Teams and team membership

[corning]

I shot on the New England mini-Palma team (New England vs the Canadian Maritime Provinces) somewhere around 15 years ago. It was a good experience. Other than this, I have no real team experience, with the exception of a pick-up team or two at Camp Perry.

With the selection of the US Palma teams, I always wonder what kind of skill levels and personalities make the best team players/members, and coaches.

I don't intend this as a rehash of the National Rifle team criteria, and the selection process for the 2019 teams, but more of a general discussion of team makeup and cohesiveness.

John Corning

 

[Shiraz]

I'll take a shot at this based on having been on the US F-Class Team for about 10 years and as a former US Team captain, and having been coached by several top Palma coaches. Just a few things that come to mind right off the bat:

1) You need to be able to take direction and criticism well.
2) You have to have good loading techniques, accurate rifle, barrel as well as very accurate loads.
3) The coaches are doing all the heavy lifting and deserve the utmost respect. Listen to them even if you disagree with their calls or anything else.
4) Your individual score in a team match means nothing! If you are the type that goes around boasting that you were the "high shooter" on your team, then goodbye!
5) Most of the captains have a lot of experience and are good, some are bad and get weeded out (or weed themselves out) and some are very methodical and logical. They have a lot of things to deal with and are constantly being barraged with questions from team members. Keep your communications with the Captain cordial, and to the point and also infrequent. The coaches on the Palma team are usually very good, and I know on this latest cycle - they are absolute world class! Listen to that group.
6) Your job is to be a good trigger puller and good helper to the rest of the team. Its a team, so your team members are just as important as you. Your job is never to second guess a coach when on the line.
7) Don't bad mouth your team mates or be the guy that ridicules others, even on opposing teams. You do that and chances are you will probably be off the team in quick order. You don't need to be best friends with your team mates, but need to have a very good relationship with them.
8) Finally, remember that your job, as a shooter, is the easiest on the team. Get your gear on the line when called. Lay down, aim at the right target and listen to your coach. Help your team-mates with their gear if they need it. Help the coaches when they need help. Then stay out of everyone's way.

That's all that comes to mind right now. Hope it helps.

 

[Jennb]

I'll take a shot at this based on having been on the US F-Class Team for about 10 years and as a former US Team captain, and having been coached by several top Palma coaches. Just a few things that come to mind right off the bat:

1) You need to be able to take direction and criticism well.
2) You have to have good loading techniques, accurate rifle, barrel as well as very accurate loads.
3) The coaches are doing all the heavy lifting and deserve the utmost respect. Listen to them even if you disagree with their calls or anything else.
4) Your individual score in a team match means nothing! If you are the type that goes around boasting that you were the "high shooter" on your team, then goodbye!
5) Most of the captains have a lot of experience and are good, some are bad and get weeded out (or weed themselves out) and some are very methodical and logical. They have a lot of things to deal with and are constantly being barraged with questions from team members. Keep your communications with the Captain cordial, and to the point and also infrequent. The coaches on the Palma team are usually very good, and I know on this latest cycle - they are absolute world class! Listen to that group.
6) Your job is to be a good trigger puller and good helper to the rest of the team. Its a team, so your team members are just as important as you. Your job is never to second guess a coach when on the line.
7) Don't bad mouth your team mates or be the guy that ridicules others, even on opposing teams. You do that and chances are you will probably be off the team in quick order. You don't need to be best friends with your team mates, but need to have a very good relationship with them.
8) Finally, remember that your job, as a shooter, is the easiest on the team. Get your gear on the line when called. Lay down, aim at the right target and listen to your coach. Help your team-mates with their gear if they need it. Help the coaches when they need help. Then stay out of everyone's way.

That's all that comes to mind right now. Hope it helps.

Very well said.

To add a few things. Some folks shoot team strictly as practice for individuals. Please do not join a team unless that is everyones plan on that team. This way people who are truly team players wont get poked in the eye.

 

[Erud]

I'll take a shot at this based on having been on the US F-Class Team for about 10 years and as a former US Team captain, and having been coached by several top Palma coaches. Just a few things that come to mind right off the bat:

1) You need to be able to take direction and criticism well.
2) You have to have good loading techniques, accurate rifle, barrel as well as very accurate loads.
3) The coaches are doing all the heavy lifting and deserve the utmost respect. Listen to them even if you disagree with their calls or anything else.
4) Your individual score in a team match means nothing! If you are the type that goes around boasting that you were the "high shooter" on your team, then goodbye!
5) Most of the captains have a lot of experience and are good, some are bad and get weeded out (or weed themselves out) and some are very methodical and logical. They have a lot of things to deal with and are constantly being barraged with questions from team members. Keep your communications with the Captain cordial, and to the point and also infrequent. The coaches on the Palma team are usually very good, and I know on this latest cycle - they are absolute world class! Listen to that group.
6) Your job is to be a good trigger puller and good helper to the rest of the team. Its a team, so your team members are just as important as you. Your job is never to second guess a coach when on the line.
7) Don't bad mouth your team mates or be the guy that ridicules others, even on opposing teams. You do that and chances are you will probably be off the team in quick order. You don't need to be best friends with your team mates, but need to have a very good relationship with them.
8) Finally, remember that your job, as a shooter, is the easiest on the team. Get your gear on the line when called. Lay down, aim at the right target and listen to your coach. Help your team-mates with their gear if they need it. Help the coaches when they need help. Then stay out of everyone's way.

That's all that comes to mind right now. Hope it helps.

I have not been involved in team shooting as long as many here have, but I think that this is a really excellent summary.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I'll add one more - feedback. Always tell your coach if you broke the shot other than exactly where you were told. If you were supposed to hold center, and wandered even 1/8 MOA away when breaking the shot, tell your coach before the target comes back up. It doesn't matter if it changed the score of the shot better or worse.

The same goes for weird trigger breaks, odd recoil, etc. that may indicate that the shot may not be true to the call.

 

[corning]

Shiraz, thank you. That was enlightening.

 

[Rope2horns]

I'll take a shot at this based on having been on the US F-Class Team for about 10 years and as a former US Team captain, and having been coached by several top Palma coaches. Just a few things that come to mind right off the bat:

1) You need to be able to take direction and criticism well.
2) You have to have good loading techniques, accurate rifle, barrel as well as very accurate loads.
3) The coaches are doing all the heavy lifting and deserve the utmost respect. Listen to them even if you disagree with their calls or anything else.
4) Your individual score in a team match means nothing! If you are the type that goes around boasting that you were the "high shooter" on your team, then goodbye!
5) Most of the captains have a lot of experience and are good, some are bad and get weeded out (or weed themselves out) and some are very methodical and logical. They have a lot of things to deal with and are constantly being barraged with questions from team members. Keep your communications with the Captain cordial, and to the point and also infrequent. The coaches on the Palma team are usually very good, and I know on this latest cycle - they are absolute world class! Listen to that group.
6) Your job is to be a good trigger puller and good helper to the rest of the team. Its a team, so your team members are just as important as you. Your job is never to second guess a coach when on the line.
7) Don't bad mouth your team mates or be the guy that ridicules others, even on opposing teams. You do that and chances are you will probably be off the team in quick order. You don't need to be best friends with your team mates, but need to have a very good relationship with them.
8) Finally, remember that your job, as a shooter, is the easiest on the team. Get your gear on the line when called. Lay down, aim at the right target and listen to your coach. Help your team-mates with their gear if they need it. Help the coaches when they need help. Then stay out of everyone's way.

That's all that comes to mind right now. Hope it helps.

Nailed it!