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Ranger Officer
Like all competitive sports ours needs referees and time keepers, but the officials at IPSC matches are much more than that! Like any action orientated sport ours has its potential dangers and that is why we insist on a very high standard of safety and this is the primary concern of all IPSC officials. So with SAFETY being paramount, the range officers need a very high level of training and relevant experience.
The range officer needs to know where and how to look at ranges so as to ensure safe angles and that stray shots are safely contained in the back stop. The range officer looks at the construction of the stage and ensures the safe working of all equipment and in general ensuring the range is safe for personnel i.e. shooters, scorers, patchers etc. to enter onto the range.
What a Range Officer duties on a stage entails
Briefing
During the running of a stage the range officer’s task is to see that the procedure for the stage is followed. This starts with a briefing, which will be read by the range officer, verbatim from the briefing sheet, so that it will be the same for all competitors. Explaining the stage procedure to the competitors. This stage briefing will include the number of rounds required, the number and type of targets, the start position, including where the gun will be (in the holster or on a table etc). The way the stage is laid out, where fault and charge lines are. Explaining reactive targets and what sets them of. Once the briefing is complete the range officer will allow the competitors to familiarize themselves with the stage and get themselves ready to shoot it.
"Running" competitors through the stage
When the range has been checked to ensure all competitors are behind the firing line the first competitor will be called to the line and given the command to load and make ready. The shooter will then load, (or not, depending on the procedure) their gun and assume the correct start position. Once the timer goes of the range officer watches the gun at all times, not where the competitor is shooting, but where the gun is pointing and is it being held & handled safely. Secondly he has to watch the competitor during movement, as to if the competitor stays within the boundaries of the stage; i.e.: fault and charge lines.
After the stage is completed the range officer needs to ensure that the gun is safely unloaded and stored in a proper safety device, ( holster, gunbag or guncase). Once the gun is stored safely the range officer will declare the range safe and then proceed to score the stage and assess penalties where applicable. Here training and experience comes into play again, when the distinction between different scoring lines and the application of penalties are concerned. This concludes the running of a competitor through a stage.
Scoring & resetting the stage for the next competitor
After all the competitors for that squad has completed the stage, the range officer needs to clean up his stage and prepare it for the next squad. This includes checking that all equipment is working properly. Targets are in good order, or being replaced if needed. The range officer will also need to check target frames and moving targets do not need repair or replacing.
Before submitting any score sheets the range officer has to check all the score sheets that they are completed correctly, with all the scores, penalties and misses entered, as well as the time. It helps if this is done immediately after the squad has completed the stage, as the competitors will still be in close proximity and can do a re-shoot relatively quickly if required. After the score sheets are checked they go to the stats office for scoring. Once all this is done the range officer is ready for the next squad to start!
Your responsibility as a range officer does not stop at the specific stage that you working at. When you walk from your stage, you still need to keep on the lookout for any potential concerns. Examples include people walking round, without proper eye protection, guns being handled outside of the safety areas, empty cases being handled inside of safety areas.
As you develop experience as an official you’ll be surprised how quickly you pick up on a potential problems like a sound out of the ordinary or a gun malfunctioning. The slide being racked, where it should not happen, the puff load going of without the right bang. These are the things that you can only learn as you are standing on the line, either as a competitor or as a range officer.
So the next time you are at a match, know that the guys and girls in red or grey are not just there to hold the timer and record you score. There are a lot more to it, than standing there and giving commands.
If you are still interested in becoming a Range Officer please click on the link below
The path to becoming a Range Officer within IPSA