In our examination of the USPSA-specific differences between the new USPSA rule book and the previous IPSC/USPSA rule (January, 2004), it seems appropriate to mention the general differences between the current USPSA rule book and the 2004 version.
(IPSC is the International Practical Shooting Confederation. It is the world-wide ruling body charged with maintaining the rules used for International competition. The rule book published by that organization is often used without change by many regions for Local/Regional competition, and is mandatory for use in International competition.)
First, it was authored by the USPSA Board of Directors, plus the USPSA President (Michael Voigt) with input from John Amidon, the USPSA Vice-President and leader of the National Range Officer Institute (NROI). USPSA has previously used the IPSC rule book, but had received a dispensation to publish a USPSA version which included special variants of certain rules to reflect the culture, the preference, and the less-intrusive laws regulating the possession and use of firearms. Because this rule book is an entirely American publication, there are no rules which refer to IPSC competition in the International sense.
Second, early in 2007 the rules which were proposed by the authors were presented to the USPSA membership in a Draft form, and the members were encouraged to submit critical comments and suggestions for change. USPSA member suggestions were accepted until the end of March, 2007, and many of the comments and suggestions were used by the authors to present a truly superior set of competitive rules.
This is a milestone in IPSC competition in America, because for the first time in two decades American competitors are allowed to ignore rules, regulations, targets and divisions which have no bearing on competition within their own home Region. In fact, this happy situation is due to an outreaching by the USPSA President and Board of Directors to IPSC in a sincere effort to continue the mutually supportive relationship between the American and the International bodies, while allowing USPSA to retain the flavor of local competition. Special thanks are due to Bruce Gary, Director of Area 1, who spearheaded this effort.
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Enough of the background. In General Comments 2, we left off with Chapter 6: Match Structure.
We'll continue with
Chapter 7: Match Management
Adds the post of "Tournament Director" (TD).
This is specifically important to USPSA because of the increasing popularity of Multigun and 3-gun competitions, where Pistol, Rifle and/or Shotgun stages are included. The distinction between a Match and a Tournament are uniquely important in USPSA, because this level of competition is not typical of IPSC (International) Practical Shooting competitions.
Chapter 8: The Course Of Fire
Rule 8.3.1 changes the Range Officer Command "Load and Make Ready" to "Make Ready". This is a convenient way to avoid the confusion when a stage specifies that the competitor must start the stage with an unloaded firearm.
We can expect an awkward learning curve, after generations of Range Officers have become accustomed to instructing shooters to "Load and Make Ready". However, when the 2004 Rule Book was introduced we learned to say, at the competitor's obvious conclusion of a stage, "IF clear, hammer down, holster" instead of "Gun clear, hammer down, holster". We can learn this one, too.
A valuable corollary to this is rule 8.3.1.1, which specifically forbids the Competitor from moving away from the start position after the firearms has been loaded, without the Range Officer's specific permission. This scenario has been encountered during actual competition, which suggests that this rule is not without justification. That is, it meets the Geek criteria of "A Good Rule" in that it addresses a previously defined problematic situation.
Many of the rules which have been considered "excessive" in the 2004 manual have been omitted from this version. Competitors may take sighting pictures with a loaded weapon, and may take sighting pictures on as many targets as they deem advisable. Competitors are still restricted from walking a stage or 'playing with' the props and/or targets without the Range Officer's permission, but the egrigious 'procedural penalties' are absent. USPSA expects all competitors to be responsible. The only remaining penalty is a Match DQ for "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" if the competitor is specifically instructed by the RO to "STOP DOING THAT", and ignoring the RO command.
Rule 8.6.1 specifically allows coaching in Level I ("Club Match") competition under certain conditions. One assumes that this would be applicable to new shooters, who haven't the experience to make the kind of judgments which come with experience. However, any shooter may receive coaching, at the RO's discretion, by requesting it. (Frankly, I think this rule has been included to help make the New Shooter experience more fun and rewarding. Nobody expects them to win the match; they're just trying to survive. It only enhances the competitive experience when the RO is legally permitted to suggest that when a target has been shot at so many times that a reload is neccesary, the competitor might consider 'moving on' to another target.)
Chapter 9: Scoring
Rule 9.1.7 define target stand 'sticks' as "neither hard cover or soft cover", so if a shot goes through a stick ... you own it.
Rules 9.4.1 and 9.4.2: EVERY hit on a paper or steel no-shoot target will be counted as a penalty of twice the point-value of a maximum scoring hit. This removes the "no more than two penalties may be scored on a no-shoot, no matter how many times it has been hit" rule which had been egregiously added to the 2004 rule book. Thank you, USPSA, for removing this bizarre rule which is rumored to have been imposed in order to make the 'new shooter' feel more 'comfortable'. If one may editorialize a primary concept of Practical Shooting is that "if you shoot it, you own it, and rules which undermine this principle are detrimental to the game.
NOTA BENE: The "Radial Tears" Rule 9.5.4.1 (defining the circumstances under which an 'enlarged hole in a paper target' would be considered a hit) has been removed from the final version. The Draft version required the RO to look for a 'grease mark, striations or a crown' to determine the legitimacy of a 'hit'. That this sub-rule has been removed is evidence of the authors listening to the members, who prefer that the Range Officer use his own experience to determine whether a hit is justified.
