off and hung on a wall for competitor review. Hence the hour to verify everything was entered correctly before awards at major matches. Many local matches emailed results days to a week after the match.
There is no doubt that PractiScore has simplified the process by preventing too many or not enough hits being entered and requires there be a time, but there is still a chance for error when the scorekeeper is entering the data. This is why it is vital that you as a competitor actually look at the review screen before clicking “approve”. Lots of folks just press approve and don’t look and then later realize there was an unearned no-shoot or the time was mistyped. But you should be catching these errors before you hit approve, because the the rules say that the score is final once you press the approve button. See 9.7.4 in USPSA Competition rules and USPSA Rifle, Shotgun, and Multigun rules and 9.7 in SCSA rules, .
However, let’s say you don’t read the screen and don’t catch the error, but catch it later. Is there anything you can do? It depends on when you discover the issue. If the match is still going on, find the Range Master and point out the issue. Let’s say it’s a couple procedurals for a foot fault that you didn’t do. The RM can go ask the stage staff if they remember you getting a foot fault. If you have video, the RM can also view that. If the video clearly shows no foot fault, or the ROs agree that you didn’t have any foot faults, the score can be edited based on mutual consent. Many folks also bring up incorrect stage times. Again, if you remember the RO calling out a different number, and especially if you have video of the RO saying that number, this is also something that can be dealt with by mutual consent. However if the video evidence is inconclusive, the shot times pulled from a Bluetooth timer don’t help solve the issue, or the ROs can’t say for sure, then a reshoot will be ordered.
What about after all the scores are in and the match is over? For major matches, after the final scores are collated and posted on PractiScore, the competitors are notified, and the one hour review period time starts. This is the time where competitors should be verifying that everything in the final results are correct based off of the score receipts/emails they received during the match. If there is an error, the competitor needs to let the Match Director know immediately. In reality the review period is more of a formality now because everyone trusts PractiScore to have the correct info and our rules do allow for MDs to shorten or waive this period depending on the match level. For local matches, there is still an hour review period, but most folks just skip it and head home. Which is why looking at the review screen during local matches (especially for those classifiers) is so important. Local match MDs should still let competitors know when the scores are posted and allow for folks to bring up discrepancies within that first hour. However once everyone has left the range, it is very hard to talk with the ROs for mutual consent changes and reshoots are impossible.
Ultimately it’s the competitor’s responsibility to maintain an accurate record of their scores (9.8.1 Competition and MG, 9.7 SCSA). Which means you should look at that review screen, make sure it’s accurate, and then press the approve button.