The 9th edition of the National Standard Three-Position Air Rifle Rules has just been released. The National Three-Position Air Rifle Council whose members include The American Legion, BSA, CMP, the Daisy-US Jaycee Shooter Education Program, 4-H Shooting Sports, USA Shooting and the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force JROTC Commands, issues a new rulebook to govern three-position air rifle shooting in the USA every two years. The new 2012-2014 rulebook goes into effect immediately. The new rulebook can be downloaded from the CMP website at
http://publ.com/BUSpRxp or
http://www.thecmp.org/3P/Rules.pdf.
The 2012-2014 National Standard Rulebook has several rules that were changed to keep national 3-position air rifle rules in line with what competitors will see in USAS/ISSF rules at larger competitions. The ISSF is changing its rules for 10m and 50m rifle and pistol events to have separate “preparation and sighting” periods before record or competition firing begins. Since this will become the new international standard, the Council decided that junior position air rifle competitors in the U. S. should use the same procedures. To adapt this change to 3-position air rifle, the course of fire will start with a call to the firing line, followed by a 10-minute preparation and sighting stage. Commands to start record fire are given at the end of the sighting stage. No further sighting shots may be taken after record fire begins. Time limits for the record fire stages are shortened to reflect the fact that there is now a separate time for firing sighters.
In addition to adapting 3-position air rifle rules in the U. S. to the new international standard, these changes will make it much easier to facilitate the coaching of sporter class shooters that is permitted during sighters. Now when the preparation and sighting period ends, all coaching must stop and coaches must step back from the firing line. The changes from prone to standing and standing to kneeling include a 5-minute changeover stage followed by a separate 5-minute sighting stage. Match directors have the option of extending sighting stages to 10 minutes. The CMP has already tested this course of fire change during its monthly match at Camp Perry and Anniston on 22 September and found that competitors and coaches adapted with no difficulties. Most of these changes were also tested in the CMP Junior Rifle Camps this past summer. Course of fire changes are further explained in Rule 5.3 below.
The following rules are the major changes, or rule clarifications that were made to help the rules be more easily understood. Please note, this is NOT a complete list of changes. All changes from the previous rules are underlined in the rulebook so new rules can easily be identified.
Rule 2.4 - LOAD
The command “LOAD” is no longer given before “START” in regular competitions. The command “LOAD” is still given prior to “START” in finals. This change reflects the fact that there is a separate preparation and sighting time before record fire. The preparation and sighting time begins with “START” because not all shooters will be ready to start firing at the beginning of the time so “LOAD” is an inappropriate command. The command “START” allows competitors to continue to prepare their positions and then load and fire when they are ready to start firing sighters.
Rule 3.2.3 - Best-Four-Count Teams (formerly Organization Teams)
The previous rules included a provision for match sponsors to conduct special team matches where teams could enter more than four shooters and only the best four scores would count for the team total. These were called “organization teams,” but that name is now changed to “best-four-count teams.” If the best-four-count team rule is used, this must be stated in the match program to clarify if teams shoot five and count four or if more than five shoot. Best-four-count team scores are not eligible for National Records.
Rule 4.1.7 - 600 FPS Velocity Restriction
The new rules clarify that match directors do not have to check rifle velocities unless they feel a rifle was altered to be a “high velocity” rifle. It also recognized that using non-lead pellets may produce velocities slightly above the 600 fps maximum.
Rule 4.2.4 - Stock (sporter)
The AFAG Edge centered or neutral position for the butt-plate is defined as having the top of the butt-plate 15 mm below the centerline of the bore.
Rule 4.6.2 - Shooting Trousers
There may be a maximum of seven belt loops, not more than 20mm in width, with at least 80 mm between belt loops.
When rifle clothing manufacturers began using larger and stiffer seat pads as a means of adding support to shooting trousers, the ISSF Rifle Committee finally decided to stop fighting the enforcement challenges this presented and banned all seat pads on rifle shooting trousers starting in 2013. Since this change will ultimately affect many junior shooters in the U. S., the Council decided to adopt this change, but with a two-year grace period. The grace period will permit all shooting trousers that are currently legal to continue to be used without requiring that seat pads be removed. With the change in the ISSF rules, new shooting trousers will, however, no longer have seat pads. It is also expected that advanced juniors who compete in USAS/ISSF events will have to remove seat pads from old trousers immediately. The present plan is to require all seat pads to be removed not later than 1 January 2014, but the Council will monitor how this transition is progressing.
When rifle clothing manufacturers began using larger and stiffer seat pads as a means of adding support to shooting trousers, the ISSF Rifle Committee finally decided to stop fighting the enforcement challenges this presented and banned all seat pads on rifle shooting trousers starting in 2013. Since this change will ultimately affect many junior shooters in the U. S., the Council decided to adopt this change, but with a two-year grace period. The grace period will permit all shooting trousers that are currently legal to continue to be used without requiring that seat pads be removed. With the change in the ISSF rules, new shooting trousers will, however, no longer have seat pads. It is also expected that advanced juniors who compete in USAS/ISSF events will have to remove seat pads from old trousers immediately. The present plan is to require all seat pads to be removed not later than 1 January 2014, but the Council will monitor how this transition is progressing.
Rule 4.6.4 - Shoes
In another change designed to put more limits on performance-enhancing features in rifle shooter clothing, the new ISSF rules mandate that shoe soles can no longer be cut square or flat on the toe or heel, but must follow the external curvature of the shoe and not extend more than 5.0 mm beyond the external dimensions of the shoe at any point. Modifying shooting shoes to round off the toes and heels is a relatively easy modification to make and since many junior shooters in the U. S. will have to make this change, the Council also adopted this rule, but again with a two-year grace period. Shooting shoes that are legal under current rules can continue to be used with the expectation that full compliance with this rule must be achieved not later than 1 January 2014.
