Know the Rule, Follow the Rule, Management

 I write the blog so that you will have direct knowledge as to what occurred  at the Western Territorial from the range officer's perspective. It is meant for your eyes only and those in scoring that you elect to share it with. Prior I have written for our club training a blog on this.  See "Know the Rule, Follow the Rule" at fastdraw.blogspot.com

It is my understanding that this issue came up on Range D and Range B during the bracket match and it was handle in four different ways.  

On Range D, the CFDA rule was followed and a forfeiture and a win by default occurred. There was no problem or delay. 

On Range B, in the first set there were two no shows and the CFDA rule was followed.  Two wins by default occurred. Then, a non shooter called for the arbitration committee and part of the committee, the match director and the chief score keeper appeared. There was an extended discussion with no clear results.  Wild Shot instructed the range officer how it should have been done. He said you redraw the round moving everyone up and shoot byes.  He illustrated how there should have been two byes shot for the two missing shooters. We had two more missing shooters in the third set, so to follow those instruction we would have had two more byes and a bye at the end of the round.  Wild Shot also instructed the range officers to shoot the two shooter awarded a win in the first set against each other.  The range officer attempted to do this and the shooters were brought to the line as instructed.  At this point, a member of the arbitration committee who was still there said no you can't do that.  The shooters were again taken off the line. (I agree, having them shoot would have been unfair taking a win away from one of them,)

In the third set of shooters there were again two missing shooters. We did not follow the CFDA rule and we did not followed head score keeper instructions to use byes, we simply redrew the draw moving everyone up on the scoresheet resulting in an even number of shooters.

There was probably 20 minutes of lost range time because we did not following the CFDA rule. Range B was the last range finished and those shooters on the Range B did not even have time to clean their guns prior to being called to the line in the main match.  It definitely affect the results of the main match.

 

In the third round, first set, a shooter had been drawn who had two xs.  I do not know if this was the result of the redrawing of the round at the table in the first round but it may have been.  The score sheets from round one definitely would have been a mess because of the redraw at the table  A runner was sent to the shack and the instructions were received to move every one up.  This, of course, was a complete redraw of the round at the table. Everyone got a new opponent.

Following the CFDA rule is so simple and so easy.  It causes no delays, no errors in score keeping.  When you start redrawing at the table there are always multiple ways of doing it, some of which in the particular circumstance make more sense than the designated instructions.  You will always have numerous opinions on how it should be done with numerous head strong proponents. It causes delay and confusion.  There is the perception that brackets are different and different ways apply.  It should not be different.  Know the rule, follow the rule.

I urge management to simply say "know the rule follow the rule." We should not be redrawing matches at the table. The table should not be making the determination whether a shooter has withdrawn or simply missed his match.   The rule is simple, easy to follow, expedites the match, and would be consistent in all CFDA matches, main match, categories, and brackets. 

I hope I am helpful, I try to be.