Many shooters don't realize what actually goes into a monthly pistol match.  They get their gear together, they go to the range and shoot the match, they go home, they wait for the scores to be posted to see how they did.  For the people who actually put on the match, regardless of the club or the people involved, it is a little more complicated:

• Design Some Stages -- A match is worthless without stages, so the first step is to come up with some stages.  There are some resources on the internet that have lists of stages for matches, however most of the stages we use at GGC are designed by us.  We occasionally use some stages that we shot at other clubs or matches, but most of them are original designs.  We come up with them, draw them up, and pass them back and forth among the other SO's to make sure there are no holes in them.


• Make Sure We Have Props -- Once we know what stages we are going to shoot at a match, we have to make sure we have enough props to set them all up.  Target stands, targets, uprights, pasters, wall material, tables, chairs, stage-specific props; these all have to be obtained.


• Set Up The Stages -- GGC is unique in that we cannot get to the range on days prior to the match to set up the stages.  Many clubs set up the weekend before a match, but we can't do that since the pistol bays are at the end of the rifle range.  We only have the range for one day so we have to get there early of the morning of the match to set up.  This usually means getting up about 4:30 and meeting for breakfast at 6:00 so we can be at the range by 7:00 to get the stages set up before the match begins at 10:00.


• Register The Shooters -- Someone has to handle the registration.  When shooters start coming in we have to have someone to register them, take their match fees, and make sure they have score sheets.


• Shooters Meeting -- The Match Director always gives a shooters meeting prior to the beginning of the match.  This ensures that everyone there is aware of the safety rules, and everyone plays on an even field.


• Explain The Stages -- When a shooter is ready to shoot, we have to explain the stage and make sure he understands how he is supposed to shoot it.  We try and do this to groups of shooters at once, but frequently wind up giving a course description to each shooter individually.


• Run The Stages -- The same guys who set the stages up are usually the guys who stand out there all day running them.  We have to watch every move the shooter makes to insure that he does nothing unsafe, we have to watch to insure that the stage is shot as it is supposed to be, and we have to make sure that the score is properly recorded, the targets pasted, and everything reset for the next shooter.  We do this for every shooter that comes through, and we try to do it the same for every shooter to insure that everyone has an equal chance to do well.


• Shoot The Stages -- We are shooters to, and we want to shoot the match just like everyone else.  Eventually, normally after we are completely worn out, we shoot through ourselves.


• Tear Down The Stages -- When everyone has shot the match, and many of the shooters have left and gotten home, the stages have to be torn down and all the props stored.  We can't leave them out since the pistol bays are in the rifle range and everything would get shot to pieces.


• Pick Up The Bulk Of The Brass -- GGC matches are not "Lost Brass Matches", but most people still leave their brass behind.  This isn't a big thing to those of us who reload because we snag most of it after the match and it goes home with us, but the fact is that it still has to be picked up and someone still has to do it.


• Compile And Post The Scores -- The final touch is what everyone is waiting for.  We have to compile all the scores and get them posted on the web site.  This is normally done on the same day as the match, and it is done by the same people who have spent all day working the match.

This is not something that is unique to GGC or IDPA, it takes place at every match that is put on by every club in every city.  It is hard work, and it is usually done by the same group of people month after month.  These people are volunteers, they don't get paid for doing it, they just pitch in and do it.  GGC is lucky because we always seem to get lots of help from many of the shooters, and without that assistance we couldn't do it.  The bulk of the shooters at GGC are willing to help out, and every month we have some that show up early to help set up, who help with running the shooters, and who stay late to help tear down the stages.  We may not say it often enough, but we are very grateful for that help; we frequently could not get through the day without it.

There are always a few though who feel that they shouldn't have to do anything.  When it is their turn to shoot the SO or RO has to hunt them down (they usually aren't that hard to find though; in the summer they are under the most comfortable patch of shade and in winter they are close to a fire barrel), they come to the line without all of their gear and expect to have the stage explained again.  When they are unloaded and their targets scored, they walk away and that's the last we see of them unless they complain about the stage or the scoring.  They don't help pasting targets or resetting stages, they don't pick up brass, all they do is shoot.

The bottom line is this: EVERYONE is expected to do their part.  If you are sitting under a canopy watching everyone else work and complaining about how hot it is while you wait for someone to call you to come and shoot then you are NOT doing your part.  If you are standing around a fire barrel whining about it taking so long for your turn at the line, you are not doing your part.  If you don't help paste targets or pick up brass for other shooters then you are not doing your part.  We work hard to put on these matches, and we do it simply because we enjoy the sport and want the matches to be a success.  A match is frequently a 12 hour day for some of the volunteers, and in the summer heat or the winter cold that can be a very long 12 hours.

The exception to this rule is a new shooter.  New shooters normally don't know what is going on, they don't know the rules, they don't know what they are supposed to do.  They can learn a lot more by just watching what is going on than by doing anything else.  They should be watching the more experienced shooters and trying to learn from what they do.  If they paste a few targets or pick up some brass, so much the better, but what we want them to do is watch and learn.

As was stated, the vast bulk of shooters are very good about helping out and doing their part.  For those who spend most of their match day sitting under a canopy or standing around a fire barrel, here are a few guidelines (and, yes, every one of these are based on things that have happened):


1. Watch what is going on BEFORE you shoot.  Don't make the SO explain every detail of the stage to you when you get to the line; get out of your chair, watch what is going on, and understand the stage BEFORE you have to shoot.  Questions are fine, and are to be expected, but if the stage has been described numerous times and you just didn't want to get out of the shade to hear it, whose fault is that?


2. When it is your turn to shoot, be ready to shoot.  Don't expect the SO to hunt for you, then come to the line, then go back for another magazine, then come back to the line, then go back to get your eye or ear protection, then come back to the line and ask for a course description.  BE READY TO SHOOT.


3. When the SO asks, "Shooter Ready?" you should BE ready.  Don't stand there for a couple of minutes going through the stage in your head, if you haven't gotten it straight by then you aren't going to.  10 seconds is normal, 30 seconds is plenty, over a minute is way too long.


4. If you screw up on a stage, don't whine about the stage itself.  If you make a mistake it is quite possible that it was your fault for not paying attention to the stage description. Everyone shoots the same stages, there are written course descriptions and the stages are always verbally described.  If most people make it through them without problems, maybe you should have paid better attention.


5. Help paste targets, pick up brass, and reset props.  The rest of the crowd is not there to benefit you, we expect you to help just like everyone else.  Paste targets for shooters that went before and after you.  Reset movers and other props.  Pick up brass.  Make yourself useful.


6. Don't just disappear after you shoot.  Go reload your mags or speedloaders, then come back and help out.


7. Excuses like,  "I need to get home to ....." or "I need to shoot through so I can get out of here early" or "I can't stay very long" only work occasionally.  When the same shooters have the same excuses every match it really starts to get boring.

These matches are hard work.  The people who put them on are volunteers and they do it because they enjoy the sport.  We get a lot of help from most of the shooters, but we EXPECT a certain level of help from EVERY shooter.  We aren't asking a lot, only that everyone help a little and do their part.