Rule 5.1.4 - Physical Impairments, Substituting Positions
In response to the need to provide shooting opportunities for a growing number of athletes with impairments who want to fire in 3-position air rifle competitions, the Council updated this rule to provide more guidance for athletes and match directors. The Council feels that athletes with impairments must be allowed to compete in 3-position air rifle events to the maximum extent possible and as long as the adaptive means used by an athlete does not provide an unfair advantage. The revised rule is closely linked with rules and classification procedures used by the IPC (International Paralympic Committee). Any coach or junior program that has an athlete with a physical impairment is urged to contact the USA Shooting Paralympic Director Bob Foth (Bob.Foth@usashooting.org) to obtain guidance in applying this rule. And match directors are urged to welcome and include athletes with impairments who comply with this rule into their competitions.
Rule 5.3 - Competition Events and Time Limits
The time limits were changed to reflect changes that are occurring at the international level. Competitions will now be structured to have separate changeover, preparation and sighting, and record stages. This will help alleviate some of the issues coaches, parents, and match directors have had with the rule that allows coaching during the sighting period for sporter shooters.
1. It will be easier to control and monitor coaching on the line in the sporter class. After the sighting period time is over, all coaches must leave the firing line making it easier for Range Officers to ensure that no one is coached after record firing begins.
2. A coach will not accidentally provide coaching to an athlete after they have switched to record.
3. Athletes next to a sporter shooter who is receiving coaching will not be interrupted during record shots.
4. With separate 10 or 5-minute sighter only periods, sporter shooters might shoot more than one or two sighters! (This was not an intended benefit, but it was seen this summer when the CMP Summer Camp program tried the proposed changes).
Refer to charts 5.3.2 and 5.3.3 on pages 22 – 23 for the new time limits and stage order. A range officer script, “Firing Procedures and Range Officer Commands", is now listed in the rulebook starting on page 53. Range Officers are urged to use this script to assist them in adapting to the new procedures.
Rule 7.16 - Malfunctions
No extra time will be given for a malfunction or malfunction repair. An athlete may repair a rifle after notifying the Range Officer or a replacement rifle may be authorized by the Range Officer if there is physical evidence that the malfunction cannot be repaired. Additional sighting shots may be allowed if the athlete must get out of position to facilitate the repair, but only within the remaining shooting time. This change is necessitated by a need to eliminate delays caused by giving shooters extra time for malfunctions that frequently throw matches off schedule. It reflects a view that shooters are responsible for arriving at a competition with rifles and equipment that are well maintained and in good condition.
Rule 7.17 - Late Arrivals
An athlete who arrives late for a scheduled relay on which he/she was squadded will be permitted to start, but no extra time will be allowed. If an athlete arrives after record fire has begun, he/she will be permitted to start, but no extra time will be allowed and no sighting shots will be permitted. If an athlete can demonstrate that his/her delayed arrival was due to circumstances beyond his/her control, he/she may be re-squadded on another relay or permitted to start at a later time if this does not delay the scheduled start of a Final.
Rule 7.18 - Spectators and Media
This rule was updated to help better prepare competitors for larger competitions. Spectators may speak in normal tones and should also be allowed to cheer during competitions.
Rule 10.1 - Final Round Procedures
The Final consists of unlimited sighting shots fired in an eight (8) minute combined Preparation and Sighting Stage and a Record Fire Stage consisting of ten (10) record shots, each fired on command within a 45 second time limit. Note that the shot time has been shortened. All Finals for Three-Position or Standing events are fired in the standing position.
Rule 10.2.1 – Assigning Firing Points
Finalists must fire together on eight adjacent firing points. Finalists are assigned firing points with the highest-ranked athlete on the first point (left), the next highest-ranked athlete on the second point, etc. If an athlete does not appear for a Final by the time the presentation of athletes begins, he/she will be given the last place in the Final and will not be allowed to start late. If more than one athlete fails to appear, their final rankings will be decided according to Rule 8.6.1.
Appendix Section II – Junior EIC Award Program
The EIC program and its point distribution system is changing rather significantly. This was done to alleviate some problems that occurred with the previous program. The objective of these changes is to improve the system so that the best shooters are the ones earning EIC points and the Distinguished Badge, regardless of location.
The values of EIC points awarded are now equal between sporter and precision classes. The difference in point values was originally set in hopes of encouraging sporter shooters to advance to precision. It turned out that this was not a practical option for many programs and shooters because schools or clubs with teams often do not have the funds to make the switch or are located in areas where precision class competition is not available.
The rule that did not allow subsequent points to be earned in the sporter class once precision points had been earned has also been removed. Athletes may now shoot either sporter or precision classes (in different competitions) and earn points in both classes that will be combined while working towards their Distinguished Badge. This will allow athletes wanting to switch to precision on their own, to still earn points while shooting for a high school team that only fires in the sporter class, a situation that occurs quite frequently.
All National Council Member Championships (Daisy, American Legion, 4H, JROTC Championships) and Junior Olympic Championship (or equivalent) will remain the same with points being awarded based on a percentage of the Non-Distinguished shooters that competed.
Cup Matches will now award EIC points based on established cut scores and the number of competitors at the competition (overall number, not just Non-Distinguished). The larger the Cup Match, the higher the point value for each leg (gold/silver/bronze. EIC cut scores were calculated on the basis of scores fired by competitors that earned EIC points in the National Council Member Championships and the National Junior Olympic Championship in the past year. These scores will be recalculated annually.
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