Ideas to Increase Participation

[ShtrRdy]

If I may comment from the opposite viewpoint. I've been shooting short range benchrest for a few years. For me to attend the local match requires the entire weekend. And both days are long on top of a 90 minute drive each way. The days are organized as 100 yd LV Sat morn, 100 yd HV Sat afternoon. Then 200 yd HV Sun morn and 200 yd LV Sun afternoon. Match fees are $60 each day. There are awards on Sunday after the match.

The dedicated BR shooter has a camper or motorhome and lives for this activity.

I use to shoot pistol matches of the 'run and gun' variety. Those would take 4 to 6 hours out of a weekend day and cost $25. I use to help with setup for those which would add another 1.5 to 2 hours.

So, a friend of mine who likes to shoot BR, and I get together a few times a month and shoot an informal match against each other.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Enticements are not the answer. jclines answer above is the best given. Run a fair match, use common sense. A few years ago I took over a floundering match, it was down to 6 or seven shooters. I cut out the food except for free homemade muffins at sign up an instituted no a foul language policy. A rare occasional oh sh#t maybe tolerated but a fbomb or using Gods name in vain, just pack up and leave. I was told no one will come. Finished the year averaging about 18 shooters. Second year same rules averaged close 30 and broke 30 twice. Kids and women, grow up men, no unnecessary language. Run it fair, be on time, rules for all and shooters will come. Gimmicks to try and get new shooters don't work in the long run. If they are interested they will come.

 

[Rick300]

The younger crowd likes ACTION. While they think BR rifles are cool they probably don't have the time or $$ to acquire one. You might gain a few shooters by opening up a tacticool class so they can shoot their super cool black guns without competing against dedicated BR rifles. Heck, have a pistol class if there are any in your area. The main point is to entice new shooters to the game. Many of the suggestions above also, such as recognition and lunch goes a long way. And HELP them and don't treat them like a red headed step child.

 

[Bennybooboo]

Thanks, everybody, for all of your input.

Now that I have taken copious notes, I have a clear vision of what it might take to bring more participants to the line.

That being said, I will check back in a couple of months with results at our matches.

Thanks again,
Ben Haines

 

[60723]

Shooter of the Year! Thats a new one for me!

Almost something like MVP? Most cumulative points? Most improved?

Please explain.

Achievement awards have definitely been a hit last year.

 

[323]

Enticements are not the answer. jclines answer above is the best given. Run a fair match, use common sense. A few years ago I took over a floundering match, it was down to 6 or seven shooters. I cut out the food except for free homemade muffins at sign up an instituted no a foul language policy. A rare occasional oh sh#t maybe tolerated but a fbomb or using Gods name in vain, just pack up and leave. I was told no one will come. Finished the year averaging about 18 shooters. Second year same rules averaged close 30 and broke 30 twice. Kids and women, grow up men, no unnecessary language. Run it fair, be on time, rules for all and shooters will come. Gimmicks to try and get new shooters don't work in the long run. If they are interested they will come.

Dang giving people the boot for using gods name in vain of accidentally dropping the f bomb?? Little extreme if you ask me. During our safety brief we ask people to be courteous and mindful of language, but we don’t send anyone home. Oh and no vaping or smoking on the line.

 

[60723]

Shooter of the Year! Thats a new one for me!

Almost something like MVP? Most cumulative points? Most improved?

Please explain.

Achievement awards have definitely been a hit last year.

Best 6 scores for the monthly matches are totaled. Usually comes down to the December match. Usually comes down to 1 point or X count

 

[323]

Also having an up to date website by that up to date information. Also have a presence on Facebook, Instagram etc. But awards are the big one, I’m truly blessed my wife is an arts and crafter she has a laser engraver etc. So we are making our plaques in-house, we started with coffee cups with 1-3 on them for each discipline. Those cups were/are a hit . We donate all this to the club because I want to see an increase in shooters and leave this club in a better place than when I joined it. Our club also donates money to three youth shooting programs it’s not much 1k per club but considering only 100 of us in our club that’s pretty good. But we are able to do that because of the revenue we make from our matches.

 

[Aero]

Thanks for asking, I run smallbore metallic silhouette matches at Cascade Shooting Facilities, just east of Seattle. 2026 kicks off this Sunday. Check the CSF silhouette website and Facebook page.

Over the last few years I've heard lots of people (participants and match directors alike) ponder declining competitor turnout over time. Heard at local and regional matches, articles, podcasts, etc.

The recurring things I hear is that there are a lot of things that factor into the equation for competitors; things like associated costs, travel logistics, time, and other obligations. These are things I have absolutely no control over as a match director.

You wonderful people are giving me lots of ideas of things that I can control to improve what I offer.

So far, the things that seem to come up frequently are awards, food, and accessibility.

Keep the ideas coming, all.

Everybody can benefit from this discussion!

SB or any rifle silhouette match is a hard sell. Few want to stand on their hind legs to shoot.

If I was running a rifle silhouette match, one thing I would consider would be to try to bring in new shooters by allowing some sort of supported shooting. Whether off a bench or prone or whatever. Give newbies a better chance to knock down animals.