I know of people cheating at shooting for a lot less. If one is that sort, I am left to wonder if these types can fool themselves into thinking that they really earned what they cheated at.
Danny
Ideas to Increase Participation
- Thread starter Bennybooboo
- Start date
Danny
ISS
Gold $$ Contributor
on a tangent; every competition is SOOOOOO expensive to even make the ante. Forty-plus years ago HBR featured a lot of factory rifles, hunting scopes, and weight limits. I had a Remington 308 Varmint Special with a 4-12X Leupold taped on 6X, and most people shot Sierra 150gr MKs.
Look at HBR today. Easily an eight-thousand dollar package. IPSC is the same, ditto SBR. And don't even get me started on ELR, I have about seven-thousand dollars in mine and it still has to go to B'cZ for the stock finish.
Pick a shooting sport and set a two grand limit on the rifle ready to step up on the line. In two years there will be cheaters (my term) wanting replacement stocks, custom $5-700 triggers, and replacement barrels.
See where I'm headed?
Look at HBR today. Easily an eight-thousand dollar package. IPSC is the same, ditto SBR. And don't even get me started on ELR, I have about seven-thousand dollars in mine and it still has to go to B'cZ for the stock finish.
Pick a shooting sport and set a two grand limit on the rifle ready to step up on the line. In two years there will be cheaters (my term) wanting replacement stocks, custom $5-700 triggers, and replacement barrels.
See where I'm headed?
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Precisionhunter417
Gold $$ Contributor
Club match start times can be a hindrance to people who do not live 30 minutes away but will travel to a good club for a monthly match. I believe 9-10am is a good start time if you are only running two matches and have two to three relays per match.
Regionals and state level matches have many more entrants and need the early start times because it’s bound to happen that we have a shot marker or mechanical issue that will prolong the afternoon into the blustery part of afternoon wind.
Regionals and state level matches have many more entrants and need the early start times because it’s bound to happen that we have a shot marker or mechanical issue that will prolong the afternoon into the blustery part of afternoon wind.
Krogen
Gold $$ Contributor
One problem we face is connecting with possible participants. How do we get the word out to more shooters? Many matches are advertised by word of mouth or on club websites. Some state and national organizations show upcoming matches. I think we aren't connecting with people as well as we might. A cross-discipline clearinghouse might be the answer.
I hadn't seen such a site until I learned about Practiscore. It covers a wide variety of disciplines. Searches can be narrowed to one's particular geographic location. Somebody might wonder what's happening in there area and easily find it in Practiscore. People in one discipline might see something different they'd like to try. It's all there in one place. Depending on how the match director configures their match, shooters can register, pay online and squad. Match results can be logged. Or it can simply be used as advertising to make shooters aware of upcoming matches in their area.
I will be testing the waters with Practiscore. It will be interesting to see if it reaches more people and we get an increase in participants.
Have any of you used Practiscore as either a match director or participant? If so, what are your thoughts?
I hadn't seen such a site until I learned about Practiscore. It covers a wide variety of disciplines. Searches can be narrowed to one's particular geographic location. Somebody might wonder what's happening in there area and easily find it in Practiscore. People in one discipline might see something different they'd like to try. It's all there in one place. Depending on how the match director configures their match, shooters can register, pay online and squad. Match results can be logged. Or it can simply be used as advertising to make shooters aware of upcoming matches in their area.
I will be testing the waters with Practiscore. It will be interesting to see if it reaches more people and we get an increase in participants.
Have any of you used Practiscore as either a match director or participant? If so, what are your thoughts?
Big_Daddy
Gold $$ Contributor
Krogen has put a fair amount of effort into getting more participation in our local club matches.
Success has been mixed depending on the match.
Sadly, IMO, many clubs, including ours, don't offer what the "younger" generation shooters seem to be currently into.
From feedback I have heard, "Run and Gun" style matches are growing or maintaining their participation whereas disciplines such as Bullseye (Precision) Pistol and other similar stand and shoot disciplines are on the decline.
How do you entice new shooters into "old man" disciplines? I have no answer to that question.
Practiscore is an interesting tool without a doubt.
My hats off to Krogen for his efforts at our club!
Success has been mixed depending on the match.
Sadly, IMO, many clubs, including ours, don't offer what the "younger" generation shooters seem to be currently into.
From feedback I have heard, "Run and Gun" style matches are growing or maintaining their participation whereas disciplines such as Bullseye (Precision) Pistol and other similar stand and shoot disciplines are on the decline.
How do you entice new shooters into "old man" disciplines? I have no answer to that question.
Practiscore is an interesting tool without a doubt.
My hats off to Krogen for his efforts at our club!
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I hope you can find some interesting ideas with which to grow your club. I can relate to you some of things I've experienced in several forms of competitions which allowed me to truly enjoy the both the venue and the membership.
