Field Target Match Guidelines

Reprinted from the AAFTA Clubs and Shooters Handbook

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The information contained in the guidelines has been gathered from experienced Airgun Field Target Match Directors and shooting participants. The intent of this publication is to guide AAFTA Member Clubs when holding a Regional or National Airgun Field Target Match.

The guidelines are broken up into categories (ie. Match Planning, Targets, Etc.). Find the category you are interested in below in the index then jump to it.

Index

Getting Started
Match Planning
Course Preparation
Targets
Practice Area (Range)
Shooters Meeting
Class System
Awards Presentation
Match Terminology
Target Malfunction Procedure

Getting Started

If, your club wishes to hold a Regional or National Airgun Field Target Match, there are several things you should consider.

Does your club have enough members who are willing to give their time to prepare and run the match properly?

Are your Facilities adequate?

Does your club have the financial support necessary for the match.

Does your club have enough targets suitable for the match?

Has the match date been approved by AAFTA and is the weather in your area acceptable on that date?

Having answered these questions positively, your next step is to select a Match Director. The Match Director will be responsible to see that the match is run according to the AAFTA Rules and insure fair play to all participants.

Match Planning

Pre-determine each club members duties regarding the match. That includes preparation before, during and after the match.

Contact AAFTA to schedule an open date on the AAFTA Calendar (consider weather, holidays, school, vacations, and range conditions).

Decide the number of shots and the course layout.

Determine what food services will be offered. This will be determined by how much money is available or how far it is to the nearest store/restaurant etc. Water should be available to all participants and soft drinks provided free or for a fee.

Restrooms.....Must be provided for men and women.

Some form of seating should be available for shooters and spectators, taking into consideration rain or shade. Scorecards, clipboards, name tags and pencils should be provided.

Scoreboards and Scorekeepers.... A scoreboard visible to contestants and spectators should be provided.

Awards..... All awards should be presented at the conclusion of the match.

Pre-plan a tie-breaker system for the match.

A mailer or invitation should be prepared well in advance of the match. The invitation should include:
1. Dates and times of the match and practice hours.
2. Location of the range, with directions or map.
3. Host organization with contacts and phone numbers.
4. Awards and Classes
5. Entry fees and deadlines (with registration limits)
6. Information on food and soft drinks.
7. Safety information, sanctioning and sponsors.
8. Motels (with address or directions) including rates and phone numbers.
9. Air tank availability or rental company name, address and phone numbers.
10. Patches, shirts, hats or pins for sale.
11. Any equipment restrictions or special notices.
Based on your budget, you may elect to have your match announcement published in the AAFTA NEWS instead of sending a mailer. If you so desire the editor will design your announcement for you.

Shooting times..... Should be planned to allow all shooters enough time to finish the match. Take into consideration the number of shooters, number of lanes, and number of shots as each target (remember, two shots at one target takes less time than one shot at two targets)

Shooters meeting..... A shooters meeting should be held prior to each match. Allow from 10 to 20 minutes for each meeting.

Marshalls..... Arrange for your volunteers to be marshalls well in advance and get a firm commitment from each. The number of marshalls you will need depends on the geography of your course. If, you have the course layed out over a large area, you will need more marshalls. Train your marshalls well in advance so they can preform properly and be an asset rather than a liability.

Assuming you planned your match......make a plan......then work your plan!

Course Preparation

Course layout.....Each course should be laid out using the available terrain. To lay out a safe course, remember that a "cone of fire" should be developed to direct all shooting away from competitors and in a safe direction. Things to take into consideration when laying out a course:
1. One lane should never cross another lane...Safety
2. Shooting locations ( ie "shooting pads") should be on a plane that allows safety for all.
3. If you will be using tree targets, cut your lanes with the trees in mind for the targets.
4. Based on the terrain, can you see the target from the "shooting pad"?
5. Make sure that resetting strings can be run back to the firing line without tangling in briars. etc.
6. One lane should not be too close to another lane.
7. Will the shooter be sitting in a mud hole if it rains?
Shooting Pads.....Shooting pads should be dry! When it rains a little pea gravel helps drain water and is more acceptable to most competitors. These locations should be reasonably level, so that a competitor can safely take a shot.

Lane Markers.....Lane markers are used to identify where the shooter must take the shot. Two lane markers should be used for each shooters pad. The gun barrel should be between the markers, with the shooters body behind the markers. These markers can be made of wood, steel, or other material and should signify the lane number.

Lane Trimming.....Target hit zones should be clearly visible from the shooters pad with no obstruction in the flight of the pellet. Remember both short and tall shooters when clearing the lane. When trimming the lanes look for even the thinnest weeds, grass or vines.

