The Value of Black Badge training

hercster

hercster

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I just completed my course and the following is just an idea/opinion and is not meant to lessen the importance or value of any of the other shooting sports.

I finished my third session of the course exhausted and proud. I would not want to put a number on the improvement to my overall skill level but it is huge. If you can afford it and have the time, take the Black Badge even if you participate in other disciplines. I doubt that you will regret it and can't do anything but improve your skills.

IPSC groups might consider having loaner equipment for those who may need it for training purposes.
 
Hercster, thanks for the kind words about our program. Glad you enjoyed it and I'm glad you noticed the great experience and training that we've known for a long time that it imparts. Looking forward to seeing you on the range with us! :welcome:

As for loaner equipment, it's always been a balancing act;

We created the IPSC Canada Black Badge for one purpose only: To get more people ready to come shoot IPSC with us. The excellent training and experience is secondary, or a bi-product of the course.

If we require that people bring thier own equipment - the likelihood of someone later shooting IPSC matches is great and our primary goal is attained.

On the other hand, I've found that of the people that borrow guns to take the course, few follow up by playing our game and the course is a failure.

I know that there's a happy medium in between, and we're working on it.

DVC,
Sean Hansen
Regional Director, IPSC Canada.
 
Ipsc

I'll be there tonight. I might mention that I am 65 and have VERY old knees. Some of the course was physically hard for me but I got the help and understanding I needed to get through. I'm a very competitive guy but really like the way that course was handled. The group really pulled together and anyone that was struggling was supported and cheered on by both the instructor and the other participants. The course was one of the better life experiences I have enjoyed because it is tough but very rewarding. I have done a lot of things in my time and usually at the extreme level. IPSC is the first activity that I find challenges you physically, mentally and emotionally. Yeahhhhhh
 
I'm jaded re loaner gear..

If someone is serious about joining a game they'll go get their own gear.
 
I am a BB instructor and i have loaner gear and have loaned out guns more then once for a BB course. my experience mirrors Sean. most people who borrow gear never follow up on getting the gear and competing. However on the other hand it is good to have loaner gear for when people show up with the incorrect gear or gear that just doesn't work.
 
Re loaner stuff.. Mixed feelings,, I have a number of people who are interested in shooting, but don't want to make the commitment till they get a chance to try it out. (sort of like renting golf clubs the first few times). Putting them through a Black Badge course provides great safety training and introduces the sport rather well. Certainly a big load on BB instructors, but well worth it in the end (IMHO). Getting more BB instructor courses out there would also be a good thing.
 
If they don't have a gun I feel that they won't be committed enough to follow thru. I just loaned some mags and gear to a newer BB completed shooter, he has bought some pistols, but doesn not have all the proper gear. (holster,..extra mags.etc.) This is typical and I would go out of my way to loan out this type of gear. This is a guy who will continue with the sport.
 
If we want to treat shooting sports like other sports, we have to get creative in allowing people to try it out. Not too many folks I know go buy a set of Ping, TaylorMade, or other clubs before making their first golf swing. And to keep with the example, driving balls at a driving range with your friends driver, is about the same as being taken to the range once to "shoot a gun".. Both are a far cry from the real game.. my .02.
 
ciPeterF said:
And to keep with the example, driving balls at a driving range with your friends driver, is about the same as being taken to the range once to "shoot a gun".. Both are a far cry from the real game.. my .02.
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Well said :) what about if your friend happened to be Tiger :eek:
 
mule said:
BB, in my opinion, is the best safety course available.
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You exactly right, however we can't look at BB as a safety course or holster training, rather as a spring board to shooting or being active in IPSC or IDPA or other shooting sport.
Out of 12 guys who have finished BB course with me, there are only two of us who stay and participate in this sport.
That is less then 20% :eek:
Question is, what can we do to retain more then 50% shooter to make this sport huge in Canada?
 
You say 20% as though 20% is a failing percentage.

That would be correct if all Black Badge students had any intention of competing in the first place - but they don't. Family obligations, work commitments, and general aversion to competition all stand in the way of very-active IPSC participation. The Black Badge, on the other hand, is only two days of your life. A wife who won't let you leave every weekend (for IPSC) might let you leave for only one weekend (for the Black Badge).

Many people who take the course take it under these restrictions.

With that reality in mind, perhaps this 20% should be considered to be a very impressive rate of retention.
 
Wendell said:
You say 20% as though 20% is a failing percentage.

