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About International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC)
History
The art of shooting can be traced back as far as the middle ages. It wasn’t until the 19 century that shooting developed into a sport.
In the 200 years since, shooters have come together in a variety of organisations, at the local, national and global levels, to practice, protect and perpetuate the shooting sports.
IPSC represents a relatively new and exciting form of sport shooting. Competitive IPSC shooting started in southern California in the late 1950’s and quickly spread around the world to Australia, Central America, Europe and southern Africa.
As the sport attracted more interest, its participants sought a more structured competitive environment. The result was the International Pistol Conference in Columbia, Missouri, U.S.A. in May 1976. Forty athletes from around the world participated in determining the structure and future of IPSC marksmanship.
Accuracy, power and speed were recognised as the quintessential elements that have become the foundation of IPSC competitions. Procedures and rules for competitions, as well as safe gun handling standards were also adopted.
At the conclusion of the Columbia conference, a constitution was officially formed. Colonel Jeff Cooper (R.I.P.), who acted as chairman of the conference, was elected the first IPSC world president.
Under the direction of five presidents, the organisation has established no fewer than seventy active regions (countries) from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Since 1975, thirteen World Championships have been held and a much greater number of continental Championships.
The Sport
IPSC course designers employ multiple targets, moving targets, targets that react when hit, penalty-carrying targets, and even partially covered targets combined with movement, competitive tactics, and other techniques to keep the athletes challenged and the spectators entertained.
Although the roots of IPSC shooting are martial in origin, the sport matured from these beginnings, just as karate, fencing, and archery developed from their martial origins.
In IPSC shooting, the athletes must try to successfully blend accuracy, power and speed into a winning combination. Targets are 57 by 45 centimetres with a 12.5 centimetre “A zone.” Shooting takes place at various distances, with rare shots out to 50 metres. Hitting a 12.5 centimetre A zone at 50 metres or less might seem easy to an experienced pistol shooter, but in IPSC only full power handguns are allowed (9mm or above).
Mastering a full power handgun is considerably more difficult than shooting a light recoiling target pistol, especially when the competing athlete must shoot as quickly as possible. Add to this the fact that targets may be moving & partially covered and you will appreciate the skill involved to succeed at IPSC shooting. The IPSC power minimum reflects the heritage of this modern sport, as does IPSC’s emphasis on speed. Time also plays a factor. Scores are divided by the time, adding to the challenge. You need to shoot accurately and quickly to score well.
Athletes may enter any one of five divisions depending on the style of firearms used.
IPSC rules state that no courses of fire should ever be the same, from one competition to the next, and diversity is encouraged to keep the sport from becoming too formalised or standardised. Typically, athletes do not know in advance what to expect from any given match.
International Ranger Officers Association (IROA)
Because the quality of competition is directly linked to the quality of the officiating, IPSC created the International Ranger Officers Association (IROA) to establish a structure for the accreditation, recognition and maintenance of match officials. IROA certifies that IPSC Range Officers are the best trained, the best qualified, and the best prepared to ensure a uniform worldwide standard for all competitions.
IPSC Structure
IPSC is a confederation of participating regions whose borders typically, but not necessarily correspond to national borders.
Every year the elected representatives of these regions come together at the IPSC General Assembly to set policy and govern the Confederation. Each region elects a Regional Directorate and a Regional Director (RD) to represent its members.
The IPSC President is elected by a majority vote of the General Assembly for a term of three years and is Chairman of the Executive Council and of the Assembly. The IPSC President is also an ex-officio member of all committees of the Confederation and is charged with appointing the General Secretary, Secretary and Treasurer.
The General Secretary stands ready to assume the duties of the President should the president become unable to serve. Like the President, the General Secretary is an ex-officio member of all committees of the Confederation. The General Secretary also performs other duties as requested by the President.
The Secretary is responsible for keeping an accurate record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Confederation and like the General Secretary performs other duties as requested by the President.
The Treasurer maintains an accurate record of all monies received, disbursed and invested by the Confederation. Additionally the Treasurer advises the Executive Council on financial matters and presents a statement of accounts at each meeting of the assembly and to Executive Council whenever the President requests. The Treasurer together with the President is directly responsible to the Assembly for the proper conduct of the financial affairs of the Confederation.
The President and Vice President if the IROA are appointed by the President and serve on the Executive Council. They are charged with advising the President, Executive Council and General Assembly on matters relating to officiating, rules and competition.
The Presidents Council is comprised of individuals appointed by the President to advise him on all aspects of IPSC.
The President and the Executive Council are directly responsible to the General Assembly.
Constitution of IPSC
“The IPSC is established to promote, maintain, improve and advance practical shooting, to safeguard its principles and to regulate its conduct world-wide in order to cultivate the safe and efficient use of firearms by persons of good character….”
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For further information please visit www.ipsc.org