The BIG Threat to Matches.

[JEFFPPC]

This is only for those who shoot matches on a regular basis. This is also mainly but not exclusively speaking of club matches that by far make up the largest portion of available matches every year. Almost all the matches I attend, have attended or attend occasionally are kept going by one or two people. Most often these are older shooters who are not adverse to a little work. Have you ever considered how tenuous the existence of most matches is? The matches I have seen go away have not been because the government said no but because no shooters would step up to take them over when the need arouse, often because of age or illness. So all,you guys under 60 that profess to love matches, you better start stepping up, shove your excuses to some dark place, or you will not be 76 like I turned today and be able to shoot 30 or more matches every year. When they go away, they are gone, they do not come back. We need some workers willing to accept the responsibility of taking on matches.

 

[jimmymac]

Happy Birthday buddy. Thanks for what you do.

 

[rjtfroggy]

First, Happy Birthday.
Second, I can think of at least 2 more reasons but I don't want to start a war so I will leave it alone.

 

[brxlefty]

Happy Birthday Jeffppc!!! YES I AGREE!!!! I have been running sanction matches about 20 years and I have seen the age of shooter get older. Some need help with equipment, pit duty or just getting to the range but these guys are the forefathers of this sport and everyone needs to help a little! Thank you!!!!!

 

[clams243]

Happy Birthday to you.

It has always been that way with help, lots of participants very little help. but a big THANK YOU to those who do the hard work.....

 

[Krogen]

It's not just matches. The "old guard" wants to step down in many group activities. Seems the "young guard" often isn't interested to take over. An example is a local car show. The Arlington Dragstrip Reunion won't be held this year. The organizer has stepped down, but nobody is willing to step up. The show has been a lot of fun with modern and nostalgic hot rods. On top of that, the proceeds benefit a charity. But it's not happening this year.

I think those of us that run matches are partially to blame. We should be pulling folks into match running tasks. Get them into the machine so there's a natural progression when the "old guard" wants to exit. Corporate America calls this a succession plan. We should do the same. Instead, I see incumbents being protective of their leadership roles. Potential helper are excluded. When the incumbents eventually bail out, it's abrupt leaving no successor to take the helm. Worst case, I've seen disciplines die this way. Best case is that somebody does jump in and picks up the pieces. The discipline limps along until hopefully it starts hitting on all cylinders. Far better is to have people in the wings to take on greater involvement over time.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

People that show to a match only to shoot never understand that the prep work started days before and ends days after

 

[jghoghunter]

Happy birthday Jeff
See you Saturday and you know where I stand on this subject.

 

[CaptainMal]

SUPER topic. For Manatee back in the early 2000's, Eric Bostrom and Larry Tolksdorf ran some great matches. I got involved early-on and when they kind of "pooped out", Steve Krause came on. We ran some good matches for years with his talents.

Nature came in and hampered Steve. Then Al Benarroch came on to help. We ran the matches until early last year when I "pooped out". Bob Longo stepped up. Now Al is doing a major job of not only keeping things going but it is flourishing. As a scorer last week I now have a better "inside" look at how much Al is doing and how hard it can be.

As a 1944 model my time had come and is now gone. Sure hope there is someone who can take over when the time comes it is needed. Super thanks to Al Benarroch for stepping up to make Manatee the best it is.

 

[Matthew Schwartzkopf]

I think those of us that run matches are partially to blame. We should be pulling folks into match running tasks. Get them into the machine so there's a natural progression when the "old guard" wants to exit. Corporate America calls this a succession plan. We should do the same. Instead, I see incumbents being protective of their leadership roles. Potential helper are excluded. When the incumbents eventually bail out, it's abrupt leaving no successor to take the helm. Worst case, I've seen disciplines die this way. Best case is that somebody does jump in and picks up the pieces. The discipline limps along until hopefully it starts hitting on all cylinders. Far better is to have people in the wings to take on greater involvement over time.

Truth. I may not be "old guard" but as someone who helps put on matches (it is a team effort) I am guilty of this. People all the time ask to help, and as match directors we need to push our egos down and accept the help to pass on that knowledge. I for one will admit that it is easier said than done.

 

[Chaotik]

Happy birthday Jeff.

SUPER topic. For Manatee back in the early 2000's, Eric Bostrom and Larry Tolksdorf ran some great matches. I got involved early-on and when they kind of "pooped out", Steve Krause came on. We ran some good matches for years with his talents.

Nature came in and hampered Steve. Then Al Benarroch came on to help. We ran the matches until early last year when I "pooped out". Bob Longo stepped up. Now Al is doing a major job of not only keeping things going but it is flourishing. As a scorer last week I now have a better "inside" look at how much Al is doing and how hard it can be.

As a 1944 model my time had come and is now gone. Sure hope there is someone who can take over when the time comes it is needed. Super thanks to Al Benarroch for stepping up to make Manatee the best it is.

Agree 100% Larry.

