Dealing w/ down time during matches

10-Ring · February 15, 2003, 11:06 PM

Today was the worst in terms of down time I've had to deal with. Now, between stages, I like to top off my mags, get a drink of water or something to eat, make adjustments, go to little gunfighter's room

, take a nap, rotate tires, & talk to fellow competitors. But today, I ran out of things to do and started to get frustrated between stages.
Are there any tricks anyone can suggest to make the time go faster so I can stay focused?

Bergeron · February 16, 2003, 12:12 AM

I like to watch other shooters run throught the stages. Gives me a better idea of things that I should do like that shooter, also things not to do like that shooter.

If you're really looking to be busy during the match, try ROing one.

Wilhelm · February 16, 2003, 01:00 AM

I agree with Bergeron. I like to watch other shooters do the course. I did RO today and you are right that is staying busy.

Wilhelm

Navy joe · February 16, 2003, 01:09 AM

At club level matches you are probably doing something wrong if there is that much time on your hands. I'm not working for about 1-2 shooters before me and however long it takes me to reload mags after I shoot. Other than that I am usually running the scorecards or Ro'ing. As I tell the lazy ones, "if you are not taping or re-setting targets you should be." Everyone at a action pistol event should be helping the match run smoother. The real good guys I have shot around do that, they usually RO. The younger grandmasters and junior masters often cop an "I'm too good for that attitude" Not for long. If you want to shoot, you need to help.

444 · February 16, 2003, 01:09 AM

Not sure what kind of match we are talking about. At IDPA, and IPSC matches I usually tape targets, pick up brass for the shooter, reset the poppers etc. There is only enough time between shooters to do that.

10-Ring · February 16, 2003, 01:56 AM

Typically, it took our group of 10 shooters about 35-40 minutes per stage give or take 5 minutes for a longer or shorter stage. That, I can deal with NO PROBLEM. What sucked today was the local PD shooters interupting stages and adding to the frustration. Plus, these guys (and gals) weren't the most proficient gun handlers I've ever seen either. 1/2 of the ones I saw had trouble keeping their slow fire shots in the black a 10 yards.

Skunkabilly · February 16, 2003, 02:58 AM

I usually BS with other shooters.

The ROs today ran it well and it's nice that our club has dedicated ROs now. There was minimum downtime between stages.

I'm also glad the grass is long and it's muddy so guys arent pickup up their

brass while others are waiting to shoot.

Problems occur when a group with a short stage runs into a group with a long stage.

Daniel Flory · February 16, 2003, 12:32 PM

Talk to the people who are running the match and help redesign stages to have the best minimum manufacturing lead time, cycle time, capacity, and flow rate. Hopefully you will only end up with a small bottleneck after re-planning.

...wait...I've spent waaaay too much time studying operations management this week...I'm gonna go dryfire...

Skunkabilly · February 16, 2003, 01:07 PM

Quote:

I've spent waaaay too much time studying operations management this week

Special operations management?
Tactical ops management?

Daniel Flory · February 16, 2003, 02:26 PM

Skunk- I have tac-ops management class after I have assualt asset management class

9x45 · February 17, 2003, 11:37 PM

Cops have priority at Prado, period. It's a public range, it was built as a public range, and it will allways be a public range, so that's the way it is.

Down time? At a local match that means stage design screw-ups or un-equal squading or too, too many newbies on any one squad.

Big matches? Waiting is what it's all about! The last shooter thru has the advantage...

Beorn · February 18, 2003, 01:33 AM

I have gone to matches about one fifth the size, and the time was about the same (with half the scenarios, and no PD interruptions, mind you).

I was actually not too troubled with the PD guys qualifying. What was interesting was their gun handling skills (or lack thereof?).

Our squad mixed things up so each person went first or last (didn't work perfectly, 9 people in a squad, 8 stages, but close).

Say what you like, but I was impressed (given my limited experience) with the ROs, the CoFs, and the friendly people. I will be back, no question.

I shoot at Oceanside this sunday (arrive @ 7:30am for 8:00am shoot [bring IDPA card]), and it will be an indoor, 4 stage match. I wonder how it will stand up now that I've seen something I enjoy better...

Steve Smith · February 18, 2003, 12:49 PM

You are obviously talking about a pistol sport. There IS no friggin' downtime in Highpower...if you're not shooting or scoring, you're pulling targets!

9x45 · February 18, 2003, 02:07 PM

Beorn, say hi to Heyder. If you want more fun than Prado, come up to Apple Valley this Saturday for 4 awesome pistol stages and 2 shotgun stages.

February 15, 2003, 11:06 PM	#1
10-Ring Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: California Posts: 12,039	Dealing w/ down time during matches Today was the worst in terms of down time I've had to deal with. Now, between stages, I like to top off my mags, get a drink of water or something to eat, make adjustments, go to little gunfighter's room , take a nap, rotate tires, & talk to fellow competitors. But today, I ran out of things to do and started to get frustrated between stages. Are there any tricks anyone can suggest to make the time go faster so I can stay focused? __________________ "We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail." President George W. Bush, October 7, 2001

February 16, 2003, 01:09 AM	#4
Navy joe Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: VA Posts: 2,363	At club level matches you are probably doing something wrong if there is that much time on your hands. I'm not working for about 1-2 shooters before me and however long it takes me to reload mags after I shoot. Other than that I am usually running the scorecards or Ro'ing. As I tell the lazy ones, "if you are not taping or re-setting targets you should be." Everyone at a action pistol event should be helping the match run smoother. The real good guys I have shot around do that, they usually RO. The younger grandmasters and junior masters often cop an "I'm too good for that attitude" Not for long. If you want to shoot, you need to help. __________________ FY47012 , Shut up and shoot. USPSA, NRA, VCDL Last edited by Navy joe; February 18, 2003 at 01:36 PM.

