If a shooter shows up with gear that isn't legal, I've always been in
favor of letting him shoot but listing his score separate from the
"official" shooters. This allows him to compare himself to others, but
doesn't cheat the "legal" shooters out of their well-deserved
trophies, etc.

I'd never waive a penalty for something like dropping a partial mag.
I'd be very nice about explaining why the procedural exists, and
chuckle along with the shooter about the silly rule, but it is a rule
and again, it's unfair to everyone else if the new guy gets a buy on
some of the rules.

Thinking back, I know I've been a little lenient with newer shooters
when it comes to cover calls, though. Usually because that first
"COVER!" warning completely fraks them up and more than compensates
for any gain their position may have won them.

Working around a disability is fine, but again the focus has to be on
keeping things fair for everyone, not just for the shooter. So tapping
someone for the beep is just common courtesy and gives no real
advantage. Telling someone he can skip a target or not use cover, etc.
shouldn't nullify the penalties that go along with those actions.

In my experience as a competitor, SO, and MD most people upset at me
for giving them a penalty called for in the book. They might get upset
at the rule, but even new shooters realize there are rules and that
everyone is judged by those rules. Who shows up to his first match
expecting to win, anyway? I always let the new guy know that his best
approach is to stay calm and learn the ropes.

--
Todd Louis Green
todd@...


On 26-Aug-08, at 26-Aug-08 12:13 PM, John Warsaw wrote:

> There is an interesting article in the third quarter Tactical
> Journal ("You
> can always get a waiver...", p23) about giving new shooters breaks
> at club
> level matches. Basically, the author approves of the idea. I know
> I've
> done it when I was SO. Not safety rules, but such things as
> equipment,
> stage or game rules.
>
> Last match we let a kid shoot a .22 at his first match. Recently, at
> another club, we had three LEOs with duty gear trying a match for
> the first
> time. They could shoot well enough, but didn't know the rules of
> the game.
> One of them dropped a partial mag. My scorekeeper gave him a
> procedural,
> and tried to explain the rules. I discussed it with the scorekeeper
> and
> officer, and we agreed to let it slide this time but not in the
> future.
> (Ignorance of the law WAS an excuse!) On a stage that required
> explosive
> movement on the draw I've told shooters with limited mobility that I
> would
> accept whatever they were able to do. There is a fellow who shoots
> regularly who I tap on the shoulder because he simply can't hear the
> beep.
>
> So, what do you think? When is it OK to "help" new shooters, or even
> experienced shooters with physical limitations? When do you
> verbally remind
> a shooter to do something? Does it matter if the shooter in question
> is
> beating people? How do some of you SOs handle these situations?
> Any MDs
> care to chime in?
>
> John W in SC
>
>
>
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>
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