Have a sit down with your membership, a heart-to-heart discussion regarding making new folks feel comfortable and welcome. There is no better way to assist potential new members than to be helpful and friendly. I can tell you the first few times I shot in unfamiliar venues in new competitions where the club members went out of their way to make me feel welcome, sometimes to the point of setting me up with equipment and ammunition to shoot, even when I had no plans to do so. Those were great days!
The antithesis of that were the times when the after competition was the best social occasion you could imagine. Most of the shooters would have already traveled quite a ways in order to participate so there was camping and the cookout melded with camaraderie, singing, story telling, some were well organized while a couple just plain came together out of the desire to socialize. Great times had by all!
Without the time to spare as I once did, I concentrate on short introductions to youth groups and youth shooting clubs. A few I'll bring into the shop so they can see some of the process of actually building a rifle or watching some of the reloading I do. Once a year I build a rifle for a specific youngster for a specific form of competition. Throughout the year I try to offer the youngsters the opportunity to attend matches, to watch, ask questions and even participate if possible. My contacts are always through the school administration, Scout Masters or fathers with children who show interest. Obviously the parents must be in agreement with any of the activities. Parents are always invited to participate as well. Many parents are thrilled to find activities where they can experience the same things together with their children.
The only times I left a competition with sour feelings was when I was RO-ing and sponsored shooters were involved. It was usually one or two trying to climb the ladder to greater success (money/prizes/sponsorships) and do or say the wrong thing.
Enjoy your search!
Have a sit down with your membership, a heart-to-heart discussion regarding making new folks feel comfortable and welcome. There is no better way to assist potential new members than to be helpful and friendly. I can tell you the first few times I shot in unfamiliar venues in new competitions where the club members went out of their way to make me feel welcome, sometimes to the point of setting me up with equipment and ammunition to shoot, even when I had no plans to do so. Those were great days!
The antithesis of that were the times when the after competition was the best social occasion you could imagine. Most of the shooters would have already traveled quite a ways in order to participate so there was camping and the cookout melded with camaraderie, singing, story telling, some were well organized while a couple just plain came together out of the desire to socialize. Great times had by all!
Without the time to spare as I once did, I concentrate on short introductions to youth groups and youth shooting clubs. A few I'll bring into the shop so they can see some of the process of actually building a rifle or watching some of the reloading I do. Once a year I build a rifle for a specific youngster for a specific form of competition. Throughout the year I try to offer the youngsters the opportunity to attend matches, to watch, ask questions and even participate if possible. My contacts are always through the school administration, Scout Masters or fathers with children who show interest. Obviously the parents must be in agreement with any of the activities. Parents are always invited to participate as well. Many parents are thrilled to find activities where they can experience the same things together with their children.
The only times I left a competition with sour feelings was when I was RO-ing and sponsored shooters were involved. It was usually one or two trying to climb the ladder to greater success (money/prizes/sponsorships) and do or say the wrong thing.
Enjoy your search!
I know there's been others who have done the same thing, but I keep the best registry I can of places to shoot F Class
I have your home base in there for whatever it does to help drive people to you.
Find Matches — F Class John
www.fclassjohn.com
Krogen
Gold $$ Contributor
Thank you, my good friend!!
Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
I have opinions like everyone else. I have been imersered in BR and F class for over a decade and talk with all sorts of people. Theres a couple things I would say from my point of view dont work. Rule changes. You dont gain new shooters by changing rules. The new guys dont even know the rules yet. Hell, many of the long time guys dont know them. What does happen is you can potentially loose some of the most dedicated guys that respect the history of the game. Its much easier to keep the guys you have than attract new ones. So far as running a match, feed the guys well. Its crazy how many miss that and its huge. Everyone talks about the food and comradery. Thats a big one. They also talk about it when its bad, thats even worse. Just treat it like a good time with friends and its easy. Look at match attendance at different ranges. Id say atmosphere and food are #1. Well run matches in a timelty manner are #2 and the set of rules is last but very very important to your top guys which you want to attend. Competing with the best is what this is about.
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Check into other shooting disciplines. I don't know about firearm shooting sports and what awards are given. USA Archery and the NFAA both have programs where shooters are awarded patches and metals for advancement in skill level.. A joad type program works for new shooters. A Pro/Am where a blind draw is used for a fun type match. jackets and belt buckles are good prizes for shooter of the year. Call your local archery club and ask what they do. you will be surprised by the numbers they get to a shoot. Just my 2 cents
Big_Daddy
Gold $$ Contributor
I really appreciated you starting this thread!
It has been an ongoing debate and discussion at our Club for sometime.
I just went back and re-read the entire thread.
A lot of quality responses and suggestions.
However after the re-read, it is obvious that no one suggestion works at every Club or for every discipline.
I wish there was a clear cut magical answer. Sadly it doesn't seem to exist.
Again, thank you to everyone that took the time to respond to this thread!
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