Wow. Just wow.
That would have been so easy to send out in the form of an email, and would have saved me and my friend a TON of trouble.
Did you guys even get my emails?
I'm extremely frustrated by the poor communication. A simple email reply would have prevented the confusion.
I know the fudd-range rules are not your fault, but the poor communication is.
The first match was a blast and I cannot wait to shoot in another. Hope you guys are able to work out the communication bugs before the next match.
thanks
*** Edited to add ***
By the way. You can remove my match RSVP from your list. I know that I'm still welcome to shoot (previous shooter), but it would be a dick-move to leave my buddy at home after all this crap.
Your frustrated by our poor communication and we are frustrated by your attitude. Have you ever organized and executed a large scale match? I'm talking like 50-80 shooters? Do you understanding the multitude of issue involved? For example:
- Making sure you have a place to execute the match at. This means meeting with the board of directors (BOD) and explain what you are trying to do. Get them to accept the liability of people using their range and pumping high-velocity rounds into the berm under the clock when the competitive pressure kicks in. Screw up and someone sends a round threw Joe Blow's house that is a mile down range and club, along with you, get's sued. BTW this meeting often happens off hours and not during "business" hours.
- Planning the COF and ensuring the are safe to execute. You just can't throw up a bunch of targets an call it a day. You have to ensure that they are A) Challenging B) Fun C) Safe. For example do you realize most folks are more likely to trip over their sling transiting from prone to standing? How do we know this? Because we watched an individual do just that and his AK-47 did a nice 180 in the air before it landed on the ground pointed at me. Ergo no prone to standing stages.
- Making sure everything is prepared for match day. This mean having COF printed off that explain what is expected of the shooter. Having score sheets printed off so we can actually record a result. Having the right equipment on hand to ensure props can be assembled (makes no sense to have wall sections if you can't screw them together). Having pen's handy so you can both A) Register shooters B) Keep score. It may sound small, and it is, but without this type of stuff a match doesn't happen.
- Setup for match day. This means we are the first on the range and the last to leave. We take ownership of making sure everything is setup, ready for shooters, and then put away in it's correct place so we don't **** off any else who uses the club facilities. We are at the range by 7:30 and often leave at 3-4 o'clock without a single hour of it being paid. All your "match fee" money go's to the club so we they can fund improvements to the facilities.
- Ensuring adequate staff is on hand during match day. What? Did you think we are all being paid right? After match we are not going to a show club to "make it rain" or going to a gun store and buying a cool new toy. Yes, it is a volunteer sport and we do it because we enjoy shooting and enjoy competing. However, to ensure it is a SAFE sport we have to have at least a two, and ideally three, safety officers, on each squad. This ensure they are given breaks and they are alert to possible mistakes the shooter may make and in a position to stop them before they become FATEL mistakes. Honestly, when we RO's scoring is a distance second concern vs making sure the shooters doesn't do stupid that kills me, someone else on the squad, or themselves. This all has to be coordinated and arranged ahead of time.