That would be correct if all Black Badge students had any intention of competing in the first place - but they don't. Family obligations, work commitments, and general aversion to competition all stand in the way of very-active IPSC participation. The Black Badge, on the other hand, is only two days of your life. A wife who won't let you leave every weekend (for IPSC) might let you leave for only one weekend (for the Black Badge).

Many people who take the course take it under these restrictions.

With that reality in mind, perhaps this 20% should be considered to be a very impressive rate of retention.
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I can really relate to not being able to attend or even get decent practices in with family/ wife obligations. My wife never likes that weekend away to shoot a level 3 match:redface:. IT can make your return home a quiet roar of a reception.:rolleyes:
 
I know that there is an expense issue and that the retention factor kicks in on every recruiting exercise. In truth, my original focus was on the BB as an experience and training opportunity. Now I see the issues regarding loaner stuff. I mentioned that because my program was hampered by having fewer Mags than ideal. To a good degree even the open book test is a measure of interest and commitment. Just getting through that successfully shows something. In any case if you want to catch fish, you have to "throw the net". If you want to catch some of the "better fish", encourage people to take the Black Badge course. Even if they don't participate in matches, they will be safer , better skilled gun handlers where ever they go.
 
Wendell, I hear you.
I am also married with two kids and understand those who can only make couple matches a season due family/work/other obligation.
I am not talking about those who participate from time to time. I am trying to make a point about those who make a BB and disappear for good.
BB is not cheap. It requires to have a pistol, holster, pouches, extra mags, some instructors ask to bring close to 1000 rounds.
If I make such an investment, I want to stay in this, at least for some time to see if this is it.

I think, those of us, who are in this sport should be obligated to help out newbies. Doesn't matter of our skill level, if we shoot for years, we still know more then a freshman, so this is what I do. If have a chance, I call a new shooter to come and practice with me. New shooter progress faster and enjoyed the sport more then a shooter who just did a BB and didn't have follow through.

Greetings

Wendell said:
You say 20% as though 20% is a failing percentage.

That would be correct if all Black Badge students had any intention of competing in the first place - but they don't. Family obligations, work commitments, and general aversion to competition all stand in the way of very-active IPSC participation. The Black Badge, on the other hand, is only two days of your life. A wife who won't let you leave every weekend (for IPSC) might let you leave for only one weekend (for the Black Badge).

Many people who take the course take it under these restrictions.

With that reality in mind, perhaps this 20% should be considered to be a very impressive rate of retention.
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Have a little empathy, brother, and hear the last part: general aversion to competition.

You might like it. I might like it. Some people don't.

I'd rather them take the course than not take the course.

If they shoot matches later, great. If they don't, they don't. Like hercster said,"Even if they don't participate in matches, they will be safer , better skilled gun handlers whereever they go."
 
I think IPSC is like any other recreational activity in that the percentage of folks who try it and then become avid participates, spending all their time and money on this hobby is pretty low.

Probably the same participation rate as skiing or whatever. People try it they have a blast, and then their interest usually wanes or they become obsessed with it depending.

Loaner no loaner, I do not think makes much of a difference.
 
jasonburnsdundee said:
I think IPSC is like any other recreational activity in that the percentage of folks who try it and then become avid participates, spending all their time and money on this hobby is pretty low.

Probably the same participation rate as skiing or whatever. People try it they have a blast, and then their interest usually wanes or they become obsessed with it depending.

Loaner no loaner, I do not think makes much of a difference.
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Another issue is the legal/legislative crap that we all have to go through to participate in this sport. It can be quite daunting and tiresome, an many new shooters just find they can't deal with it after a while. And like it or not, the stigma that society places on us collectively often carries over into the family unit, and getting out every weekend to play ends up being a lot less acceptable or justifiable than say, a regular golf game might be. Naturally, if you get addicted to IPSC in general and competing specifically, you will have to have a pretty good income, an understanding and supportive spouse, and a fair bit of disposable free time. That is a rare blend of variables in this modern world.....
 
I'm retired, 65 years young and feel privileged even if I did work hard for everything I have. I bought my first ever handgun in May and started the long hard path and got the BB in the past three weeks. One of the things along the way that struck me is that we "shooters" (I hate the label Gun Nut) are fighting for our lives in a sense. Recruiting new people as a priority is a path to survival and good health for our sport and any other worthwhile organization. I want my grandsons to participate. I would definitely want them to take the training just because it is such a character builder. In my lifetime, anything that required stamina, courage and discipline made me grow. Thanks to all for a very positive thread!
 
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