To patch or not to patch... that is the question !

Snowboy

Snowboy

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Location
St-Hubert, QC
Hi guys

I've been in several matches this summer; in different province and states and notice that lots of shooters consider that it's not their job to patch and to reset the steel, so two or three guys were doing it all match long and the others did not help or did a last-minute-one-close-target-patch-effort.

The match goes slower and the "patchers" got pissed off more and more from stage to stage.

I once ask an RO to tell them to help patching and they ignored him as well and he left it that way.

Do you have any tricks to force "guys like that" (don't want to say another word) to help without starting a conflict ?

Thanks

SB
 
Put them on a Super Squad. When you see Rob Leatham, Jerry Miculek etc patching, you had better believe you are expected to do your part!
 
I ####ing hate when people don't patch...except for the on deck shooter ...I've had to patch and reset stages by myself when SOing and its very annoying
 
I've walked up to people on my squad and handed them sheets of patches. Combine that with a dirty look and they generally get the idea. Everyone on the squad patches!
 
I've been known to throw a clipboard a few times...
Still... Some guys just don't seem to catch on.
They're either incredibly stupid, arrogant or oblivious...
It's always the same guys... We all know who they are... We all consider them ass holes
 
Its pretty simple, ask them to help ONCE, if they still insist on being lazy start handing out procedurals for unsportsmanlike conduct, then maybe they will pay attention.
 
Quigley said:
I've walked up to people on my squad and handed them sheets of patches. Combine that with a dirty look and they generally get the idea. Everyone on the squad patches!
Click to expand...

Bingo.

The guy on deck, the guy shooting, and the guy who just shot have an excuse. They are busy or getting thier mojo on. Everyone else ought to be following the scorer.

If the squads are sized right, on most stages you should be almost tripping over people while patching. Even a 32 round field course with steel likely has less than 8 individual target arrays, since few people set up with all single targets. In a 10 man squad, the 7 shooters left rarely have more than 2 groups of targets to patch.
 
If they are given fair warning that they will incur a procedural for not participating in patching/resetting then they have no grounds for contesting it. It will do one of two things, either they will start helping or they will no longer attend those matches where they have to work, either way, problem solved. As a match director I also make sure before the match starts that I announce that everybody is expected to help, brass can only be picked until the scoring is done, if there is time at the end of the stage and you are waiting on the next squad you can go pick brass if you like. Although some of these rules may seem kinda strict it is necessary to maintain flow of the match.
 
Trying to control other people's behaviour will only get you frustrated. My shooting gives me enough frustration already. About all you can do is set a good example for the new shooters and hope range etiquette will change. Who remembers walking back from scoring your targets and being met by one of your squad-mates with all your brass and mags?
 
I don't know where you guys are shooting the matches, but in my case (and I shoot a lot, both ON and US) have not seen yet this year a squad which didn't work. Yes, there were some guys who worked less and some who worked more, but all worked.
I don't look at others, they don't patch I will, there is no problem.
 
it starts with the RO, He / She needs to specify in stage/range briefing that everyone helps to patch, etc...
and even asking during briefing, "does anyone here have a problem with that and intend on not patching, please raise your hand now and leave my range !!
and take your match fee with you on the way out, we don't need it that bad !!

I've noticed that usually, if RO MAKES IT CLEAR, then shooters patch, if RO is pushover and not caring....shooters just get upset with each other if they do the policing of such...
 
If I'm an RO and I see guys not helping, they get one warning. Then they aren't shooting for score anymore.
 
Viper26 said:
Trying to control other people's behaviour will only get you frustrated. My shooting gives me enough frustration already. About all you can do is set a good example for the new shooters and hope range etiquette will change. Who remembers walking back from scoring your targets and being met by one of your squad-mates with all your brass and mags?
Click to expand...

This is quite true. In general, going through life you'll meet numerous people that you don't like, from mildly annoying to downright a$$holes. There is not much you can do to change these people, and probably you shouldn't try. Avoiding them when possible can be the best strategy.

Regarding patching, picking mags and general help - when I shoot most of the time somebody picks my mags and hand them to me when I walk back, I myself try to do the same and patch and help as much as I can. Most often our squad runs happily. If there are few individuals who don't help - that just slows process down a little, but no big deal. I don't get upset about this. In the long run - "what goes around comes around", I believe that just by doing my part I can make matches more enjoyable for myself and others, and even if there are few issues sometimes - positive attitude in general will make things better.
 
We've got an awesome group that shoot CDP. If they're not on deck, or haven't just shot, they will either be patching or picking up brass.

Sure everyone needs a reminder once and awhile, but all in all, they're a great bunch.

Just assign jobs to the guys before the match starts.
 
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