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 (Editorial
Continued) Other
considerations and comments I have heard are:
‘Keep it simple.' ‘Make
the gamers a separate class.' ‘Don't use such small targets - make them so people can
hit them easily.' ‘Don't
use such big targets - make some of them more challenging.'
‘Make all the targets knockdown targets.'
‘Don't have stages where the shooter has to run so much
- us old duffers can't do that anymore.'
‘As an old duffer, I enjoy competing with the younger guns
and usually hold my own even when there is a lot of movement in the
stage' (Note: It seems to me that the majority of matches see
people over fifty, and even in their sixties, in the top ten and
twenty). ‘Hip
shooting is fun and we should have more of it.' ‘ I hate hip
shooting!' ‘Wasn't that cool shooting with your dominant eye
covered?' ‘How did
you like the motorized hobbyhorse?
Wasn't that fun?' ‘Split
up the stages into some that are real fast and don't take a lot of
thought and some that are more complicated and challenging.'
‘Always have at least one fast, fun stage.'
‘Be careful at this match because the organizers really
have an ego problem and aren't that friendly.'
‘Don't fix what isn't broke!'
‘I'm tired of doing this - 10% of the people are always
doing the work - we need more help and nobody is coming
forward.'
Well
folks, I certainly don't have all the answers but would like to
make a few suggestions:
Make
it SAFE first and then FUN. Lots
of fun!
Organizers,
remember that without the shooters there is NO shoot. Do what you need to do to be polite, accommodating, and bend
over backwards for your shooters, especially for those who come from
out of town. Even if
you don't agree with a shooter's perspective, remember, we need
ALL shooters as long as they shoot safe.
Shooters,
it takes a lot of work to set up and run a shoot. Try to be understanding, helpful, and appreciative of their
efforts. Do your part
during the shoot. I
have had comments made to me that even some of the top shooters
don't help pick up brass or assist others during the match.
This is your shoot. This
sport it is what you make it, and will reflect what you put into it.
Encourage
vendors and sponsors, and accommodate their needs as well.
When a vendor leaves your shoot they should not only want to
come back, but be asking you if they can and what they can do to
help the match. If the
vendor isn't doing this, then you may have a problem.
Ask
yourself why you are putting on this shoot, why you are supporting
it and putting your effort and time into it.
Are you having fun as well?
Experienced
shooters - if you haven't set up a stage, been a marshal, or
helped to run or support your club, please think again.
There may not be a club without your support. One of these days the 10% doing most of the work may hang up
their spurs.
Ensure
that the posse arrangements, combined with each of the stage
scenarios, minimize waiting time so that one posse isn't running
into another and having to wait for 30-45 minutes.
Determine
the average times that are needed for each stage to be a success and
test them (using an average shooter).
What happens if you have a brand new shooter at the stage? Is it too confusing? Unsafe?
Does it meet the time constraints?
Is the stage fun?
Try
a new class at your club and see if it works - the "Shootist"
class. This class would
be made up of anyone who has won a local match more than three
times, or a national match such as a SASSTM or NCOWSTM
title. There may be a
number of variations that you could use.
If you do this, please let us know how it works out so that
we can pass the information on to others.
As
you can see from my comments above, I have some opinions, but not
necessarily the answers. If
you have other ideas, thoughts, or concerns, please send them to editor@shootmagazine.com.
I don't promise we'll publish them, but I will read each
and every one, as well as reply to them.
Happy
trails, keep your powder dry, and remember that safety comes
first.
Chucky
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