A well laid out course, properly prepared eliminates problems at match time!

Targets

Type.....There are both commercial and "Home Made" targets that can be used in matches. Any target that is reliable and capable of withstanding 20-25 foot pound pellet strikes can be used. Targets should be tested with both high power and low power airguns. The quickest way to ruin a match is to have a target that does not work properly! The target should fall when hit in the hit zone and not fall when not hit in the hit zone! Currently most targets are made in England.

Hit zone size and shape.....Hit zones should be round in shape! Hit zones sizes can range from 1/2" to 1-3/4" with the most common size being 1-1/2" diameter. Smaller hit zones are generally used in lesser numbers.

Hit zone size and distance.....Target distance should be a minimum of 10 yards and a maximum of 50 yards. Care should be taken when placing a target at 10 yards, since pellets can bounce back from the target. When setting a course, shooter proficiency should be taken into consideration (ie. Good shooters can hit tougher targets than new shooters). The following target placement distances are for expert shooters:
```
    Hit Zone Size    Maximum Distance

        1/2"             25 Yds.

        3/4"             35 Yds.

        1"               45 Yds.

        1+"              50 Yds.
```
These distances should be reduced based on the shooters abilities and as shooters get better they may need to be increased.

Average Target distance....For a Regional or National match the average distance of all the targets should be 30-32 yards. Remember, you can put reduced hit zone targets at shorter distances to keep the average and still have a challenging course. It is not necessary to stretch all the 1-1/2" targets to the maximum range.

Target strings and rubber bands.....It has been found that a good quality braided Dacron line (50-80 Lb. test) will not stretch and will last longer under ultraviolet rays than Nylon or Polypropolene. This line is used for offshore fishing and is extremely durable but, it is rather expensive. It is recommended that Nylon not be used. Since it stretches and makes the target hard to reset. A simple fishing swivel 10-12 inches in front of the target keeps the line from becoming twisted and makes them easier to wind up after the match. A short steel braided fishing leader used through the target hole will keep the line from fraying on the metal target. Rubber bands or light bungee cords attached to the target and to the line with a little slack will curtail string snags, which prevent target knock-downs. Note: If the braided Dacron line is too expensive, use only enough for the target placement distance (ie. 25 Yds, 40 Yds, or 50 Yds.)

Target Installation.....Targets are staked to the ground via stakes (nails) through holes in the target base. It is important that all targets be secured to the ground and leveled (a small torpedo level will do). Targets that are not secured will be loosened and pulled up with hard resettings, thereby, making them un-reliable. Tree targets can be secured to the tree by hose clamps or rope to prevent using nails in the tree. A base bracket should be constructed with the application in mind. In order to be reliable, tree targets must have rubber band or bungees to prevent the string from becoming too heavy to allow the target fall when hit. Prior to installing any target on the course, it is important that the target hinges be lubricated and checked for proper movement and action.

Target Painting.....Since Field Target shooting is a fun sport as well as a challenging sport, detailed painting of the targets make them more enjoyable for all competitors. Flat Black targets don't excite anyone! A little art work goes a long way in creating realism! Hit paddles should be given a base coat of white paint then dayglow orange should be applied over that. Of courses, all hit paddles should be repainted between matches.

Target Placement.....Placement relies on the imagination of the course designers with the following guidelines:
1. All participants should share equal visibility of the entire hit zone.
2. The terrain should dictate the shooting position.
3. All competitors should have the same opportunity to shoot in the same shooting position.
4. When placing a target in a lane, a spotter should be in a shooting position to give detailed instructions to the person setting the target. This way the spotter can make sure short and tall as well as, left and right handed shooters have the same advantage. Binoculars or a scope will allow the spotter to see if any obstructions exists. Lane markers should be adjusted to afford the shooter the ability to get a clear shot on all targets in the lane.
5. All targets should be set from a pre-determined plan.
6. When setting targets the shooting sequence should be determined (ie. shoot the nearest target then the longest target).
7. When two targets are in one lane, care should be taken to make sure that the string from the longest target does not interfere with the other target.
8. If the course has a tendency to have standing water or rain, make sure targets are not under water if it rains on match day.
9. Make sure that the Marshalls can get to the targets during the match.
10. Make sure that targets in one lane cannot be confused with targets in another lane.
11. Look for level, firm ground when placing the targets.

Target preparation, maintenance, painting and planned target placement are essential to a successful match!

