Stay Off the Stage:
This is an ever-present issue at matches. Shooters who are not shooting a stage caught
wandering around doing a walk through or trying to find targets while the
current squad is on that stage. This
interruption is not appreciated and is one of the worst etiquette violations I
can think of. The squad currently
shooting has the right to that stage, they should not be interfered with or
interrupted while they occupy that stage.
Be Polite:
The shooting sports are ultimately a game. Lives are not
being saved or lost and therefore rude behavior is not needed. The Range Officers are not paid to be there,
they are volunteers. Taking out your
frustrations on an RO is a great way to build a poor reputation and to
potentially get thrown out of a match.
At the end of the day, we are all friends in a Firearms Friendly
community and respect goes a long way.
Know When to ask
Questions:
As a new shooter you will undoubtedly have a ton of
questions. Maybe you have the
opportunity to shoot with a high-end competitor for the first time and you have
20 questions you are dying to ask. Most
shooters are happy to talk and to answer questions, but you need to be aware
that they are there to shoot and to win.
Knowing when to ask questions is key.
Know when they are up to shoot.
Be aware of their mood or focus before you ask. Trying not to pepper anyone with questions
continuously.
Everyone Resets:
Very few matches have provided stage re-setters. It is therefore the squads responsibility to
reset the stage after every shooter.
Nothing is more frustrating than to see your squad mates yuckin it up
and not helping during reset. Everyone
is responsible to reset, no one is excluded.
If you are dealing with a mechanical issue, you need to inform the RO
and your squad mates, fix the issue and get back after it.
Adhering to these etiquette items will enrich your
experience help you integrate well into these fun and exciting
competitions.