February 16, 2003, 01:56 AM	#6
10-Ring Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: California Posts: 12,039	Typically, it took our group of 10 shooters about 35-40 minutes per stage give or take 5 minutes for a longer or shorter stage. That, I can deal with NO PROBLEM. What sucked today was the local PD shooters interupting stages and adding to the frustration. Plus, these guys (and gals) weren't the most proficient gun handlers I've ever seen either. 1/2 of the ones I saw had trouble keeping their slow fire shots in the black a 10 yards. __________________ "We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail." President George W. Bush, October 7, 2001

February 16, 2003, 02:58 AM	#7
Skunkabilly Member Join Date: December 23, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, Untacticalifornia =( Posts: 9,730	I usually BS with other shooters. The ROs today ran it well and it's nice that our club has dedicated ROs now. There was minimum downtime between stages. I'm also glad the grass is long and it's muddy so guys arent pickup up their brass while others are waiting to shoot. Problems occur when a group with a short stage runs into a group with a long stage. __________________ http://www.skunkabilly.com If Chuck Norris and The Skunk logged onto THR at the same time, the servers would crash, for they could not contain that amount of pure awesome.

February 16, 2003, 12:32 PM	#8
Daniel Flory Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Posts: 3,741	Talk to the people who are running the match and help redesign stages to have the best minimum manufacturing lead time, cycle time, capacity, and flow rate. Hopefully you will only end up with a small bottleneck after re-planning. ...wait...I've spent waaaay too much time studying operations management this week...I'm gonna go dryfire... __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. -Milton Friedman

February 16, 2003, 12:12 AM	#2
Bergeron Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 435	I like to watch other shooters run throught the stages. Gives me a better idea of things that I should do like that shooter, also things not to do like that shooter. If you're really looking to be busy during the match, try ROing one.

February 16, 2003, 01:00 AM	#3
Wilhelm Member Join Date: February 6, 2003 Location: Rosemead. Never heard of it have you? Posts: 187	I agree with Bergeron. I like to watch other shooters do the course. I did RO today and you are right that is staying busy. Wilhelm

February 16, 2003, 01:09 AM	#5
444 Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Location: Pahrump Nevada Posts: 7,725	Not sure what kind of match we are talking about. At IDPA, and IPSC matches I usually tape targets, pick up brass for the shooter, reset the poppers etc. There is only enough time between shooters to do that.

February 16, 2003, 02:26 PM	#10
Daniel Flory Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Posts: 3,741	Skunk- I have tac-ops management class after I have assualt asset management class __________________ A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that it ... gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself. -Milton Friedman

February 17, 2003, 11:37 PM	#11
9x45 Member Join Date: January 17, 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 8	Cops have priority at Prado, period. It's a public range, it was built as a public range, and it will allways be a public range, so that's the way it is. Down time? At a local match that means stage design screw-ups or un-equal squading or too, too many newbies on any one squad. Big matches? Waiting is what it's all about! The last shooter thru has the advantage...

February 18, 2003, 01:33 AM	#12
Beorn Member Join Date: February 7, 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 249	I have gone to matches about one fifth the size, and the time was about the same (with half the scenarios, and no PD interruptions, mind you). I was actually not too troubled with the PD guys qualifying. What was interesting was their gun handling skills (or lack thereof?). Our squad mixed things up so each person went first or last (didn't work perfectly, 9 people in a squad, 8 stages, but close). Say what you like, but I was impressed (given my limited experience) with the ROs, the CoFs, and the friendly people. I will be back, no question. I shoot at Oceanside this sunday (arrive @ 7:30am for 8:00am shoot [bring IDPA card]), and it will be an indoor, 4 stage match. I wonder how it will stand up now that I've seen something I enjoy better... __________________ "Let your anger be like a monkey in a pinata."- Master Tang Beorn "Hokkyokuguma" Member of the NRA Member of the CRPA Member of the IDPA Member of the GSSF Member of the SASS

February 18, 2003, 12:49 PM	#13
Steve Smith Moderator Emeritus Join Date: December 21, 2002 Location: Southeastern US Posts: 4,402	You are obviously talking about a pistol sport. There IS no friggin' downtime in Highpower...if you're not shooting or scoring, you're pulling targets! __________________ I'm strapped like a car seat. TFL Alumnus, THR Plankowner, NRA Life Member

February 18, 2003, 02:07 PM	#14
9x45 Member Join Date: January 17, 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 8	Beorn, say hi to Heyder. If you want more fun than Prado, come up to Apple Valley this Saturday for 4 awesome pistol stages and 2 shotgun stages.

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