As you’re getting ready for your next match, making a mental list of all the things you need, gun, mag pouches, holster, ammo…make sure you think about your match etiquette. Even the most experienced shooters have violated match etiquette, and for the new shooter it’s even harder because match etiquette isn’t something we talk about, and if you make an etiquette faux pas, it’s unlikely that anyone will tell you about it, but you might notice that people stop squadding with you.
The first thing to know is that all local matches are run and staffed 100% by volunteers; for clubs to continue to host matches, they depend on the competitors to volunteer to set up, serve as range officers, pick brass, restore targets, and tear down. The fastest way for a club to stop holding matches is for them to get little or no help with setting up and tearing down stages.
All match directors know not everyone can come to help set up a match the day before. We know that people from out of town come the morning of the match, and some folks have jobs or family commitments that keep them from helping the night before. However, make sure you lend a hand when you get to the match that morning. The things that need to be done the morning of the match are setting out targets, painting steel (after it has been calibrated); if you aren’t sure what needs to be done, just ask, and someone will be happy to help show you.
Make sure you arrive early and get signed in as soon as you are able the morning of the match; the match can get started as soon as everyone is signed in. Also, along this line, make sure you withdraw from a match if you can no longer make it (we use Practiscore to register and withdraw from matches), don’t just not show up, we then must wait to see if you are going to show up before we can get everything done to get the match started. It is frustrating waiting on people who never show up and it can really slow down a match getting started.
Have all your gear ready, magazines loaded, belt on before the shooter’s meeting, that way as soon as the meeting is over, you can head to the bay you’re starting on and get the stage brief read right away.
Now that the match has started, it is time to make sure you are a good squad mate and competitor. First, make sure you are helping by resetting stages between shooters. You should be taping scored targets, resetting steel, picking brass (and getting it back to the shooter).
Pay close attention to the shooting order (the order will be read after each person is done shooting) when you are the “in the hole” shooter, this is the time for you to focus on making sure you are ready to shoot.
When you are the “on deck” shooter, this is your time to walk the stage and get your stage plan finalized. The “on deck” shooter is the ONLY shooter that should be walking the stage. It is considered very rude to walk the stage when you are not the “on deck” shooter, and you may get asked to leave the stage by an RO or the shooter.
When you are done shooting, take a few minutes to get your gear together, reload your mags, then get back to helping your squad keep the stage running.
Once you have a good number of matches under your belt, and a strong understanding of the rules, ask the match director if you can start being trained to run the tablet and timer to help by being a range officer.
Once, the match is done, there is more work to do. Once the match director has given the all clear to tear down a stage, all the props need to be taken down and put away. Make sure you stay and help with this task; it usually only takes an additional half hour to get everything taken down and put away.
Whether you realize it or not, it is noticed by others if there are tasks to be completed and you are hanging out in your car or standing around before or after a match, or if you are bailing out on your squad as soon as you are done shooting your last stage.
Have any questions about these etiquette rules? Please ask us at your next match. You can also drop us questions, or suggestions for future blog articles at info@magiccityactionshooters.org.