Just when you thought that IDPA was done with the stupid ideas...

[orionz06]

Use of cover is still judged from the wrong side, aside from arbitrary judging.

Stages do look really fun, but they're just games. I think you're expecting a bit much from it. Swimming at the Y ain't seal training.

[cclaxton]

Use of cover is still judged from the wrong side, aside from arbitrary judging.

Stages do look really fun, but they're just games. I think you're expecting a bit much from it. Swimming at the Y ain't seal training.

We have had this discussion before.
Under new rules the Scorekeeper is supposed to line-up and make the cover calls, although the Primary SO can as well. But the point of that was to have a separate judge on cover.

The rules on cover are no arbitrary. They are clearly defined in the IDPA rulebook. I am guessing what you really meant was that the SO's judgement on when a person is out of cover is not consistent. In some cases this can be an issue. We are working to fix that by coaching SO's on the rule and making sure they understand why it must be judged consistently. Even then, it's not perfect. Even in USPSA RSO's have to make judgement calls. Like an umpire in baseball, sometimes they call balls strikes and strikes balls. In the end it all averages out as long as they are doing the job to the best of their abilities. That is where coaching comes in. That is one of the reasons I enjoy being the Area Coordinator...I can coach and coach the coaches.

Cody

[orionz06]

No, I mean viewing cover from behind isn't effective.

[Peally]

Cover calls are why I likely won't be shooting anything above IDPA club matches from now on (two more majors this year). From bay to bay you may have a cover hawk or you may have blatant cover violations not called. The rule itself is straightforward, but it's enforcement is hugely arbitrary.

Again, a game like USPSA, warts and all.

Now I know the USPSA board isn't exactly magical, but I often wonder if IDPA was a "public entity" if there'd be cool improvements and innovations to the sport.

[cclaxton]

Cover calls are why I likely won't be shooting anything above IDPA club matches from now on (two more majors this year). From bay to bay you may have a cover hawk or you may have blatant cover violations not called. The rule itself is straightforward, but it's enforcement is hugely arbitrary.

Again, a game like USPSA, warts and all.

Now I know the USPSA board isn't exactly magical, but I often wonder if IDPA was a "public entity" if there'd be cool improvements and innovations to the sport.

Peally,
May I ask you to consider that it is actually people like you who should be demanding consistency at IDPA matches, sanctioned or not. MD's need this feedback. Getting consistency within a bay at a sanctioned match is still a step in the right direction. The next step is to make sure it is consistent for every SO. That takes coaching and providing feedback. We need people like you to help...just something to consider.

Thanks,
Cody

[Peally]

I give people like you huge props for working the sports, and I do send emails once in a while if it's a major match and a blatant issue, but there's still rules that need to be clarified or changed. I've run enough matches and RO'd enough to know it's not what I enjoy (I like to shoot guns, beat people, and bask in the sweet sweet glory) so aside from random feedback I won't be changing the beast from the inside.

I'll keep dumping money into club matches and IDPA memberships since we've got some great guys running fun local matches (same ROs means consistency and I quickly bitch about inconsistent calls), but for majors I'll pinch my pennies for an occasional USPSA match. The rules and resulting frustration get in the way of what I'm personally looking for in a big and pricey pistol match I need to drive 6 hours to make. I started shooting in IDPA and I'll keep doing so simply due to my area but I shoot both sports simply as a skill gauge and something to do on weekends.

Now if IDPA had a grand master class you could classify into... once I hit Master I'm going to be a sad panda, yet now that I've hit A class I feel like I've barely scratched the surface

[PPGMD]

LOL this thread is still alive.

[Peally]

I clicks what I sees in the "What's New" list

[Co Th G]

By US, I mean the handgun shooting community and industry generally. I have no problem with people providing feedback in a respectful manner. It is the ridiculing and derogatory remarks that don't help. If you want to suggest that IDPA needs to change certain things, then just do that in a positive manner. And, some here have said exactly that IDPA should be avoided and USPSA is the only way. Some here have gone beyond that.

Participants in IDPA are building their skills, supporting the industry by buying products, enjoying the competition, and growing in their knowledge. If they want to go further, they move to USPSA and tactical training classes that are more practical. IDPA doesn't claim to be the be-all and end-all, but the place to begin.
Cody

So, you admit that the average IDPA shooter is inferior to the typical USPSA shooter.