Rules 9.9.3 and 9.9.4 referencing "Scoring of Moving Targets":
9.9.3 Moving scoring targets will always incur failure to shoot at and miss penalties if a competitor fails to activate the mechanism which initiates the target movement.I think this is an important rule because it is part of the mechanism which allowed removal of the confusing version of rule US1.5.1 (regarding "Freestyle" competition) which stated only:
9.9.4 Level I matches only - If the written stage briefing prohibits the engagement of certain targets prior to activation, the competitor will incur one procedural penalty per shot fired at such targets prior to operating the activating mechanism, up to the maximum number of available hits (see Rule 2.1.8.5.1).
US1.5.1 - Level I matches are not required to comply strictly with the freestyle requirements or round count limitations.This rule was so confusing that it caused a lot of frustration and bad feelings on the part of both the competitors and the stage designers (and Match Directors) when a stage design approved by the MD was not readily accepted by the competitors. We're glad that rule has been eliminated from the 2008 USPSA rule book. Instead, we see this verbiage which is much more understandable and much less confusing:
2.1.8.5 Appearing scoring targets must be designed and constructed to be obscured to the competitor (during the course of fire) prior to activation.
2.1.8.5.1 Level I matches are encouraged but not required to strictly comply with this requirement. The written stage briefing may prohibit competitors from engaging certain target(s) which may be visible prior to activation until the operation of the activating mechanism has been initiated (see Rule 9.9.4).
Chapter 10: Penalties
During the Draft Review period, one rule was subjected to much criticism. It was confusing, and the justification was not obvious.
Essentially, it was typified by a course of fire which required a competitor to negotiate an area which in part included a 'lane' or path which was defined by 'boundaries'. This proposal would have prevented the competitor from leaving the lane to shot-cut to a more advantageous shooting place, by penalizing the competitor one procedural (5 points) for each STEP taken outside the boundaries!
The response of the USPSA membership, during the Draft Review process, was apparently overwhelming and certainly vociferous.
The details of the protests are many and, essentially, unimportant. The results are very important.
Consequently, Rule 10.2.11, instead of looking something like this:
Unless specified otherwise in the written stage briefing, a competitor who, following the start signal, leaves the boundaries of the shooting area with at least one foot in contact with the ground and gains a significant advantage by advancing to a later part of the shooting area(s), such as taking a “short cut” to a later part of the defined shooting area (s), will receive 1 procedural penalty per step taken outside the shooting area.... has been removed from the final version. Instead, we see only this rule:
10.2.1 A competitor who fires shots while any part of their body is touching the ground or while stepping on an object beyond a Shooting Box, a Fault Line or a Boundary Line or who gains support or stability through contact with an object which is wholly beyond and not attached to a Shooting Box, Fault Line, or Boundary Line, will receive one procedural penalty for each occurrence. However, if the competitor has gained a significant advantage on any target(s) while faulting, the competitor may instead be assessed one procedural penalty for each shot fired at the subject target(s) while faulting. No penalty is assessed if a competitor does not fire any shots while faulting. (Emphasis added.) (see UPDATE: 29-AUG-2007 at the bottom of this page.)This is much more familiar, and complies with the original concept that penalties are not usually assigned when not in the act of shooting, except for Safety Violations. (Exceptions may occur, but I admit I can't think of any at the moment. Readers may choose to submit examples.)
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I have chosen NOT to include the subsequent chapters of the new rules in these General Observations, because as soon as we get into the Appendices the degree of minutiae is overwhelming.
I note in passing that there was some controversy in a rule which appeared to prohibit usage of the DOH holster in some Divisions. The Board of Directors have issued an unofficial statement to the effect that their appendicized regulations on holster position in Production class was not intended to forbid usage of this utilitarian holster, and they intended to make such changes as were necessary to permit it. I can't say whether this change has been completed. I'll leave it to others to read the new rules and determine the consequences of the final results.
One again, I emphasize that the purpose of this three-part series was NOT to provide a definitive comparison between the old rule book and the new. You can see by the extensive verbiage presented on these three articles that the changes are extensive, and often profound.
Instead, I only hope to familiarize the reader (presumably a practitioner of Practical Shooting Competition under the auspices of USPSA) with the more obvious changes. There may be a few subtle changes between the current 'final' version of the USPSA 2008 Rule Book and that which is actually printed. I have not control over that process.
My over all 'General' impression is that this version represents a break-through improvement over competitive rules which have been published for at least the past decade. Personally, I am extremely grateful to the USPSA Board of Directors for their diligence and determination to provide a superior set of competitive rules.
I think they have succeeded admirably.
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UPDATE: 29-AUG-2007
I received an email from Bruce Gary, USPSA Area 1 Director (Board of Directors Member, and one of the authors of the new rule book) mentioning that rule 10.2.1 will not appear as cited above. One of their goals during the rewrite was to remove all mention of "Boundaries" and "Boundary Lines" from the rule book. This reference seems to have been overlooked.
Here's the full text of his message:
The last bit in your analysis should probably be edited. "Boundary Lines" are not in the final rulebook, they have been pulled out entirely, replaced by the "forbidden actions" language in the Board motion that passed in the same online meeting as the rulebook itself. ...
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