| USPSA 14th Edition Rules |
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The following general regulations of course construction list the criteria, responsibilities and restrictions applicable to courses of fire in IPSC competitions. Course designers, host organizations, and officials are governed by these regulations.
Safety considerations in the design, physical construction, and stated requirements for any course of fire are the responsibility of the host organization subject to the approval of the Range Master or Match Director. Every possible effort must be made to prevent any injury to competitors, officials or spectators during the competition. Course design should prevent inadvertent unsafe actions wherever possible. Consideration must be given to the operation of any course of fire to provide suitable access for officials supervising the competitors.
Safety considerations in the design, physical construction, and stated requirements for any course of fire are the responsibility of the host organization subject to the approval of the Range Master or Match Director. Reasonable effort must be made to prevent injury to competitors, officials or spectators during the competition. Course design should prevent inadvertent unsafe actions wherever possible. Consideration must be given to the operation of any course of fire to provide suitable access for officials supervising the competitors.
Courses of fire shall always be constructed taking into account safe angles of fire Consideration must be given to safe target and frame construction and the angle of any possible ricochets. The physical dimensions and suitability of backstops and side berms shall be determined as part of the construction process.
Whenever metal targets are employed in a course of fire, precautions shall be taken to ensure that competitors and match officials maintain a minimum distance of (10) meters from them while they are being engaged.
When a course is constructed to include target positions other than immediately downrange, organizers and officials must protect or restrict surrounding areas to which officials, spectators or competitors have access. Each competitor must be allowed to solve the competitive problem in their own way and must not be hindered by being forced to act in any manner which might cause unsafe action. Targets shall be arranged so that their engagement on an "as and when visible" basis will not cause competitors to breach safe angles of fire. Competitors shall never be required to re-holster a handgun during the course of fire. A course of fire shall not require the competitor to draw the handgun with the weak hand.
Range surfaces shall be prepared or altered prior to the competition to provide adequate safety for competitors and officials. Consideration should be given to the results of inclement weather and competitor actions. When IPSC Pepper Poppers are used in a course of fire, care should be taken to ensure that the location or foundation area is prepared to provide consistent operation throughout the competition. Range officials may add gravel, sand or other materials to a deteriorated range surface for safety reasons. Competitors may not protest these range maintenance actions.
Natural or created obstacles in a course of fire shall equitably allow for variations in competitors' height and physical build and must be constructed and employed to ensure that the safety of all competitors, match officials, and spectators is not compromised. Obstacles shall be constructed to a maximum height of 2 meters.
Courses of fire where multiple competitors are required to fire simultaneously from a common firing line (e.g. Standard Exercises, Shoot-Off), shall provide a minimum of 1.5 meters of free space between each competitor.
Care must be taken with the physical placement of paper targets to prevent "shoot throughs".
Target positions should be clearly marked on the target stands to ensure consistent location throughout the competition when targets are replaced.
Course design must prevent competitors from engaging steel targets from closer than 10 meters. Where possible, this should be done with physical barriers. If charge lines are used to limit the approach to steel targets, they must be placed at least 11 meters from the targets so that the competitor may inadvertently fault the line and still be outside the ten (10) meter safety limit.
In many cases, targets are fixed to wooden uprights and cross members. Where possible, target holders and stands should be cut back so that they do not extend past the upper and side borders. This results in an improved visual presentation. (See Appendix B)
Applies to Tournament status matches only.
During the construction of a course of fire, a variety of physical barriers may be used to restrict competitor movement and to provide additional competitive challenges as follows:
It is preferable to restrict competitor movement with physical barriers. However, the use of charge and fault lines is permitted as follows:
Charge lines are used to restrict unreasonable movement by competitors toward or away from targets.
Fault lines are used to force the competitor to engage targets from behind physical barriers. They may be positioned at any angle extending to the rear of these barriers. Fault lines should be a minimum of 1 meter in length and unless otherwise stated in the stage briefing, they are deemed to extend to infinity.
Charge lines and fault lines should be constructed of wooden boards or other suitable material and should extend a maximum of five (5) centimetres above ground level. This will provide both physical and visible references to the competitors to prevent inadvertent foot faults. Care should be taken to ensure that the fault lines or charge lines are fixed firmly in place and do not present a trip hazard. This will also ensure that they are equal for all competitors throughout the competition.
