| USPSA 14th Edition Rules |
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Procedural penalties are applied where the competitor has failed to comply with the procedures specified in the stage briefing. The Range Officer imposing such procedural penalties shall determine the number of penalties and the reason why they were imposed. This information should be clearly recorded on the score sheet.
Procedural penalties shall be assessed at twice the value of a single maximum available scoring hit on an IPSC paper target as stated in Appendix H. If the maximum available scoring hit on an IPSC paper target is five (5) points, each procedural penalty shall be minus ten (-10) points.
A competitor, who disputes the application or number of procedural penalties may appeal the decision to the Chief Range Officer and then to the Range Master or Match Director. If the dispute is not settled, the competitor may appeal to the Arbitration Committee.
A competitor who disputes the application or number of procedural penalties may appeal the decision to the Chief Range Officer and then to the Range Master. If the dispute is not settled, the competitor may appeal to the Arbitration Committee.
The following are some examples of circumstances where procedural penalties may be issued:
If a competitor allows any part of their body to touch the ground beyond a fault line or charge line and fires shots while faulting, the competitor shall receive one (1) procedural penalty. However, if the Range Officer determines that the competitor has received a significant advantage while faulting the line, the competitor will be assessed one procedural penalty for each shot fired while faulting instead of the single penalty. When engaging targets from the prone position, only the lower arms below the elbow may extend over the line. A penalty for each shot fired will be issued where a competitor faults a line in this manner. There shall be no penalty when a competitor faults a line but does not fire any shots.
Where multiple penalties are assessed in the above cases, they shall not exceed the maximum number of scoring hits which can be attained by the competitor. A competitor faulting a fault line or charge line where four (4) metal targets are visible, shall incur a maximum of four (4) procedural penalties regardless of the number of shots actually fired while faulting.
If a competitor fails to comply with a procedure specified in the stage briefing, the competitor shall incur a single procedural penalty for each occurrence. For example a competitor who uses the weak hand to open a door, where the stage briefing requires that the strong hand be used, shall receive one procedural penalty.
In Standard Exercises a competitor who fails to comply with a mandatory reload shall incur one (1) procedural penalty for each shot fired after the point where the reload was required. In this case, the procedural penalties shall be limited to shots fired after the mandatory reload was required, and only for the remainder of the component string.
A competitor who fails to comply with a mandatory reload shall incur one (1) procedural penalty for each shot fired after the point where the reload was required. In this case, the procedural penalties shall be limited to shots fired after the mandatory reload was required, and only for the remainder of the stage or component string.
If a competitor is unable to fully execute any part of a course of fire as a result of incapacity, or previous injury the competitor may request a penalty in lieu of the stated course requirement. It is permissible in this case to apply a penalty by deducting 20% of the competitor's target points as shot. This penalty should be specified prior to the start of the stage and shall be at the option of the Match Director.
In a Cooper Tunnel, if a competitor disturbs one (1) or more pieces of the overhead material and the material falls, the competitor shall receive a procedural penalty. One procedural shall be issued for each piece of overhead material that falls. Overhead material that falls as a result of the competitor bumping or striking the uprights or if material falls as result of muzzle gases or recoil shall not be penalized.
If a competitor is creeping (movement of the hands towards the handgun) or physically moving to a more advantageous position after the "Standby" command and prior to the start signal, the competitor shall incur one procedural penalty.
If a competitor fails to engage any target with at least one round, the competitor shall incur one procedural penalty for each target not engaged as well as the appropriate number of misses.
If a course of fire stipulates strong or weak hand only, the competitor will not be penalized for using both hands to safely correct a malfunction but will be issued one procedural for each of the following:
If a course of fire stipulates strong or weak hand only, the competitor will not be penalized for using both hands to safely correct a malfunction, including a reload if it is necessary to help clear the malfunction, but will be issued one procedural for each of the following:
In the event that a competitor's handgun falls or drops during the holster test portion of a course of fire and inside the designated area, the competitor shall be disqualified for that stage with no scores recorded. The RO will retrieve the handgun and replace it in the competitor's holster. The competitor shall be allowed to continue in the match or tournament but the scores for the holster test stage shall be recorded as zero. In the event that the competitor touches the holstered handgun during the holster retention test and inside the designated area, the competitor shall be issued one procedural penalty and no further action on the part of the Range Official is required. Note that Section 10.3.4 does not apply to a dropped unloaded handgun.
If at any time during the course of fire, a competitor drops their handgun or causes it to fall loaded or not, the penalty is a Match Disqualification.
A match disqualification will be imposed on a competitor who commits a safety infraction or other prohibited activity during an IPSC competition. A match disqualification applies to one particular match. A competitor disqualified during one course of fire in a match, shall be prohibited from attempting any remaining courses of fire in the same match regardless of the schedule or physical layout for that match. This includes the portions of any tournament that includes shotgun and rifle matches. All complete match scores for previous attempts shall stand but any incomplete or partial match scores must be removed from match scores.
When a match disqualification is issued, the Range Officer shall ensure that the reasons for the disqualification as well as the time and date are clearly recorded on the competitor's score sheet. The Range Master or Match Director shall be notified immediately.
A competitor who commits a safety infraction prior to the posting of the final match results shall be disqualified and that competitor's scores shall be removed from the match scores. The exception shall be a disqualification for a safety infraction where a competitor is participating in a shoot-off or side match after the competitor has completed the match. In this case the disqualification shall not be applied to the completed match scores however the competitor shall not be allowed to compete in any further tournament activities (i.e. shotgun or rifle match)
A match disqualification shall be issued for any of the following infractions:
A discharge is defined as a bullet that has passed through the barrel of a competitor's firearm and shall be defined as an accidental discharge as follows:
Any shot fired outside the confines of either the backstop or side berms or which strikes the ground within three meters of the competitor or any other direction deemed unsafe by the host organization and specified in the stage briefing. In the event of an accidental discharge, the range officer shall stop the competitor as soon as possible. Any shot fired at a target closer than three meters shall not be deemed an accidental discharge.
