Dq

Shooting competitively for 14 years. My second match after my black badge course, I thought I heard the RO say 'Move up to the podium AND load and make ready' I think what he really said was 'to load and make ready'. DQ'ed right away on my first stage. Been DQ'ed 2x after that. The nice thing about being DQ'ed is that you will (hopefully) remember the incident and would NEVER EVER be DQ'ed for the same mistake (Never did). Welcome to the club!
 
carlchevalier said:
I left after the DQ but had put in the work on the previous squad. Does that make me a ####?
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Not automatically ;). In all seriousness though, I suspect many shooters who DQ just don't know that it is proper etiquette to stay around and help, especially if they've never witnessed another shooter DQ previously. When I first started, if I had gotten DQ'd I'm pretty sure I would have left under the assumption that no one wants my stupid-ass around since I'm such a stupid F for getting DQ'd. Now I understand a DQs a little better and I've seen and handed out more than a few so I will know what to do WHEN* it happens to me.
* I sure hope I didn't just jinx myself for this Saturday's 2 gun match!
 
My friend and I were sharing RO duty on a stage at our club, he DQed our club safety instructor, guy took it well and was back at next match
 
DQ's are handled differently by different people.
I remember one guy at a club shoot had a polite comment made to him on his gun handling- he never showed up again nor do I believe he ever shot a pistol again...and if he got past it I believe he would have been a great guy in the sport.
At the other end of the spectrum I've seen guys get DQ'ed and just not get it- you know it will happen again (and again).
DQ's usually happen from what I've seen;
-Inexperience combined with nervous tension. Some new shooters vapor lock. Most of these guys turn out great and its good to see them become better shooters.
-Inexperience coupled with lack of care or focus. These guys are rare and are always a DQ waiting to happen and don't usually stay with the sport.
-Experienced shooter that has become complacent. This guy has done it for some time and stopped focusing. This usually rings their bell fairly deeply but most recover.
-Experienced shooter pushing too hard due to perceived competition. This is rare but a guy can unravel and do something stupid in the moment. Again their bell is rung.
-Environmental impact. Shooting in inclement weather can cause all forms of havoc- the provincials some years ago in PG illustrated that from what I was told.
-Equipment failure. That minimalist holster was great until the pistol fell out. This hasn't happened to me but it does happen.
I have not had one yet but what I have learned as a competitor is;
-Continually focus to avoid it (really- it's all about one little finger and where the thing is pointed and when you can touch it).
-Be prepared to defend it if it's defensible (have a hundred on you).
-If not, accept it graciously and learn from it (stay humble- don't throw a hissy fit).
 
I strongly disagree that staying at a match after a dq is proper etiquette....if someone wants to, then great, but if a person wants to leave right away to reflect on whats happened, thats perfectly ok as well.

Dq's can be pretty emotional....whether its anger, disbelief, depression, shame or whatever, I dont expect compititors to put that on hold until their squad is done..

Plus, theres no real reason for them to stick around, a squad with one less shooter and one less patcher is practically in the same boat unless the squad is really small.


Runningfool said:
Not automatically ;). In all seriousness though, I suspect many shooters who DQ just don't know that it is proper etiquette to stay around and help, especially if they've never witnessed another shooter DQ previously. When I first started, if I had gotten DQ'd I'm pretty sure I would have left under the assumption that no one wants my stupid-ass around since I'm such a stupid F for getting DQ'd. Now I understand a DQs a little better and I've seen and handed out more than a few so I will know what to do WHEN* it happens to me.
* I sure hope I didn't just jinx myself for this Saturday's 2 gun match!
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I strongly disagree that staying at a match after a dq is proper etiquette....if someone wants to, then great, but if a person wants to leave right away to reflect on whats happened, thats perfectly ok as well.
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I agree. Especially if the shooter is upset and disagrees with the DQ.
Hanging out and getting more and more angry, you'll likely say something that you regret.

Much better to walk away and find a nice patio to relax on.
Come back and shoot another day.

And if I was the RO who handed someone a DQ, I would prefer it this way as well.

I wouldn't want the distraction of a disgruntled competitor hanging around after he's been DQed.
The targets will get patched just fine without him.
 
Onagoth said:
I strongly disagree that staying at a match after a dq is proper etiquette....if someone wants to, then great, but if a person wants to leave right away to reflect on whats happened, thats perfectly ok as well.

Dq's can be pretty emotional....whether its anger, disbelief, depression, shame or whatever, I dont expect compititors to put that on hold until their squad is done..

Plus, theres no real reason for them to stick around, a squad with one less shooter and one less patcher is practically in the same boat unless the squad is really small.
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Maybe etiquette is the wrong word then. Competitors who get DQ'd and have the fortitude, grace, and courage to stick around afterwards, even if they disagree with the call, earn my respect as an RO and as a fellow competitor. It's not about having enough patchers, it's about not taking yourself too seriously.

To be clear, I don't think less of a shooter who splits after his/her DQ but I sure think highly of one who sticks around.
 
So this will date me.....but I saw a guy get DQ'd at the Worlds when they we're held in Bisley, England. (So you know that was a really long time ago...........1990-something...)

Anyway he was a US competitor, stage start position was holding target in strong hand, as you let go it fell back away from you, he put the requisite 2 rounds on target but looked as he stepped away.......saw he'd dropped a round out of the 'A' zone and leant back and put another round on target......

RO tapped him on the shoulder - DQ - breaking 90.

So this guy had airfare, hotel costs and the hassle of importing all his gear - fires 3 rounds and it's all over......

I've never been DQ'd (yet) but I have had a couple of RO's have a quiet word after a stage pointing out things I was close on - take it as it is, it's a safety caution, it's not personal. I thank the RO, confirm the concern, take it on board and bring it into some practice sessions to hopefully learn from it.

DQ's keep everyone safe, but as has been mentioned in this discussion mine is out there somewhere, I've just yet to find it :)
 
Runningfool said:
it's about not taking yourself too seriously.
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thats a pretty funny statement about a sport that reqiures you to cough up $100 to dispute a call, and rapes a mans shooting carrer for joking around dairy queen gift certificates as well as the fanatical adherence to safety that borders on the "if it saves just one child" dogma.....
 
Runningfool said:
Maybe etiquette is the wrong word then. Competitors who get DQ'd and have the fortitude, grace, and courage to stick around afterwards, even if they disagree with the call, earn my respect as an RO and as a fellow competitor. It's not about having enough patchers, it's about not taking yourself too seriously.

To be clear, I don't think less of a shooter who splits after his/her DQ but I sure think highly of one who sticks around.
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I dont think I would want anybody who has been dq'd to "not take themself too seriously". A dq is a serious safety violation, worst thing someone can do is not commit some serious mental thought to what happened.

If someone needs time to.think about what happened thats totally.fine with me....I dont think any less of them compared.to.the guy who sticks around...similarly, I dont think someone who stays and helps as having some superior qualities that the other guy doesnt

I
 
Shooters are expected to work, all too many already don't do enough (my opinion).
DQ in the afternoon and you want to leave; have at it, I could care less.
DQ in the morning and leave...You owe a shift of work.
If you leave someone else has to carry that load whether your a patcher or a RM.
If you don't want to stay with your squad that fine, want to collect your thoughts for the rest of the morning; fine.
Leave for the day...No. Pull up your big boy pants, suck it up and go to work - just like everyone else.
 
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