 

[JEFFPPC]

It's not just matches. The "old guard" wants to step down in many group activities. Seems the "young guard" often isn't interested to take over. An example is a local car show. The Arlington Dragstrip Reunion won't be held this year. The organizer has stepped down, but nobody is willing to step up. The show has been a lot of fun with modern and nostalgic hot rods. On top of that, the proceeds benefit a charity. But it's not happening this year.

I think those of us that run matches are partially to blame. We should be pulling folks into match running tasks. Get them into the machine so there's a natural progression when the "old guard" wants to exit. Corporate America calls this a succession plan. We should do the same. Instead, I see incumbents being protective of their leadership roles. Potential helper are excluded. When the incumbents eventually bail out, it's abrupt leaving no successor to take the helm. Worst case, I've seen disciplines die this way. Best case is that somebody does jump in and picks up the pieces. The discipline limps along until hopefully it starts hitting on all cylinders. Far better is to have people in the wings to take on greater involvement over time.

Asking folks at a match to help that day for the most part will find a couple guys willing. Getting someone to take over and be responsible to see the matches come off is an entirely different story. I do know when the old guys are gone and no one steps up.....gone to never return. I think having guys who don't want to give it up more often than not might be keeping some matches going.

 

[Fuj]

Ya' know Jeff !! Going to this coming steel shoot will probably
seem like a vacation to you !! I more then anything appreciate
the amount of time you put in running match's every month.
I do wish I lived a little closer. I drive the distance because
everything in my northern region has turned to Trap shooting.
And that aint happening on my end !!!....So happy birthday, Bro,
and go kill some steel.....

 

[SBfan]

As a past match director for a silhouette club I agree with everything that has been said. After 5 years as MD I elected not to run (it was an elected position) again. As for getting others to help at a match it would have been easier to ask for almost anything else. No one wanted to take over as MD so in a short time the club was dissolved. Everyone wanted to shoot but no one wanted to help run the matches.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Ya' know Jeff !! Going to this coming steel shoot will probably
seem like a vacation to you !! I more then anything appreciate
the amount of time you put in running match's every month.
I do wish I lived a little closer. I drive the distance because
everything in my northern region has turned to Trap shooting.
And that aint happening on my end !!!....So happy birthday, Bro,
and go kill some steel.....

Yea, Jessie is trying to rattle me because he is the guy I beat by 4 plates, lol. It will be nice to be able to clean betwwen relays while keeping an eye on conditions. No need to run targets , score, or run a line. I will do my best to kill steel. Yea you live to far away up in the frozen north.

 

[Lbart]

Truth. I may not be "old guard" but as someone who helps put on matches (it is a team effort) I am guilty of this. People all the time ask to help, and as match directors we need to push our egos down and accept the help to pass on that knowledge. I for one will admit that it is easier said than done.

Mat,
I dread the thought of YOU & Mid, Nancy, and Michelle not running matches at Ben Avery range. Disaster comes to mind! Thanks for all you and the crew have done!

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Happy birthday Jeff!

 

[davidjoe]

A precision match is an orchestra of moving parts. We can’t lose niche barrel and action makers, either. Bullet makers have a big customer built in. Yep, there are lost arts and skills. We shove a Big Boy around in Texas tooting its steam whistle, with a diesel doing all the work several cars back.

 

[marchx]

@JEFFPPC Happy Birthday, Sir.

 

[Greg@wfcustom]

This is only for those who shoot matches on a regular basis. This is also mainly but not exclusively speaking of club matches that by far make up the largest portion of available matches every year. Almost all the matches I attend, have attended or attend occasionally are kept going by one or two people. Most often these are older shooters who are not adverse to a little work. Have you ever considered how tenuous the existence of most matches is? The matches I have seen go away have not been because the government said no but because no shooters would step up to take them over when the need arouse, often because of age or illness. So all,you guys under 60 that profess to love matches, you better start stepping up, shove your excuses to some dark place, or you will not be 76 like I turned today and be able to shoot 30 or more matches every year. When they go away, they are gone, they do not come back. We need some workers willing to accept the responsibility of taking on matches.

True this ^^^^^^^^!!
As one who has been running BR matches in various forms for 20+ years and IHMSA Silhouette matches before that, anyone who has not been a Match Director has no idea of how much work is done "behind the scenes" that very few people see. Those very few people who do see it are usually the ones who are helping make things happen, but make up a very small % of shooters. Not everyone can help out I get that!
The big problem as JeffPPC points out is we are all a bunch of old farts (70 for me this year) whose aches and pains are getting worse each year, not to mention the time it takes out of your life.
We all do this for the love of the sport, but sometimes love ends badly.
I would suggest that anyone under 60 reread that part of the post directed your way, and give some serious thought to what he has put forth.
Don't get me started on the Whiney Little Bitch's (WLB's) who think their 30-50 entry fee allows them to complain about anything they want.
There I feel better now,
Thanks Jeff
G