Trash Talk During Competition

[RioShooter]

Two new shooters have joined my IDPA club. During shooting competition these two members shout disparaging comments at the shooters. The club officers have not addressed this behavior. Has anyone experienced this at shooting events?

 

[Hokie_PhD]

Wow, I haven't competed yet, but I see no excuse for this. I know when I start competing if I see/hear this I'd be very put off.

Now don't get me wrong, a little fun natured ribbing and trash talk among friends can be fun, it's not appropriate for people you don't know and at competitors who are out there to have fun, learn, etc.

So like you, I'm interested in hearing what others say, as I hope this isn't common. As for you, did you discuss it with the people running the meet or the two who acted that way?

 

[patmccoy]

Normal occurrence in Europe during smallbore and airgun matches. I've used it as a training device to get shooters used to focusing on what they are doing, rather than what is going on around them. If the shooter is hearing others, the shooter's focus and concentration is lacking.

That said, I feel it is in very poor taste during a serious match (again it is not unusual during muzzleloading matches among friend in a club). If I beat someone, I want to know it was because I shot better than them, not because I bothered them while they shot.

 

[George Dickel]

I shot rimfire benchrest for a number of years and that kind of nonsense would get you kicked off the range.

 

[jeepnik]

The shooting sports are about the last bastion of adult behavior. I'd suspect they are younger and grew up watching the pro sports players of the last few decades. The R.O.'s aren't doing their job and need to be called to task.

On the range the R.O. is God. But he/she can be removed by club members in the blink of an eye. The members sometimes fail to remember this.

Act like that at my range, and two things will happen. First if the R.O. doesn't kick your but out, we'll kick his/hers out. And second, you'd get exactly one word of warning. Act up again, and you'd be gone.

 

[rskent]

Maybe you could just have a chat with them.

 

[FL-NC]

Totally unacceptable unless they are friends doing it to each other.

 

[wbbh]

I let them overhear the following comment from you to another shooter:

"Wow! You'ed need to be a total moron to make stupid comments like that to a guy with a loaded pistol."

 

[Scooter22]

Total BS!! I can think of several things I would do in return when they are at the line but it wouldn't be appropriate for THR. No reason they shouldn't be stopped IMO.

 

[Scooter22]

Total BS!! I can think of several things I would do in return when they are at the line but it wouldn't be appropriate for THR to state them. No reason they shouldn't be stopped IMO.

 

[JeffG]

Good natured light taunts between friends is one thing. This doesn't sound like good sportsmanship.

 

[JohnKSa]

I could see engaging in that kind of behavior with close friends, but not to the extent that it would affect the outcome of the match, hurt the score of any competitor or upset anyone.

I am very proud of the sportsmanship almost invariably displayed by competitors in the shooting sports. I hope that never changes.

If you get a chance to talk with them one-on-one, you might say something like the following:

"In the shooting sports, winning is about performing your best when the range is hot, not about trying to make the other person lose."​

 

[Mn Fats]

I suppose there's poor sportsman in every sport. I know when I competed in billiards tournaments if you spoke/distracted the other player while they were shooting, they could call "foul". I've always treated competitive shooting like pool or golf, shut up and let the other person take they're best shot. Do your best and I'll do mine, distractions are for cowards.

 

[Jason_W]

Seems uncouth.

I could see good friends busting each other's chops a bit, but new randos showing up and being a-holes? Nope!

If I was really good at something (which very rarely happens) I wouldn't want to be a jerk about it, I'd want to offer to help make others better, but not in the overbearing, know-it-all way that everyone hates.

 

[hdwhit]

Hokie_PhD wrote:
...if I see/hear this I'd be very put off.

It's the behavior of dilettantes trying to cover up for their own lack of knowledge and experience. The ones that are there to stroke their egos by showing everyone else how superior they are will shortly disappear when they experience the fact that the "best" gun with the "best" ammunition with the "best" accessories doesn't make up for a lack of skill and training.

The ones that do come back are "teachable" and should be welcomed back and allowed to start learning.

 

[MutinousDoug]

This is just a quote from the CMP 2017 rule book for competitions but it seems a reasonable approach to range behavior for competitors and spectators:

5.1.2 Rule Violations and Disciplinary Actions

5.1.2.1 Rule Violations
Competitors or team officials may be disciplined or disqualified from a match
for any of the following acts of misconduct:

a) Violating range safety rules or safety rules prescribed in CMP or NRArules;
b) Failure to comply withCMP Competition Rules;
c) Falsifying or being an accessory to falsifying scores;
d) Refusing to obey the instructions of a match official or failure to make a correction after a warning is given (Rule 5.12.2);
e) Disorderly or unsportsmanlike conduct; or
f) Interfering with or disrupting a competitor on the firing line.

 

[VA27]

Hmmmm. Guess I'm a dinosaur. I wouldn't think a thing of it and I sure as heck wouldn't be the one to complain. Whining is unmanly. Back in the day (when men were men and women were glad of it) I shot with some National Park Service LE Rangers. After quals we shot for who was going to buy coffee. Revolvers with wadcutters were the order of the day, six rounds DA only from 7 yards. Largest group pays. If your group was looking pretty good invariably someone would step up and whiz on your boot. A little yelling is nothing.

 

[Armored farmer]

Poor sportsmanship was not tolerated on the trap range back in the day, not sure how it's done nowadays.
Unheard of on the blackpowder club shoots.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

I like to point out to anti gunners the high level of sportsmanship in the shooting sports. In my opinion anything other than the highest standards of sportsmanship is unacceptable.

 

[Walkalong]

Negative trash talk, especially if you are disrespectful to others, has no place anywhere.

We used to kid each other in Benchrest competitions, but is was friendly and if the other fellow needed something or his gun broke, the same guy who had been teasing you about beating you would gladly help you out.

 

[tarosean]

Has anyone experienced this at shooting events?

Never. Definitely not normal.

Perhaps they don't cope with humiliation? since most newbies fall flat on their face the first couple times out.

 

[Sam1911]

Under Item 3.11 of the current IDPA rule book:

I. I will refrain from any action that distracts shooters, safety officers, and other competitors during the match.

So, YOU need to a) carry your Rule Book with you, b) don't hesitate to speak to any Safety Officer about inappropriate behavior by any shooter, and c) make it "sting" a little by requesting a re-shoot for yourself or any other shooter affected by the hecklers. That would be your right, and it is your right to make the same request of the Match Director if the SO is too timid to put a stop to it.

It is completely acceptable, and even relatively common, for an SO to make a simple, firm "Quiet Please" order to the squad if they're getting too boisterous for him/her to communicate with the shooter, or for the shooter to focus.

 

[Sav .250]

If no rules against it..............

 

[Sam1911]

If no rules against it..............

As the post directly above yours points out, the rules ARE against it.

 

[John Joseph]

"When Peter talks about Paul, you learn more about Peter than you do about Paul."