I dislike airing my dirty laundry in a public place. But, it seems I've once again been forced to do so.
As head of ARA, I hear a few complaints, from time to time. Usually, they are in regard to something that is an infraction of the Rules or what someone perceives to be an infraction. Most of the time, if they provide me with enough accurate information, I can resolve the problem with either a phone call or email to the complaining party. Sometimes they're happy about it, sometimes not, but my concern is compliance with, and an understanding of, the Rules. Usually, once I've made my explanation, the complaint disappears.
Please understand, since our Rules are intended to be simple and brief, we omit a lot of things that common sense tell us is right or wrong and should or shouldn't be done in either our duties as Match Director or as an humble competitor. No matter how lengthy or comprehensive the set of Rules any organization operates under, it seems that there are a few participants that naturally seek out and operate in any gray area that exists, simply because the Rules don't explicitly address the issue in exact words. That's where common sense comes in. A sensible person should know the proper thing to do, but who can account for sense these days.
Currently, there is a complaint circulating that has been brought to my attention and which bothers me. Again, a part of the problem has to do with common sense since the Match Director is operating within the Rules regarding this situation. However, it needs to be addressed, since there is only ONE club in the entire list of ARA clubs where this is happening. But, other issues also emanate from this club. I'll address them here later.
The initial problem is this: to pump up the number of points awarded to the winner of an event, children are set down at the bench with a rifle, some cheap ammo and minimal directions on how to shoot a target. Usually, they shoot only one target of a six target event or tournament, then they quit. The full complement of points go to the winner just as if those children had been genuine competitors and had made a diligent and honest effort to complete their full number of targets to the best of their abilities.
Is it fair? Is it honest? Is it within the current Rules? I'd say the answers are no, no, and yes. Again, while no rule specifically says it cannot be done, and since the problem isn't a problem anywhere except at this particular club, should a Rule be added to the Rule Book specifically addressing this issue or should this Match Director be admonished, then dropped if the practice continues? Just to make it even clearer, the Match Director in question is most always the beneficiary of the extra points, since he also manages to win at his own events.
Why must we continually be faced with issues such as this that force us to burden our simple Rules with even more complexity when the problem is so localized? I don't think that is necessary. I firmly believe the Match Director has to cease the practice, or face expulsion. It's that simple in my mind.
Another issue is this, and it applies especially to this same club, but it also should be of the highest priority at all ARA Clubs. Everyone has heard my impassioned appeals over the years for consistent, honest scoring practices. I won't get into that again, but I'm still as concerned as ever about it. In today's competition, equipment, accuracy and skill levels have improved so drastically since ARA began in 1998, that accurate scoring is even more crucial than ever. Often, in a six target event, only 50-100 points separate the winner from second place. It's easy to see the need for care to be taken and for the Rules to be followed in the scoring of all ARA targets. Careless or inaccurate scoring could change the entire outcome of an event, rendering the wrong person the winner.
The reason that the scoring issue is included in this message is because the same club at which the children shoot for the sole purpose of boosting the points for the winner is the same club at which unfair scoring concerns have been brought to my attention.
Since I have not been present at any of the events mentioned here or personally seen any hard and fast proof, I can only report on what competitors that I know and respect have seen first hand and discussed with me. These are people that I know and respect, having known them for many years. I won't detail the particulars at this time or name any names or Clubs. Suffice to say that I’ve never been forced to expel a Club from ARA yet, but this Club is as close as one has come to being the first. If the Match Director of this Club knows I'm talking to him, all I can say is to clean up your act or face the consequences. As always, I'm available to discuss any problems on the phone. My line is always open.
For everyone else, no matter your experience level or the number of targets you've shot over the years, I'd like everyone to review the ARA Rules on scoring. They can be found in Paragraph 14, but for the sake of convenience, I'm including two of the most important and often abused parts of the Rules here:
The
Match
Director
shall
appoint
a
Scoring
Team.
It
shall
consist
of
at
least
one
person
to
plug
the
target
and
at
least
two
others
to
do
preliminary
scoring.
These
two
shall
also
assist
the
plugger
in
deciding
any
close
shots.
In
large
matches,
more
than
one
Scoring
Team
may
be
formed.
The
names
of
the
members
of
the
scoring
team
or
teams
must
be
submitted
along
with
the
Match
Report
and
Match
Fees
that
are
sent
to
the
Business
Office
following
the
conclusion
of
each
event.