Practice Area (Range)

A safe practice area should be provided for the competitors the day before the match and just prior to each match. This practice area should have the following:

At least 50 yards of clear safe shooting area.
A suitable dry area to sit and shoot from.
Some form of target holders for the competitors to use.
A sturdy bench rest with sand bags.
Yardage markers each 5 yards from 10 yards to 50 yards.
Gun Racks.
A designated area for SCUBA tanks.
A designated and marked "Firing Line".
A range safety officer on the firing line at all times when shooting is taking place. The range safety officer should have complete control at all times.
Rest rooms should be available.

Safety, Safety, Safety, Safety

Children should not be near the firing line and should be supervised by a parent at all times! No pets should be allowed in the practice area!

Spinners, practice field targets, and chronographs add to a good practice area! During practice or during a match all AAFTA Safety Rules should be in force.

Shooters Meeting

A shooters meeting should be held prior to each match to discuss information pertinent to the match. This is an opportunity to welcome contestants and introduce Marshalls, Scorekeepers, and other workers. This meeting should be from 10-20 minutes in length and include:

Special club rules and procedures
Explanation of scoring and score cards. The score card should track the course layout.
Point out where facilities are located, including shooting lanes.
Number of shots per target.
Number of lanes.
Where to turn in score cards.
Lane assignments. Squadding... A suggested method of squadding for qualifying rounds is to designate a top shooter, an intermediate shooter, and a novice when using the customary 3-person system of squadding, in all but the final round. This allows all competitors an equal opportunity. In the final rounds, it is customary to squad shooters with those with whom they are directly competing.
Shooting times to begin the matches.
In depth discussion of the AAFTA Safety Rules, with an introduction of the marshalls and any discussion of time limits.

Class System

A suggested system to class competitors would be as follows:

Open class - Broken into A,B,C, by qualification. Competitors would be qualified in the first two matches of a three match event. The shooters scores would be listed numerically and divided into thirds. This would be the A,B,C, Classes. All ties would go into the higher class. In the last match all shooters would be squadded into three's with their competition. This system qualifies shooters at the match rather than their past record. This system has been used successfully in Major Matches.

Each Class should have at least a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place award. As the sport grows, the above class system could be adapted to other classes, such as, Piston Gun, Junior, Chair, Etc.

In a major match, such as, the Nationals, it is suggested that a Junior Class be established with sufficient awards to satisfy the number of registered shooters. Other Classes can be created by the match committees as the situation dictates.

Awards Presentation

All awards should be presented immediately following the final match. It is suggested that awards should be displayed during the Award Presentation. Pictures for publications should be taken by the host club and identified for the press.

Match Terminology

Hot Line - Safe to commence firing.

Cold Line - Cease fire, unload all guns and point in a safe direction.

Shooters Meeting - A time when the match director will address all competitors and discuss rules, procedures, times, number shots, and other pertinent information prior to a match.

Shooting pad - A location from which a shot must be taken at a target in a lane.

Lane Markers - Two poles, stakes, etc. used to identify body placement on a shooters pad.

Split - When a pellet hits the edge of a hit zone on the target and "splits" into pieces, with one of the pieces striking the hit zone.

Paddle - The round disc to be hit on the target that unlatches the trigger and allows the target face to fall.

Marshall - A volunteer that administers the rules with regard to targets on the course. He also, enforces the safety rules.

Range Safety Officer - Calls the line on the practice range.

Blow off a shot - When a competitor wants to shoot a pellet into the ground because of a bad pellet or mechanical problem.

Squad or Squadding - A group of up to three shooters who shoot togeather.

Tie Breaker Lane - A lane designated before a match to break a tie score.

Time limit - A time imposed on a shooter to prepare to and shoot a target.

Lane - A designated area in which a target is placed when shooting a match.

Air bottle - SCUBA tank or equivalent.

Shooting time- The time shooting will commence at a match.

Reset - When a string is pulled from the shooters pad to make the target ready for the next shot.

Target Malfunction Procedure

If a reset string breaks call a marshall to repair it.

A shooter may lodge a protest if he feels a target failed to fall with a good hit. The procedure is as follows:

All shooters in his squad must complete their shots at the target in question.
If the target falls once, the protest is disallowed.
If the target fails to fall and all the squad members agree on a possible malfunction, call a marshall who will:
1. Check the target for function.
2. Repair the target.
3. Replace the target with an identical hit zone size target.
4. Remove the target from the match and have all competitors scores re-tabulated as hits for that target.
If A, the decision of the marshall is final. If B or C, shooters in the squad will reshoot, for score, the target in question.

Note: In most cases the behavior of a target that appears to be malfunctioning occurs when the shot is a "split" pellet miss. This happens when a pellet partially strikes the edge of the hit zone opening of the target face. In effect, this locks up the sear mechanism of the hit paddle the same as an outright miss does.

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