It's who you know.
Or he did what quigley said
IPSC Black Badge course where to find?
- Thread starter FlyByTheDream
- Start date
Or he did what quigley said
I realized after a few days of discovery in this new field (new for me) that it is indeed kinda indeed "who you know". Just wondering why it is like that?
Aren't people interested in conducting a course and whoever wants - all are welcome. It is not free, btw.
Why there are such barriers?
Aren't people interested in conducting a course and whoever wants - all are welcome. It is not free, btw.
Why there are such barriers?
This is the unfortunate truth it seems. There are much more folks wanting to get the BB done. Most times the instructor posts the next course at the club the work out as a courtesy to the club and their members and folks jump on it which is why they seldom make it onto the IPSC course listing. If there are openings, they're usually filled up in short order by friends referrals. Sometimes (probably more often than not) there are waiting lists. Best to email the BB coordinator and see how they could assist you.
It's not only the BB courses demand. It is also people who control BB courses. And once you trough, there is demand and availability of matches. Which is the root cause of the issue and local organization isn't really doing much about it.
I'm not aware of any barriers...things may just not happen as fast as you want. Everyone is a volunteer...
Regardless, I have been informed the afore mentioned "list" died on the operating table. It is no more...
I would still suggest emailing the training coordinator, and the IPSC rep from a club local to you that has an IPSC Section...and have a little patience.
I assume you already filled out the Candidate Information Sheet thingy? If you did...there is no need to send any additional emails to IPSC Ontario. Keep your eye on the "upcoming BB course" page...have some patience...drink lot's of Mojito's (while you are waiting). Summer seems to be the worst time of the year for courses...so you should start seeing BB courses popping up soon.
FYI...I didn't contact any local clubs when I took mine...I'm in Ottawa, and my course was in Toronto. I probably could have saved myself the travel...if I had waited a bit...and contacted the local clubs.
FYI...I didn't contact any local clubs when I took mine...I'm in Ottawa, and my course was in Toronto. I probably could have saved myself the travel...if I had waited a bit...and contacted the local clubs.
If you are an executive member of a club its your obligation to satisfy the needs of the members first. Its not easy to find an instructor with availability, and then you need to restrict the use of the range for 2 days to just the BB participants. Members of the club would naturally take priority and get first crack at the course.
It would seem unreasonable that not only did you not get a spot in your club's course, you also can't shoot in your own club for the whole weekend. Seeing non members using club facilities and taking your spot on the range can lead to some complaints and some irate members.
Between those 2 obstacles its easy to see why its difficult to get a spot. We populate our courses with members first and then fill empty spots with non members, Out of respect for the volunteer instructor, it would be fair that they would likely have first pick filling those spots with their participants.
It would seem unreasonable that not only did you not get a spot in your club's course, you also can't shoot in your own club for the whole weekend. Seeing non members using club facilities and taking your spot on the range can lead to some complaints and some irate members.
Between those 2 obstacles its easy to see why its difficult to get a spot. We populate our courses with members first and then fill empty spots with non members, Out of respect for the volunteer instructor, it would be fair that they would likely have first pick filling those spots with their participants.
I expected such answer. Although still not fully clear. Volunteer is a respected duty. Although the course is not free.
If it is financially unreasonable to book the club just for the course, then why not to raise the fee for the course higher? Higher enough to compensate the financial loss for the club for the period booked over the weekend. Can be x2 times higher, x3 or x10 depending on the demand. As we were taught in business and economics in school.
I am sure there is something I am definitely missing or probably something I don't fully understand.
I think you are reaching...must have an axe to grind?
Regardless...I doubt the OP has any interest in travelling out of Ontario to take his BB course.
I'm sure you expected the answer because you understand its how things work, considering that most clubs aren't businesses, and don't have to follow a similar rule of customer service as if everyone had equal standing when they walked in. Club members own the club, its exclusive and that's really the definition of a club, in effect it does not by its nature consider non members before members.
The course fee is often noted as a barrier to joining IPSC, so raising the costs 10X certainly won't aid in reducing those complaints. I think you did miss something about my post, its not a financial issue at all to close the range, collecting 10X more money doesn't help the member who wants to shoot in a closed range, nor does it get them a spot in the class over a non member. There seems to be an idea for some that every club is hard up or foolish to not consider revenue first, but as they are non-profits, once the bills are paid revenue generating is secondary to member satisfaction.
MikeyScuba
CGN Regular
- Location
- GTA, Ontario
The OP is a member of Target Sports, a business. Not a club as I would understand it. They do weekly IPSC nights but I don't think they ever do BB courses or hold matches. In this regard he's in a tight spot.
If you were a member of a club and didn't get first dibs, you'd be unhappy too.
As for the course fee being a barrier? A quick practice session burns up more $ than that. But I could see how raising any fees would spawn endless whinging on the forums
If you were a member of a club and didn't get first dibs, you'd be unhappy too.
As for the course fee being a barrier? A quick practice session burns up more $ than that. But I could see how raising any fees would spawn endless whinging on the forums
OP = Original Poster
ok, OP is myself. Lol.
@MikeyScuba.
I think you reverted my idea or probably misunderstood. I was expressing the idea that everyone should be given equal opportunity to do the course. Based on it's price, not based on "who you know". If demand is high, then the price threshold should be higher to give everyone equal opportunity.
Basically even if you have three key factors:
1. Enough budget
2. Desire to drive/fly to another province if needed.
3. At any time of week.
-- it is still not enough, because other clubs require you to be a member of theirs to take the course.
To become a member you have to wait a several month in a line.
Anti-bingo!
@MikeyScuba.
I think you reverted my idea or probably misunderstood. I was expressing the idea that everyone should be given equal opportunity to do the course. Based on it's price, not based on "who you know". If demand is high, then the price threshold should be higher to give everyone equal opportunity.
Basically even if you have three key factors:
1. Enough budget
2. Desire to drive/fly to another province if needed.
3. At any time of week.
-- it is still not enough, because other clubs require you to be a member of theirs to take the course.
To become a member you have to wait a several month in a line.
Anti-bingo!
MikeyScuba
CGN Regular
- Location
- GTA, Ontario
I didn't misunderstand. Like others have said it's range time that gets taken up as part of the course. At Sharon we have 3 action ranges so 3 weekend days in range 2 were used. After doing a few matches, not many other clubs has this option. A BB course will take over the entire range and if it's filled with non-members it's simply not going to fly. Our BB course was emailed to the membership who promptly filled it with a day or so (sans 1). The host club members get first dibs, that's simply not going to change. Why not ask Target if they will host a BB course?
Range space is a huge issue regardless.
In our case it was far from who you know, like I've said it's where you are a member of.
Silverdale is more of a for profit club and hosts Level III's. Relatively cheap membership, but no idea if they do BB courses. Why not email them to find out?
Range space is a huge issue regardless.
In our case it was far from who you know, like I've said it's where you are a member of.
Silverdale is more of a for profit club and hosts Level III's. Relatively cheap membership, but no idea if they do BB courses. Why not email them to find out?
I believe IPSC Alex runs the BB courses out at Silverdale.
Northaways
Regular
- Location
- Northaways
Already suggested Alex at Silverdale and Wentworth who are apparently running a BB course shortly to the new OP but he seems more interested in continuing this thread than following up with those two BB course leads?
OP willing to spend 10X on a BB course? Am sure Alex will take his money.
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