The
Match
Director
shall
appoint
one
person
to
retrieve
the
targets
after
completion
of
each
firing
period.
Only
the
designated
target
retriever
shall
handle
fired,
unscored
targets,
placing
them
in
a
secure
location
until
the
scoring
team
is
ready
to
begin.
The
targets,
after
the
Scoring
Team
has
completed
their
scoring,
may
be
posted
on
a
secure
wall
or
other
place
for
viewing
by
all
competitors.
However,
under
no
circumstances
shall
anyone,
other
than
a
member
of
the
official
Scoring
Team,
remove
a
target
from
its
place
of
viewing
or
place
a
scoring
plug
into
or
a
magnifier
over
any
bullet
hole.
Anyone,
other
than
a
member
of
the
official
Scoring
Team,
who
places
a
plug
into
a
displayed
target
shall
be
DISQUALIFIED
from
that
event
and
a
score
of
ZERO
entered
as
his
total
score
for
the
event.
Let's discuss the initial sentence in more detail: "The Match Director shall appoint a Scoring Team". In point of fact, how many of you Match Directors actually do this? How many of you competitors have been asked to be part of a scoring team? I hope many respond, "Me, Me", but I sincerely doubt there were many positive answers. More likely, the answers might be "not usually" and "very seldom," respectively. I dislike repeating myself, but like the advertising geniuses who hammer away at us in the commercials, they hit us three times with the same message before they quit. My message again is this: I cannot overemphasize the importance of accurate and impartial scoring.
Consider this: after dreaming of and planning your ideal custom rifle, you've recently received it from the gunsmith with a total investment running about $2,500.00 to $3,500.00, including scope. You've tested several lots of different ammo, found some that you really like, bought a case of it, paying a grand or more for it to assure yourself an adequate supply to last you for most of the season. You've just driven 200 miles to an event where you sign in, draw your bench, set up and get ready for the match. Six targets later, you complete the event and anxiously await the results to see how you placed in the field of other competitors.
Assume that the Match Director fails to adhere to the Scoring Rules in a strict manner, did not appointed a dedicated scoring team and the targets were rushed through a process where several different volunteers rough scored the targets and one or two different scorers plugged the close shots. No consistency. Keep in mind that they are usually volunteers, maybe even some of the competitors who score their own targets along the way while others score part of the targets, get tired of the process and leave the remaining targets for others to complete. Everyone is anxious to expedite the process of getting the targets scored so they can go home.
This is a very common scene. The rush to get packed and back on the road to home is where the match is lost. This is where the fallacy of having spent those thousands of dollars on a custom rifle is wasted. What good does it do to have that tackdriver built, to have purchased that special ammo only to be in such a rush to go home that you willingly accept shoddy scoring on your targets. Not just shoddy scoring, but an obvious deviation from the ARA Rules.
Everyone should pay very close attention, most of all, to the rough scored boxes that have NOT been marked for plugging. Usually, the plugging is pretty accurate but the majority of costly point mistakes occur on the rough scored boxes. Not enough quality control or double checking is done on those boxes, since most attention is placed on the boxes that were plugged. I've seen this time after time and it makes no sense to me.
The next match that you attend, if the Match Director fails to do so, demand that he appoint a Scoring Team BEFORE the match begins, and that they follow the rules about scoring. After all, you've paid good money to be there, both in equipment and match fees, and you deserve exactly the score you shot, good or bad, but mostly, you deserve not lose the match because of poor scoring. Don't ever go home feeling you were robbed by shoddy scoring. If you don’t speak up, insisting that these Rules being followed, you have no complaint. We all attend events with the reasonable expectation that the Rules will be followed, and if you demand it, it will be done.
The other part of the Rules listed above is self-explanatory. Nevertheless, they are equally important to the proper conduct of an ARA match. Read them. Read them several times, in fact.
The Rules. The Rules. The Rules. Let’s live by them. Carry your Rule Book with you like you carry your rifle and equipment. It should be considered an essential part of your equipment. Know them and if you see anyone deviating from them, especially the Match Director, discretely discuss your views of his conduct, and if necessary, cite the Rule for him. We're all human, and it may just be an oversight. It isn't tattling, it's the correct thing to do. We will all benefit from this behavior if you stand up for your rights, because ultimately, you're standing up for the rights of all ARA competitors when you do.
Enjoy the game, and remember that's all it is, a game, but we love it. Take it seriously enough to demand compliance with the Rules, and ARA will become more enjoyable for everyone.