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Let's talk timers!

Lots of abusing the time limit during matches.

I'm usually wrangling one of my sons and their equipment as well as my own, and sometimes both sons, and my shooting squad still typically finishes the course 45 minutes before some of the worst of the wind-waiters. Everyone knows who those folks are. They'll sit there and wait and wait and wait for the wind to be what they want before they pull the trigger. It's cheating, plain and simple.
This whole timer thing is gonna mess with the tea and cookies I enjoy between shots.
 
This whole timer thing is gonna mess with the tea and cookies I enjoy between shots.

Lol, that's how some shooters play it.

We all start the match at the same time, and it's taking some squads 45 minutes longer than other squads, yet supposedly there's a time limit for each shooter.....the math ain't mathing.
 
In an FT match would you start the timer when you sit down on the bum bag /take the shot and off the timer till the next shot OR does the timer just run start to finish counting all the walking packing and unpacking ?
Please pardon my ignorance; I’ve never attended a Field Target match. Are some matches limited by time and other matches not limited by time? Thanks,
Kenny
In shooters box and gun in hand ... is when timer should start.
Timer counts DOWN from 5 minuets. If you run out of time and not taken your shots .... technically your SOL !! and forfeit those shots not taken points.

Fun matches and even some GP's pending MD's decision to use timers or not is common. Generally tho at a Big match with a lot of shooters and GP points on the line you will see the use of timers.
 
Lol, that's how some shooters play it.

We all start the match at the same time, and it's taking some squads 45 minutes longer than other squads, yet supposedly there's a time limit for each shooter.....the math ain't mathing.
Lack of enforcement is one reason ...
3 man squads mixed in with most at 2 man is another .... If you add 5 min x 15 lanes for an extra squad member it by the numbers places that squad 1 hour and 15 minuets later in finishing.
 
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3 man squads mixed in with most at 2 man is another .... If you add 5 min x 15 lanes for an extra squad member it by the numbers places that squad 1 hour and 15 minuets later in finishing.
Happened on day 1 at CASA State championship, extra hour in the sun on the coarse, wind picking up... curse of the 3 man squad.
 
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As a side, I think timers should start when the shooter enters the shooters box

In my opinion that would encourage some that take advantage of every legal advantage to not reset the targets they drop, and (even) purposely tangle reset lines. That could burn a minute off the next guy's timer.

You might think I think some competitors are disposed to winning at all costs, even compromised integrity. But I don't think that.

I know that! Thankfully there aren't many.

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If you think enduring three-man squads is a pain, you should try figuring out how to minimize their effect (as a match director). That can be(come) quite a puzzle, in itself.:unsure::rolleyes::mad:

I don't like puzzles.🤬

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hahahaha yeah for sure... put a big gap between em and the others. ...and squad three fast shooters. lol, and put two slow shooters in the squad preceding them. :LOL: :ROFLMAO:
 
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If you think enduring three-man squads is a pain, you should try figuring out how to minimize their effect (as a match director). That can be(come) quite a puzzle, in itself.:unsure::rolleyes::mad:

I don't like puzzles.🤬

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When we used to hold GP matches at the Morro Bay course, we did not use general timers for everyone, even at the 2021 National, no timers. I always gave the threat of putting a timer on any squad that had empty lanes in front of them, and had squads backing up behind them. But usually not required as there were other things that could be done to keep the match progressing.

Though it’s no longer legal in AAFTA GP matches, if the next lane was empty and close by, I instructed squads with an odd/extra man to have the first shooter move to the adjacent lane, while the scorer did double duty for both shooters.

Current AAFTA rules require all shooters in a squad to finish a lane before stepping into the next lane. In the instance where you have 29 shooters, rather than 30, on a 15 lane course, the new requirements of timers and squad advancement can add 1.5 hours (for almost everyone) to a 3 hour match.

How to prevent that…I don’t remember seeing anything preventing the use of a one man squad. 29 shooters with 14 two man squads, and a single one man squad.
 
In shooters box and gun in hand ... is when timer should start.
Timer counts DOWN from 5 minuets. If you run out of time and not taken your shots .... technically your SOL !! and forfeit those shots not taken points.

Fun matches and even some GP's pending MD's decision to use timers or not is common. Generally tho at a Big match with a lot of shooters and GP points on the line you will see the use of timers.
Thank you. I learned something new today.
Kenny
 
Unfortunately the stragglers that everyone else is waiting on to finish the course arent always the odd 3 man squad.

I've offered to be in a three man squad more than once, knowing it'll move the match along faster. Ive also noted how Ive been placed with the time abusers to try to even out the situation. It's comical sometimes, taking my shots in 2 or less minutes, and then waiting a full 15 minutes for the other guy to wait for the wind to be just perfect for each of their 4 shots on a lane.

To me, winning a match when taking exorbitant amounts of time on every lane is in the same category as trying to manipulate your squad mate into giving you points when the target didn't fall. Or requesting an additional shot, as "a sighter."

Field target faux pas 101. I might do a separate post on all the ways I've seen rules abused and how they're usually a repeating theme at most matches, as well as general field target etiquette. The field target equivalents of somebody parked in the passing lane going 10-15mph less than the posted speed limit.
 
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requesting an additional shot, as "a sighter."

I allow as many additional sighting shots as anyone wants; and each one that doesn't fell the proper target COUNTS as a(nother) ZERO ON HIS SCORECARD. Matter of fact I took two sighting zeros at my last match.

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Yup ... Every match I make a point during the Pre-Match meeting to state ... UNLESS announced/stated to your squad mate your burning a shot ( Not at target but the ground un sighted ) it will count as a missed shot !! * With exception when stated as such below.

THO DO ALLOW ( At club fun matches ) if one has not been successful in knocking down a target after addressing both targets ( generally a wind read thing ) if the squad is NOT being pushed or holding others back, you can take a few extra attempts to get it for experience sake tho these Freebee shots are NOT for score & only after addressing there 4 shots for score & recorded. ( Again shooter needs to state what there about to do with squad mate/s )

If one can't learn in actual condition of the moment, it is really hard to learn reading wind & what many have a hard time doing & need to do time to time is .... LEAVING the KZ !!!!!
 
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you can take a few extra attempts to get it for experience sake tho these Freebee shots are NOT for score

I might give that a try... but for, say, $20 per shot. ✋💵 Because I'm such a generous match director...🤥

And Ronny needs another supercar!

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