When writing stages for a big match, i.e. 10+????

[J.R. Logan]

When writing stages for a big match, i.e. 10 or more, how do you go about it?

Do you start by picking a theme, Outlaws, Lawman, your State history?  Than do the research and try to get go examples of western shootouts.  After this do you set a round count for each stage or a shooting order for the guns, pistols first, rifle second, shotgun last.  Than do you start with what props you can work into the stages?  When do you pick what shooting order, left to right, or sweeps that you are going to use?  Do you try to keep the sweeps different from stage to stage so the shooters are not doing the same thing over and over?  Do you look over the stages to make sure that they all should take about the same time to shoot or if you have a slow stage do you try to make sure that it does not fall to close to a fast stage?  Do you look at the staging of the guns on the stages so it will be workable by all shooters and easy to pick up brass from the rifle?  What other things do you like to think about or consider when writing stages for a State or Regional match?

Thanks for the help.

J. R. Logan

[Ima Sure Shot]

J.R. I look at a few other things as well.

First and foremost I look at safe gun handling. Which way will shooters turn when drawing? Where will spotters stand? Where will the loading and unloading table be in relation to the shooting line? How high are the berms?  How high are tables or bars?  How low are windows or doors?  Are there steps? Or Slick sidewalks? What will shooter do with guns when through with that one and going for another?

All this matters for example in that starting with shotgun at port arms may not be good for a short person, double barrel, and high table, or tall person and  a 97 with low window.




(1) Timer may not pick up a rifle on last shot.  So better to end with some other gun. Thinking of Working Cowboy,that does not leave much choice.

(2) Having someone in the family with a speech impediment, I never require saying a line on the clock. The end of the  line should be the signal to the timer operator to hit the button.  A person that stutters for example will have a very diffucult time saying a line on the clock as the stress increases the stutter and their time. Rather than," ATB say the line....", try ,"Say the line, and then wait for the beep." I would add that I do stunts like roping a "calf ", the same way.  When the stunt is accomplished, wait for the beep.

(3) I have choosen a theme first and written stages to go with the theme, and written shooting  directions that I thought would be fun and  interesting first and then written the history.

(4) I give no consideration to how long it will take to shoot a stage.  As everyone will be different, we have four gun classes using cap and ball, and two gun classes using double action revolvers.

(5) A personal prejudice:  I hate dumps!  I shoot with another group that the emphasis is on speed, I perfer accuracy as I would guess the average age of our shooters is 60.  Even though we have failing eyes we cannot move even our hands like some younger folks.

(6) I like the history as NCOWS.  I notice even the short ones tend to not be read by the stage marshalls at the Nationals, which is a shame as some research is assumed to have been done. So short and sweet.

(7) I make sure the theme is within our time period.

( Shooting order needs to be interesting, but not too complicated. I am the Queen of P's, but do like to shoot one every now and then without a P.

These are the ones Right off the top of my head, I will most likely think of others later.
Celeste

[Pancho Peacemaker]

I like matches that have a history based theme.  Variety is important on target array and sequencing.  I like to add a little humor as well. 

This is a match I wrote for Halloween a few years ago:

http://www.bergersharpshooters.com/uploads/NCOWS_Aurora_Match.pdf

[Tjackstephens]

One thing that will help speed up a match.  Write the stages that when yoou walk off you have all your guns with you. Be surprize how much time this one little thing will save. Tj