Minor Changes to NSCC SR CofF? What say you?

Bolivar

Bolivar

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Excerpt from Canadian Marksman-Vol 8, Number 1, Spring 2017

NSCC 2016 – by Randy Evans, Capt (Ret)

I was asked to recommend any changes that I thought might make the NSCC run more smoothly. I think the biggest stressor we had during the shoot was the lack of time to get all the matching in prior to meal times, particularly with the larger number of shooters attending the NSCC each year. More shooters increases the match times simply due to volume, more challenges, longer time to collect all the scores for radio stages, and longer times to move the masses from the butts to the firing point. Timing is important as we have to provide everyone the same opportunity to shoot all matches under similar conditions, which is difficult to achieve if we go late in the day. Each year we have to put pressure on our helpful mess staff to hold dinner longer for us, which I believe we should strive to avoid in the future.

I would suggest a simple way in which the time crunch might be relieved a bit, though iti s contentious, is to reduce the number of sighting shots for each match. Instead of having two sighting shots for each stage, just have two sighting shots for each application stage. I would also suggest preparation time be reduced from the 2 minutes currently afforded to one minute, or a shorter time when it is obvious everyone is ready. These two-time cuts would provide a saving of approximately 40minutes for each morning and afternoon session. This year we were able to save time on the pistol matches due to our Butts NCS – John Todd, rearranging the order in which we shot the matches, saving time by effectively reducing the number of target and face changes.

Of course, none of the suggested changes will be implemented or even considered unless agreed upon by competitors, and blessed by the DCRA permanent staff, but if we can save some time without adversely affecting the shooters experience, I believe these minor changes will improve the overall efficiency and conduct of the matches.
 
I thought this should be brought up here to get a collection of feedback on the ideas that were put forward in the recent Canadian Marksman.

Please comment below and/or submit feedback directly to the DCRA at: office@dcra.ca

Personally I am for reducing the number of sighters and prep time. Sighting shots at each distance (200, 300, 400, 500) are immediately followed by 10 deliberates with indication. Effectively that is 12 sighters. From here I think competitors should be able to simply charge mags and move on to the next match (snap), same again before the rapid.
 
Generally the SR matches run very smoothly, and I don't think there were that many more shooters last year than previous years.
If things ran over time, then I don't think it was because of the time needed for sighters. SR attendance is not as high as it was in the early 2000s and 1990s, and we shoot the same matches as then.
Things get delayed by not starting the prep time early enough, and not getting the slighters started on time, and by letting sighters go on over the allowed time limit. This is where efficiencies are to be found.
So, if sighters are cut, they should be cut because they are not needed, and not because they make things run "unsmoothly".
Also, John has rationalized the sequence of the pistol matches previous years as well, this was not the first year by far. It is important that the sequence is remembered or passed on to new staff though.
My 2 cents.
Also, it may make sense to keep the sighters for the 500 matches as the scores are radioed back, and there can be significant delays due to the need for protests and challenges to be heard.
 
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There is a valid point raised about delays due to the slow process of radioing scores at the 500 but then the question must be asked, can the 500 stage be revised to eliminate the delays?
Can more targets be added so everything is just scored in the butts, eliminating the radio and challenges?

Edit: On review of the CofF, more targets would be a challenge/expense if everything is going to be shot on 4fts.
Adding targets would have to mean Fig 11 or 12s on sticks, either hand held or in the target frame. Pretty easy to be blown clean off these smaller targets which really teaches nothing to the shooter.

Maybe sign boards for scores at each match at 500?
As I recall the largest delays is getting a clear radio signal back from the butts so that scores can be relayed quickly.

Either way, there would still be a greater delay at the 500, which would mean a greater change in conditions between matches, meaning sighters are more necessary for this stage I guess.
 
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Very good point about the comms problems. The continued use of FRS radios past 400 meters is the real source of most delays. This is even more evident during the PR events where all scores at all ranges are radio'd back.
Should the DCRA invest in half decent commercial VHF handhelds, then this would see the most benefit and efficiencies; even more so than shortening or amending match conditions.
Those that shot PR last year endured significant delays, and the matches were only completed due to the DM shooters assisting with Butts duty for the 700 and 800 meter stages.
 
Shelldrake said:
Those that shot PR last year endured significant delays, and the matches were only completed due to the DM shooters assisting with Butts duty for the 700 and 800 meter stages.
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Walk backs to confirm zero on the first day of PR consumes a huge amount of time
 
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Another point that I think is valid: if sighters and prep time reduce the time for matches it gives more resiliency to deal with weather delay. This helps to then fit in the full program including the side matches and plates.

As a civi I want every chance to compete in the full SR program. I am paying to complete, not sit around idle because of a rain delay pooched timings.

There are never guarantees to be able to fit stuff in with weather but reducing the time each stage takes adds flexibility to fit stuff in I think.
 
DAMN IT!!!! this has to be a sign of the apocalypse, twice now I have had to agree with Bolivar. This manure has got to change!!


Bolivar said:
Another point that I think is valid: if sighters and prep time reduce the time for matches it gives more resiliency to deal with weather delay. This helps to then fit in the full program including the side matches and plates.

As a civi I want every chance to compete in the full SR program. I am paying to complete, not sit around idle because of a rain delay pooched timings.

There are never guarantees to be able to fit stuff in with weather but reducing the time each stage takes adds flexibility to fit stuff in I think.
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I agree with Bolivar RE: sighters.

They should score down at the butt like what CAFSAC does. Get more targets. Scoring at the firing point wastes time, all the radio stuff and non-shooting activities at the firing point should be eliminated.
 
They did box lunches at the PRS match in Meaford last year. Easy Peasy. Eat during your down time then get back to work. As someone who brings a lunch to Connaught I've always been annoyed the shooting time revolves around the mess and there is always someone, without fail, that is late coming back.

Sighters can be excessive when conditions are similar for all relays but when one relay shoots in bad conditions the extra sighters help an unfair situation for that relay.

I've never understood the 2 min prep time. The waiting relay should be ready to roll asap, not sleeping under a truck.

While I'm all for a smoother NSCC there is a lot of work in other areas that can be done without touching the matches.
 
So I have to ask a question at this point. While we all know the purpose of the NSCC SR matches for civies....what is the purpose for the military? Afterall the mil folks make up the VAST majority of shooters for NSCC. What is the purpose of NSCC for them?
 
Longshot said:
So I have to ask a question at this point. While we all know the purpose of the NSCC SR matches for civies....what is the purpose for the military? Afterall the mil folks make up the VAST majority of shooters for NSCC. What is the purpose of NSCC for them
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The COF of NSCC is so different from CAFSAC and the timing is so close, it is a distraction if you think of it from the "sports" management perspective. You bring your athletes to the big game and practice for a set of rules and routines, but just before the big game you throw them off with a different game, and grind them down with long days. it is quite often people peaked too early at the NSCC and took a dive at the CAFSAC. Guys who have a game plan, hold back on the NSCC, and try to peak themselves at CAFSAC.

As a team "manager" and a head coach, you have to figure out when and how to "peak" your athletes for the game you want to win. Shooting more does not necessarily means better result.

NSCC should happen some where in in late July and early August, sufficiently far enough from CAFSAC so it will not impact on people performance the last minute just before the big game.
 
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Longshot

Glad you chimed in. Was hoping to hear from you.

My perspective is as a civi shooter so NSCC is the top of the pile for me. I'm also quite used to shooting the current CAFSAC CofF with the ORA (overall I have shot it lots more than the NSCC CofF)

Honest question: What is the value of so many sighters and the long prep time between matches/stages to the training and development of mil shooters?
 
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