The BIG Threat to Matches.

[Greg@wfcustom]

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.

Matt,
That's called the "It's easier to do it myself then explain it to you how I want it" syndrome.
Not that any of us are control freaks
G

 

[Bottom Fodder]

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

Some come just to shoot, some come just to win, some come to just complain. Very few come main to help and I’ve seen the burden of all that on the match director‘s face when he/ she is on the the line to shoot a lot of times. I’ve seen MD’s not even shoot because there was no one to cover for them

 

[JSH]

At 60 now, I am the youngest at the matches I participated in. Even when I was 50 I was the youngster.

 

[6ShotsOr5?]

I just want to say thanks to a few MDs for all the work you guys do - to Larry in Lake Charles and to Richard and Dwayne in Tomball. THANKS!

 

[Matthew Schwartzkopf]

At 60 now, I am the youngest at the matches I participated in. Even when I was 50 I was the youngster.

Imagine being a match director under 40 with a career. I truly feel like a kid at the matches.

 

[topclass2017]

Matches are a perfect example of the 90/10 rule: 90% participate, 10% organize/volunteer/direct. Might even be 95/5. In my opinion and from my own experience running or being part of a small team who ran various matches or cub leagues, I think the challenge is getting a steady cadre of younger (under 60?) volunteers with specific jobs to do before/during/after the match, then at some point "graduate" one or more of them to the director slot. It's not easy (I had a club league die when no one wanted to step up, although they surely enjoyed the shooting!), and more often than not, it's as my grandfather used to say: when you want to get something done, ask a busy man. Add to that, likely retired...

 

[Screamer]

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.

This is so true, I was match director at our local club matches for 22 years. We ran a good match in those days, but burn out got best of me. Hard to get the next generation interested in benchrest. They just want to shoot a semiauto and go pow pow pow into the dirt.

 

[A.Thomas]

Happy birthday sir and well said! Everyone wants to come shoot and complain because something at the range isn’t done to suit them or the match is missing something or short handed, etc. Funny thing is when mention of a work party gets brought up, someone is asked to help work a match or something needs repairs those same people are nowhere to be found.

 

[DirtySteve]

Happy Birthday.. You remarks are pot on... I took over as a local match director and I am 61... I fight fires locally with another guy on our engine who is 66. We are the Social Security squad.(I am months any from SS). lol..

 

[JEFFPPC]

Happy Birthday.. You remarks are pot on... I took over as a local match director and I am 61... I fight fires locally with another guy on our engine who is 66. We are the Social Security squad.(I am months any from SS). lol..

The Triple S......Social Security Squad.

 

[jcline]

This is a true issue in many ways. Some match directors have been doing this many years and are great at what they do, but HELP at the matches for most clubs is an issue. I would like to say THANK YOU to Jim Hamilton (Palmetto gun club) Tommy Williams (Piedmont gun club) who are current match directors and have been for 15+ years.

 

[Alibaba]

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.

Thank you for your kind words @CaptainMal

I'm a (1954) baby I will do this for as long as I can I truly enjoy it it takes my mind away from the daily routine as I'm not retired still working 70 hours a week which I still enjoy doing it.
I'm fortunate of having great bunch of guys and girls helping out at every match I'm so grateful to them and like I always said if we don't have volunteers we have nothing so thank you Guys and Girls for your help.
Thank you
Al.B
Have a Blessed Day.

 

[rayporter]

SSS???

i though that meant to shoot, shovel and shut up.

i feel like a shovel of dirt hits me every day, now.

 

[jackieschmidt]

If you are involved in any organization, you will find that 100% of the work is done by about 5% of the people.

we ceased having Group Matches at Tomball for two reasons.
Poor participation, and no Match Director.

So we went 100% Score. Five Club Matches and Two NBRSA Registered Mayches.

Running Score is five times as easy as Group. I wish we could have a Group Match, but if nobody shows, what’s the point.

 

[Liven The Dream]

Happy Birthday and many more.
You have made the very point, step up.
I hit 77 this year and the light Bulbs got bright. I have stepped down , cut the weeds , spray the weeds.
Come out early setup the targets, some time to tired to shoot.
Then have all us older Gentlemen put to one end of the line ?

Yes Step Up and remember your Respect

 

[EGBrown]

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.

Happy Birthday Jeff

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Me and couple of guys were talking at the range the other day going to try having some simple “fun” matches. Shoot what you brung for score from benches at 200 yards geared toward new and young shooters. And get ideals on how and which way to move forward.

 

[JEFFPPC]

I don't think that works. I think your better off to target some one who enjoys shooting or hunting, has some disposable income, and is in someway competitive. Take that person to a match and let them shoot your rifle and get them around the other shooters. Maybe give a heads up we have a new guy today, say hello to him. Everyone likes to shoot free ammo. I have seen the fun shoots done but never sucess with them. On the other hand, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Being a good shooter requires work and the money to invest. That leaves a lot of young folks lacking.

 

[Fuj]

If you are involved in any organization, you will find that 100% of the work is done by about 5% of the people.

we ceased having Group Matches at Tomball for two reasons.
Poor participation, and no Match Director.

So we went 100% Score. Five Club Matches and Two NBRSA Registered Mayches.

Running Score is five times as easy as Group. I wish we could have a Group Match, but if nobody shows, what’s the point.

Jackie.....I know you shoot the Tack Driver. Jeremiah Keefe has shot
several and made an effort to do the concept of mixing group
and score up here in Pa. at the Anderson Creek range. We shot it
at 300 yards and had a packed house. Too bad it's only once a year.
Either way, mixing group and score has shooters more excited then
I've seen in awhile. Jim Cline's and others idea is no fad in my book.
Would it work at Tomball as it has up here in my neck of the woods ??
We found a secret way of getting workers.....Give my grandson the
keys to the golf kart, he'll set and pull targets from early in the
morning to late afternoon.

 

[NorCalMikie]

Matches are a perfect example of the 90/10 rule: 90% participate, 10% organize/volunteer/direct.

This applies to just about ANY group get-together.
Example: Quilt Show. Thought I would dive in and "help" set up the show.
Set up the racks and hang close to 100 quilts. The guy that was doing most of the set up told me to "handle it". He stepped out for a few and when he came back, I had it done!!
The next day, come time to take everything down, the ladies and their FAT BUTTS stood around watching and bitching cause the quilts were hitting the floor instead of ANY on them catching the quilts and taking them over to the tables and help folding them up. I'll remember that the next time any of them want help!!

The next year, there I was helping again. Started setting up and the gal running the show jumped me cause she didn't like the way I was doing things??? She snapped at me (BIG MISTAKE) and it took me maybe 10 seconds to hit the door. That's the LAST time I ever helped. They wern't paying me and they couldn't pay me enough to get crapped on!!
DON'T ABUSE THE "FREE" HELP!!