Charge lines and fault lines should be constructed of wooden boards or other suitable material and should extend 1" to 1 Ú " above ground level. This will provide both physical and visible references to the competitors to prevent inadvertent foot faults. Care should be taken to ensure that the fault lines or charge lines are fixed firmly in place and do not present a trip hazard. This will also ensure that they are equal for all competitors throughout the competition.
The introduction or modification of fault lines and charge lines after competitors have completed the course of fire shall be permitted only with the prior consent of the Range Master or Match Director.
The introduction or modification of fault lines and charge lines after any competitors have completed the course of fire shall be permitted only for safety considerations and with the prior consent of the Range Master or Match Director.
Courses of fire may include the use of barriers or major obstacles to be surmounted by competitors. Obstacles used in this way shall not exceed a height of two (2) meters. Obstacles over one(1) meter in height shall be supplied with scaling aids to assist competitors and shall be constructed to provide for the competitor's safety in the following ways:
Obstacles shall be firmly anchored and braced to provide adequate support when in use. Any sharp or rough surfaces shall be removed to prevent injury to competitors and/or match officials.
The descending side of any obstacle shall be clear of obstructions or natural hazards.
Competitors must be allowed to test such obstacles before the course of fire and should be given a short period to do so.
Barriers for use by competitors shall be constructed in the following manner:
They must be high enough to serve the intended purpose and strong enough to allow their use in a braced shooting position.
They shall include fault lines projecting rearward at ground level from the side edges.
Solid tunnels that a competitor is required to enter or pass through shall be constructed of suitable material and to any length. However, sufficient ports shall be provided to allow match officials to safely monitor competitor action. Tunnel mouth edges shall be prepared to prevent injury to competitors and match officials. Course designers must clearly designate the entrance and exit portions of the tunnel as well as the parameters for engagement of any targets from within the tunnel (e.g. Fault lines and charge lines)
Cooper tunnels may be constructed to any height with braced uprights supporting loose wooden slats. Overhead material will be dislodged if the competitor bumps or strikes the overhead material and must not be heavy enough to present a safety hazard.
Where these items are intended to support a competitor in motion or while engaging targets, they must be constructed with the safety of the competitor and match officials as a priority. Provisions shall be made to allow match officials to safely monitor and control competitor action at all times. Props shall be strong enough to withstand use by all competitors.
Competitors shall not be required to holster the handgun before ascending these obstacles.
Scaling aids should be provided to assist competitors if these obstacles are built to a height exceeding one (1) meter.
The surface of any structure to be traversed by competitors shall be kept clear of debris that may cause loss of footing.
The surface to be traversed by competitors shall be kept reasonably clear of debris that may cause loss of footing. Range Officials may add gravel, sand or other materials to a deterorated range surface for safety reasons. Competitors may not protest these range maintenance actions.
A holster retention test during a course of fire shall always be conducted prior to loading the handgun. The area designated for the test must be clearly marked and the stage briefing must explain the test procedure.
Match officials may modify the physical construction or stage procedure for a course of fire for reasons of safety provided that such changes are approved by the Match Director or Range Master. Any such physical changes or additions to published course of fire should always be completed before the match begins.
All competitors must be notified of any such changes as soon as possible. As a minimum, they must be notified verbally by the official in charge of the course of fire as part of the stage briefing and on the written stage instruction sheet.
If the Range Master or Match Director approves any such action after the competition begins they must either:
Allow the course of fire to continue with the modification affecting only those competitors who have not already completed the stage. If a competitor's actions caused the change, that competitor shall be required to re-shoot the altered course of fire.
If possible, require all competitors to complete the course of fire as revised with all previous attempts removed from the match scores.
In the event that the Range Master or Match Director determine that the physical or procedural change results in a loss of competitive equity and it is impossible for all competitors to compete in the revised stage or if the stage has been rendered unsuitable or unworkable, that stage shall be deleted from the match. In this case, all competitors' scores for the stage shall be removed from the match scores.
The host organization shall be responsible for the construction and placement of a sufficient number of safety areas for the competition. They should be conveniently placed and easily identified with signs. Safety areas should include a table with the safe direction and boundaries clearly shown.
Competitors are permitted to use the Safety Areas as follows:
Casing, uncasing and holstering unloaded firearms.
Practice drawing, "dry-firing" and re-holstering of unloaded firearms.
Practice the insertion and removal of empty magazines and/or to cycle the action of a handgun.
Conduct inspections, stripping, cleaning, repairs and maintenance of firearms, component parts and other accessories.
Dummy ammunition and live rounds may not be handled in a Safety Area under any circumstances.
| USPSA 14th Edition Rules |
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