A discharge is defined as a bullet that has passed through the barrel of a competitor's firearm and may be defined as unsafe gun handling as follows:
Any discharge prior to commencement or while loading, reloading, unloading or during remedial action in the case of a malfunction.
Any discharge during movement except while engaging targets.
Any discharge as described above, will cause the Range Officer to prevent further action on the part of the competitor as soon as possible.
When it can be established that the cause of the discharge is due to the actual breakage of a part of the firearm and the competitor has fulfilled all normal safety requirements, match disqualification will not be invoked. The competitor's scores for that stage shall be zero.
In the event of a discharge following the Range Officer's declaration "Gun Clear", the range officer shall require the competitor to "Unload and Show Clear" and ensure that the firearm is safe. No further action is required. In the event that the discharge was in an unsafe direction or as defined in 10.3.1 above, the regulations for that section shall apply.
In the event of a discharge following the Range Officer's declaration "Gun Clear, Hammer Down", the competitor will receive a match disqualification. It is the USPSA procedure that the hammer be dropped by means of the trigger. It is always the competitor's responsibility to ensure their gun is safe.
Handling a handgun at anytime except when in a designated safety area or on the firing line under the supervision of a Range Officer.
If at any time during the course of fire, a competitor allows the muzzle to point rearwards, that is further than 90 degrees from the median intercept of the backstop, or in the case of no backstop, allows the muzzle to point up range, whether the firearm is loaded or not.
If at any time during the course of fire, or while loading or unloading, a competitor drops his handgun or causes it to fall, loaded or not, except as follows:
During a holster test in a course of fire before the handgun has been loaded.
Match Disqualification, see US10.1.4.10
A competitor who, for any reason during a course of fire, safely and intentionally places the handgun on the ground or other stable object shall not be disqualified provided:
Holstering or un-holstering a handgun within the confines of a tunnel.
Allowing the muzzle of a loaded handgun to point at any part of the competitor's body during a course of fire (i.e. Sweeping). Following the course of fire, the Range Officer shall issue a warning to the competitor and enter a record of this warning on the competitor's score sheet.. The Range Officer shall notify the Range Master or Match Director. A competitor who commits a second sweeping infraction during the competition will be issued a match disqualification.
Allowing the muzzle of a loaded handgun to point at any part of the competitor's body during a course of fire (i.e. Sweeping) will result in a Match Disqualification.
Allowing the muzzle of a loaded handgun to point rearward beyond a radius of one (1) meters from a competitor's feet during drawing or re-holstering.
Wearing or using more than one handgun at any point in time during a competition.
Failure to keep the finger outside the trigger guard while clearing a malfunction where the competitor clearly lowers the firearm down from aiming at targets.
Failure to keep the finger outside the trigger guard during loading or unloading.
Failure to keep the finger outside the trigger guard during movement in accordance with section 8.5.
Holstering a loaded handgun, in any of the following conditions:
A single action self-loading pistol with the safety not applied.
A double action or selective action pistol with the hammer cocked and the safety not applied.
A revolver with the hammer cocked.
Handling live or dummy ammunition in a Safety Area. The official shall warn the competitor at the time of the infraction and advise the competitor that a second warning will result in match disqualification. The official issuing the warning shall notify the Range Master or Match Director.
Handling live or dummy ammunition is a Safety Area will result in a Match Disqualification.
Having a loaded handgun other than when specifically ordered to by the Range Officer. Firearms shall be loaded only on the firing line and only when directed to do so by the Range Officer. Loaded is defined as a live round in the chamber.
Having a loaded handgun other than when specifically ordered to by the Range Officer. Firearms shall be loaded only on the firing line and only when directed to do so by the Range Officer. A loaded handgun is defined as a gun having a live round in the chamber or having a live round in a magazine inserted in the gun.
Retrieving a dropped handgun outside a course of fire. Dropping an unloaded firearm is not an infraction. The competitor shall notify a match official who shall assist the competitor and supervise the safe retrieval of the firearm.
Disqualification from the competition will be invoked in the event of gross or repeated unsportsmanlike behaviour. The Range Master or Match Director must be notified immediately.
The range officials shall have complete authority over all persons on the range. A competitor who fails to obey the officials' instructions and directions or behaviour deemed likely to bring the sport into disrepute may lead to disqualification from the match and banishment from the range.
Repeated contravention of the rules of the range or stage briefing will be considered as unsportsmanlike conduct.
A competitor who intentionally removes or causes the loss of eye or ear protection to gain a competitive advantage shall be issued a match disqualification for unsportsmanlike conduct.
All competitors and match officials at IPSC competitions are required to be in complete control both mentally and physically during IPSC competition.
IPSC considers the abuse of alcoholic products, non-prescription and non-essential drugs and the use of illegal or performance enhancing drugs, irrespective of how they are taken or administered, to be an extremely serious offence.
Any person attending an IPSC competition found to be under the influence of any of the items described in 10.5.2 shall be immediately disqualified or removed from the competition and may be subject to banishment from IPSC and all future IPSC competitions.
IPSC reserves the right to prohibit any general or specific substances and to introduce tests for the presence of these substances at any time.
Any person under the influence of alcohol or drugs, in the opinion of the Match Director and/or Range Officer, may be required to leave the range. Any competitor under the influence of alcohol or drugs, in the opinion of the Match Director and/or Range Master, will be disqualified from the competition and may be required to leave the range.
| USPSA 14th Edition Rules |
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