What could/should USPSA do to attract the average CCW holder
Just like the title says, what could or should they do. I've been thinking about this a bit due to a couple blog posts out there and some stuff in some internet threads.
First things first, I personally would not want USPSA to "dumb down" the sport just to bring in membership dollars. The fact that USPSA is the harder of the two big handgun sports is one of the reasons I chose it. I do think they could play with how matches are structured a bit. I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but I believe that internationally, IPSC has a 3-2-1 rule when it comes to course design, where there is supposed to be a 3 short course, 2 medium course, 1 long field course ratio. I could be wrong on the specifics there, but I like the idea in theory.
Say for a local 6 stage match. 1 classifier stage, 3 stages of 15 shots or less, 1 20-25 shot stage, and one 30-32 shot stage. I think this accomplishes a few things. It could help to combat the notion that USPSA is "track and field with a pistol." In the DVD "Training to Win," Ben Stoeger showed like 3 smaller stages that were still solid shooting tests and gave a shooter options, but didn't require a great deal of movement. I feel that there is a lot of technical skill that can be tested in 15 rounds or less, and that making the average stage smaller wouldn't necessarily make the sport easier. It could alter the perception though. I vividly remember the butterflies I experienced the first time I faced a 32 shot stage, so this idea could be just my personal experience/bias talking.
I also feel that USPSA should put a heavy marketing emphasis on the fact that it is a harder sport. Get that out there. Talk it up. Point out that a number of the very best shooters in the world are USPSA GM's, and explain to the masses that you can shoot with, and learn from, these shooters. Most people that are going to be willing to take up shooting matches regularly, in my opinion, want to get better. From a marketing standpoint, the amount of talent that is present in USPSA could be a major attraction, if marketed properly.
Last, put a heavy emphasis on Production division. Everyone has heard the "racegun" stereotype that follows USPSA around. We have probably all heard that in order to be competitive at the sport, you need a "racegun." I say, fight it. Get it out there that there is a stock gun division. Get it out there that some of the very best shooters in USPSA compete largely in Production. Yes, you do need more mags than IDPA, and even with the stage ideas I presented above, that would still be true. However, I don't think the idea of adding a couple mags and mag pouches is that daunting of an idea for the average shooter. But the large perception that you need a 2011 that costs three grand, that is daunting.
These are just my own ideas. I could be way off base here, as a lot of this stuff is based on things I heard or felt before I ever shot a match. Again, I don't want to see the technical aspect of the sport dumbed down. I'd love to hear some ideas from others.