New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

[steelejones]

Hi guys, im a new LRP shooter who really wants to organize some local competitions next summer but isnt sure where to begin. There havnt been any shooting competitions in my areas in a decade or more.

Are there any materials or websites out there that could help me in how to organize some competitions from beginning to end ?

 

[Mike]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

Well, we don't know where "you" are because your profile is not filled out.

Second, I would start by trying to meet up with fellow shooters which you can do in our member link up section.

Finally, what is your experience running shooting competitions?

 

[steelejones]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

I dont have any experience in competitions. Im a new LRP shooter. There are NO competitions here, and I would be interested in setting one up and running one. Thats what im looking for, information , tips , help in what I should be doing to try and organize one.

Im in northern Maine by the way.

 

[DT1]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

Have you ever been to a match? If not, attend a few and you'll get an idea of what goes into producing them.

 

[armorpl8chikn]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

You have never been in a competition but you would like to run one? I appreciate your enthusiasm, I do, but you are trying to fly before you crawl. Do you have your own range? Are you a member of a range or club? I am the assistant match director for 2 matches a month at CVRPC in Conover NC, from March through October. You better get an actual close up look at the water before you jump in, once you start you are married to the thing if it has any popularity at all. Sometimes you are married to it for better or worse, in the case of IHMSA competition. It can be one hell of a thankless job.
I suggest you hold off on running a match until you have some experience in some kind of competition......any kind of competition. Fill out your profile.

 

[taliv]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

hey, the more the merrier. don't discourage him guys.

I'd say grab some of your friends, find a large piece of land and start competing. It's ok if you screw up the judging, scoring, course of fire, registration, the prizes and just about everything. the only real issue is SAFETY. get that right. For the rest of it, get feedback from the people shooting your match. Doesn't matter what everybody on the internet wants; just do what the people shooting in your area want.

Since there isn't a governing body, no two matches really run the same. So you won't find a lot of help organizing like you might for NRA clubs or IDPA.

 

[Lucks]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

I've hosted a couple of matches....you really do need to shoot and attend a couple before you try to put one on. Safety first!

 

[steelejones]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

Guys i appreciate it, and maybe I really should travel somewhere first to try it. There are No competitions that I know of anywhere close to here. Like i said, growing up there used to be turkey shoots every weekend around here but in the last twenty years, NOTHING<>

 

[jbailey]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

PFC Jones-

Great to see your motivation. High speed. Run with it!
I'm in process of organizing my first match as well, so I can share with you some of my work so far.

OK, first as guys above have said SAFETY. Every match starts and ends with SAFETY. No stage goes without everyone's safety considered.

Next, what type of match to do? Tactical? If tactical, what type - precision? carbine? combo? Get a basic idea down there.

Next, you need a range. Remember there is a legal aspect to the range - they have a risk on that front.

Now you have a match type and range - you need a Course of Fire (CoF). What stages would you like to run w/in the limits of your match type and range (and of course SAFETY). W/in those limits you want to strike a fine balance - you need to make the CoF challenging enough so the ninjas are happy, but you also want the newbies to get a hit or two so they feel good. You want to think about the scoring model as you design each stage. The scoring model has got to tie in each stage with the overall match.

Then, if all this works, you need to start to do some of the admin work - how to get the match advertised, do you want a prize table (if so, get some sponsors), how will folks pay, etc.

Lots of guys on here can help you if you have specific questions, but I encourage you to do some of the above planning first.

Good luck

 

[bohem]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

Jones-

If you're within a couple hours driving distance to me I'd be interested in attending.

James, the same. Keep me in the loop about when/where for your match. I'd like to go.

 

[jbailey]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bohem</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jones-

If you're within a couple hours driving distance to me I'd be interested in attending.

James, the same. Keep me in the loop about when/where for your match. I'd like to go. </div></div>

Roger Wilco, Josh-
My match will be at Mayberry, a range just a few miles south of PA near Westminster MD. I'm working with Steve Bechtel on it. Steve and the Mayberry guys have been running a bunch of tactical and precision matches for some time and I'm looking to help them continue that tradition. I have spoken to Freddy about it as well for some pointers.

 

[glocksig40]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

I'm sending you a PM here with some advise. I've done it too.

 

[bohem]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

Thanks!

 

[scootball]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

build it and they will come

 

[cv209]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

I would be interested.

 

[fargo007]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

I'm in on the James Bailey match too.

To the OP:

Basically the biggest things you need it appears you already have. The balls to do it (first of all), and the desire to do it right by asking advice here.

Starting a local match isn't that hard at all. You put targets up, have a score sheet, and get people shooting.

Begin with simple things so you get an idea of what is involved. Very quickly you will find your way, and be able to recruit volunteers to help out. The more reactive targets you can use, the less delay you will have to check scores on paper (unless you have a pit system of course).

Let it grow naturally, both in the number of shooters you take on, and in the complexity of the stages you present. Remember that you have to consider your lowest common denominator in some respects.

There are plenty of people here willing to help you out because we want to shoot.

--Fargo007

 

[ida83704]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

Well,
You could post the details on the range or area you plan to shoot on.

Then post your proposed course of fire, I'm sure you would get plenty of feedback here.

Also,
before you have an actual match, set up your course of fire and shoot the whole thing yourself. Sometimes things in your head or drawn up on paper don't work so good in real life

good luck

 

[steelejones]

Re: New Shooter Wants To Organize A Competition

Guys I appreciate all the PM's and feedback. As i get more and more into it I will def post back some additional details. I plan to try to do something in the spring for sure.