Following the current rules versus trying to change them to suit me.....who's looking for an advantage?
The verbiage you've used throughout this discussion implies that some people are not capable of kneeling. The common phrase of "use it or lose it" when referencing joint mobility as the human body ages, comes to mind.
There are two types here, the small minority of legitimately disabled shooters and the "I'm old and it hurts" type. I know of only one truly disabled individual that I've ever seen attempt a field target match. He's been dealing with his physical deficiencies his entire life. He asked for no exceptions, although the match director allowed such, as most any decent human would. And yes, there were forced position shots in that match. He did them the best he could and not one single person had an issue with that.
So now people will jump in and say they've had a knee surgery to make them disabled. And now we're cooking in my kitchen. (I didn't dig long, but I'm sure there are better post total knee studies out there also showing that range of motion after a knee replacement depends on the individuals desire to have decent range of motion).
The purpose of this study was to compare the range of motion after standard version posterior stabilised TKR and high-flexion version TKR in patients receiving bilateral total knee replacement. Thirty-five patients were recruited. The range of ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Not the most robust study, but applicable here. This is perhaps the most relevant comment from that published study:
"Among all the factors reported in the literature, the amount of pre-operative knee flexion seems to be the most consistent and significant factor in predicting the post-operative knee flexion after total knee replacement [
6,
8,
9,
11,
12]. Many surgeons believe that the motivation of the patient is another important factor which affects the final flexion range after total knee arthroplasty.....It is frequently observed that patients who are better motivated in the rehabilitation period and exhibit a higher tolerance to pain usually enjoy a superior flexion range at the final follow-up."
Scott commented earlier that conditioning is important. If the knee (original or replaced) won't bend, see a physical therapist. They'll have some exercises that will get you to a point where the simple act of kneeling is possible.
And yes, there will be a handful of people that literally CANNOT kneel (see legitimately disabled above). Those are the types with debilitating medical conditions like spina bifida or other uncurable skeletal deformities.
The rules should not be changed for the rare truly disabled individual who wants to shoot field target.
If you or anybody else CHOOSES to shoot the kneelers as offhand and scores better that way, I'll be the first to congratulate you/them on your success and your skill level.
If you're truly disabled (think electric scooter/leg cage braces) everyone will know it and the MD will make an exception. If you're not truly disabled but try to get an exception from the MD, everybody will know youre a weasel.
("can't never did anything")
Thank you for congratulating me on cleaning a kneeling lane offhand FL, but that might have been an anomaly. More likely, a combination of skill and luck. Regardless, it is quite memorable.
Being honest in the extreme, I am one of those you excoriate that CAN kneel, but choose not to in order to avoid injury. That last step of bearing weight on my contorted knee, ankle and foot is simply SO painful that not only can I not concentrate on the shot, but I risk injury. So I choose the lesser of two evils by sacrificing points by shooting kneeling lanes offhand.
Which brings up to a point (or two) I've purposely not mentioned so far, in order to to see if anyone else might make the leap of logic. Apparently few to none did.
1) We (now) live in a very litigious society. I have little doubt there are lawyers out there willing to pursue litigation for clients not smart enough to not injure themselves attempting to avoid competitive disadvantages. I know from previous experience that in the past the BoG has foregone doing the right thing in order to avoid possible litigation. That possible litigation was much less likely than this possible litigation. As litigation goes, "it ain't paranoia when it's reality".
2) The following point may, or may not, be the more realistic point everyone is missing. At what point does keeping a forced position that even many who want to keep it to maintain their advantage have confessed in this thread they don't LIKE
do enough damage to FT for that minority to recognize that fact? When a majority can't shoot kneeling?
We might already be there. When 2/3 majority can't? How about 3/4?
Being old as dirt I've come to appreciate some adages that are obviously profound truisms. Let's go there now, with a few of my own (original) adages, and/or spins on others.
Experience is NOT the best teacher; BAD experience is a MUCH better teacher. Litigation qualifies as a VERY good bad teacher.
"Age equals wisdom." With wisdom comes insight. With insight comes foresight (the capacity for forethought). That's all because with age comes accrual of experiences. And I speak from experience in saying not only does age seemingly accrue
at exponentially accelerating rates as One accrues age, but seemingly also do experiences accrue exponentially as one accrues age. And although intelligence and wisdom are not synonymous, it is inarguable that any level of intelligence gains wisdom from experience (and age).
A wise person does not have to rely on his own experiences to learn. He can learn from others' experiences proactively, therefore avoiding repeating the bad experiences of others. I try to do that, though not always successfully.
3) Contrary to what some might want to believe, although my suggestions in this thread are indeed self-serving, not nearly as much as some want to believe. Having for decades been a loud and tireless promoter and defender of Field Target AND the BoG, my
primary motivation here is what's best for Field Target and the BoG. I just happen to believe sacrificing participation in order to cling to a forced position that only a small minority of FT shooters like, and no one seems to know how or why that forced position came to be in the first place, MIGHT NOT be the lesser of two evils (aka- the wisest choice). I understand and accept that some question my motivations, and simply consider the source(s). Regardless, I'm not wrong.
Though I'm not an official spokesman, pretty sure I speak not only for myself here, but a growing percentage of FT shooters. I just happen to have thick enough skin to take incoming fire for those reluctant to put themselves in the line of fire.
Am I exaggerating the percentage(s)? If willing, you can easily find out for yourself. At conclusion of any shooters meeting simply ask for a show of hands of every shooter that can't shoot keeling lanes kneeling. Then take a count and compare that count to the number of entrants. Although you might be surprised, I don't expect it to change any minds. Simply enlighten.
y alternative to forced position shots.....and well, luck starts to become a factor. And we want the most skilled guy to win, not the luckiest. 
Hey bro, you on that PES…….
“Let’s test this guy for practice, I sense an unruly amount of confidence when they’re on the offhand lane. Dude even shot kneeling lane standing and cleaned it
”
to avoid this litigious society? Once at 65 or 70 plus years of age, reaction time plummets. Some folks workout and continue to be well-read and keep themselves in good working order (physically and cognitively) but the majority do not! Pull those DLs to avoid harming yourselves and others while behind the wheel……
I can utilize a booster seat 
though 
