| USPSA 14th Edition Rules |
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The following general principles of course design list the criteria, responsibilities and restrictions governing course designers as the architects of the sport of IPSC shooting.
Course designers must be primarily concerned with safety.
The value of IPSC shooting competition is determined by the quality of the challenge presented in the course design. Courses of fire shall be designed primarily to test a competitor's IPSC shooting skills, and not their physical strength or gymnastic abilities.
Accuracy, power and speed are equivalent elements of IPSC shooting, and are expressed in the Latin words "Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas" ("DVC"). A properly balanced course of fire will depend largely upon the nature of the challenges presented therein, however courses shall be designed, and IPSC shooting competitions shall be conducted in such a way, as to evaluate these elements equally.
IPSC shooting challenges shall be diverse. While it is not necessary to construct new courses for each competition, no single course shall be repeated to allow its use to be considered a definitive measure of IPSC shooting skills.
IPSC competition is freestyle. With the exception of Standard Exercises, a course of fire may not specify a shooting position or stance. However, conditions may be created and constructed to compel a competitor into positions or stances required by stage design. These conditions may include barriers and other physical limitations. Competitors shall be permitted to solve the challenge presented in a freestyle manner and shall always be allowed to engage targets on an "as and when visible" basis. Mandatory reloads may not be specified except in Standard Exercises. A course of fire may specify weak hand or strong hand. The specified hand must be used exclusively from the point stipulated for the balance of the string or stage.
IPSC competition is freestyle, competitors shall be permitted to solve the challenge presented in a freestyle manor and shall always be allowed to engage targets on an "as and when visible" basis. The exceptions to this would include USPSA Approved Matches (local matches) and USPSA Classifier stages where the use of shooting boxes are used to control the competitor.
IPSC shooting competitions present varied degrees of difficulty. No shooting challenge or time limit may be protested as being prohibitive. This does not apply to non-shooting challenges. Objects to be lifted, carried, activated or surmounted shall equitably allow for differences in competitor's height and physical build.
IPSC shooting competitions may contain the following types of courses of fire:
shall not require more than nine (9) rounds to complete and no more than two (2) shooting positions.
shall not require more than sixteen (16) rounds to complete and no more than three (3) shooting positions. Course construction shall not allow more than 9 rounds to be fired from any single position or view.
shall not require more than twenty-eight (28) rounds to complete. Course construction shall not allow more than 9 rounds to be fired from any single position or view.
A good balance for an IPSC competition is a ratio of three (3) Short Courses to two (2) Medium Courses to one (1) Field Course.
Courses of fire shall not require more than eight (8) rounds to be fired from any one position.
shall not require more than twenty-four (24) rounds to complete, or more than six (6) rounds for each component string or twelve (12) rounds if a mandatory reload is specified. Mandatory reloads, positions and stances may be specified. Standard Exercises shall not be included in Level III or higher competitions.
shall not require more than nine (9) rounds to complete and shall require one (1) mandatory reload.
Course designers wishing to receive IPSC sanctioning shall comply with the general principles of course design and course construction as well as all other current IPSC rules and regulations. Courses of fire that do not comply with these requirements will not be sanctioned, and will not be publicized or announced as IPSC sanctioned competitions.
Course designers wishing to receive Sanction or Tournament status shall comply with the general principles of course design and course construction as well as other current rules and regulations. USPSA matches may be Approved (local club matches), Sanctioned (State or Sectional championships) and Tournaments. Only computer scoring programs that have been approved by the USPSA board of directors may be used to score Sanction, Tournament matches, and matches with classifier stages.
The IPSC President, his delegate, or an officer of the confederation (in that order) may withdraw IPSC sanctioning from a competition. Such action may be taken at any time where, in his or their opinion, a match contravenes the purpose or spirit of the principles of course design or is in breach of any of the current IPSC rules or is likely to bring the sport of IPSC shooting into disrepute.
IPSC match levels are specified in Appendix A.
IPSC requires international sanction for Level III and higher matches. Individual Regions shall structure procedures to ensure that Level I and II matches comply with IPSC regulations.
| USPSA 14th Edition Rules |
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