Friendly Competitions

Hints and how to’s for coaches and junior shooters of all categories

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JPM
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 8:41 am
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Friendly Competitions

Post by JPM »

Over the winter our club (Tri-County Sportsman's League in Saline, MI) participated in a home and home bi-lateral match with the Copper Shooters in Kalamazoo, MI. While I certainly don't want to substitute such matches for open sanctioned competitions, I think these types of informal bi-lateral matches have a place in the world of Youth Shooting. Friends were made and important lessons learned.

In January, I took our team of 5 to their facility – about a 2-hour drive. We enjoyed a serious, but friendly competition, and then were treated to lunch. Following lunch we let the kids and adults have a little fun the on the range, while we finished scoring. The only difficultly encountered was the weather – at 7 below zero that morning; I learned an important lesson about not transporting rifles in the trunk.

We reciprocated in March – and were blessed with a nice warm day. We had to shoot 2 relays at our place due to limited shooting lanes, so it took a bit longer. With the nice weather we treated to grilled hotdogs and hamburgers, and the kids had fun with our club's pool table while scoring was finished. There was an IDPA meet and trap shooting also going on that day, so we all got a good look at other shooting opportunities.

Again – while nothing substitutes for sanctioned matches, bi-lateral "friendly's" can provide valuable experience and lots of fun. Coaches – seek out the other clubs in your area for this kind of fun!


JPM
WRC177

Post by WRC177 »

You are right, that sounds like a lot of fun. I think it's a good way of also showing the kids that 1) where ever you go in life, you can find a club to join & 2) this fun sport isn't just for juniors, they can see other adults enjoying it too. Kudos to your coaches and helpers for getting organized and committing a whole day to the cause.

Regret that we are a few long hours away from you, on the other side of Lake Michigan!
durant7
Posts: 69
Joined: Thu Mar 04, 2004 12:01 am
Location: New Hampshire
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Post by durant7 »

It is good that you are networked locally. I think that is an area we should work on. We need to better understand what programs are going on around us and make the occational road trip to let the kids see what other clubs are up to.

Anyone on here from the North Dallas...North East Texas area?
mikeschroeder
Posts: 488
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 10:56 am
Location: Kansas

Post by mikeschroeder »

Hi

Is there a limit on the number of sanctined matches that a club / group can put on in a year? It may be worth the time to schedule monthly, or every other monthy sanctioned matches so you kids get classified and move up. We're not doing that (yet), but we are at least looking at putting on an NRA sanctioned match late this year.

Mike
Wichita KS
Guest

Post by Guest »

No administrative limit, but you will burn out your volunteers if you ask too much!
mikeschroeder
Posts: 488
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 10:56 am
Location: Kansas

Post by mikeschroeder »

Anonymous wrote:No administrative limit, but you will burn out your volunteers if you ask too much!
Doing one a year is a pain, apparently doing a monthly where they're all alike isn't so bad. From looking at Shooting Sports, a few clubs do have monthly matches, since they're in the magazine, I would guess that they are sanctioned. They also may just be club matches.

Don't see much of a difference in some ways. You still have to get a Range Officer, Stats Officer, etc.

Mike
Wichita KS
Thomas Monto
Posts: 235
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:01 am
Location: Midland, MI

Friendly Matches

Post by Thomas Monto »

Curt Ingersol (Kalamazoo) & I have been discussing this issue for some weeks. We are planning on developing a series of monthly matches around the state for everyone from entry level to precision. Start in October-November and run to May. Match at a different range each month. Low entry cost, small awards, mainly fun type matches. At Riverside we have a couple of internal matches a year. Shooters shoot everything from prone only to 4P & 3P. Medals are given and the kids have a lot of fun. Hot dogs are provided at nominal cost. If you are from a Michigan Club and are interested, let Curt or myself know.

The State Association used to have a Junior Division, but in recent by-law revisions the division was eliminated and junior affairs are to be run by a committee. To junior AR & smallbore shooters this is viewed as a slap in the face and we are looking at alternatives for the junior shooters.
TM
Guest

Post by Guest »

If you're holding any matches that juniors or adults from other states can participate in, please let us know! (Gee it would be useful to have a match listings forum here, wouldn't it?)
JPM
Posts: 31
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2004 8:41 am
Location: S.E. Michigan
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Michigan Fun Matches

Post by JPM »

Tom - I am partially in the communications loop for Michigan Juniors. Curt sends me his match notices. I'd appreciate any you hear about.

Unfortunately the MRPA seems rather focused on High Power right now.

If our club gets a permanent air rifle range constructed this year, we could host a match. Right now, we are too space constrained.

JPM - aka Jim Morris jmorris_3@yahoo.com
Thomas Monto
Posts: 235
Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:01 am
Location: Midland, MI

Matches

Post by Thomas Monto »

No limit as to Michigan shooters. For such a plan time and distance would be a factor.

Instead of talking about it, lets do it. It's not that tough.
TM
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