teachingazteca

I think you're right about asking for a different RO, though- I plan to go the next one, and if that's possible, I will ask. At the least, if a 2nd RO does the same, maybe it is me. But I will say, the 1st time I shot with them, I did have different RO, and he treated me like everyone else, unless I asked something.

It's only one stage, one squad, 5-8 people. We run it twice, and there are 1-2 RO's there to go with each person. They don't publish a "ruleset" beyond a few paragraphs on the club website, it seems like it's locals that have been doing it for sometime together, along with people from towns nearby who come in every once in awhile. It's very informal. I have done IDPA and USPSA at a large range with 5-6 stages, and this type of thing would not happen there, at least based on my experience and reading the rulesets for them. Maybe a better example is in that he did not use the typical range commands with me, but everyone else he would go with onthe CoF got them and little else. Instead, he would tell me what to do, explain it, and he would seem to anticipate what I might do and correct it before I even did anything. I ALMOST jokingly asked a few of the gents there if he always treated noobs like he was treating me, but I didn't want to ruffle feathers. No one said anything, either, so I really didn't know why he was acting like that.

I can understand that if it's help, but I feel like I was hindered by him. He never asked about my experience or saw me handle the guns, he was giving me these directions and prohibitions before I stepped foot on the course. I hit pretty much every shot the first CoF, missing some of the rifle shots because of the sights, so I don't understand why he kept giving me these "new rules". Also, there were others who had malfunctions during the CoF that were not then followed as I was.

Edit- I forgot to say thank you for replying! This is a local match, so that applies, but the nearest alternative is 100's of miles away. I don't mind different rules, but the RO was changing them on me, including during the CoF... he would just say things as I was shooting, and it was not rule-based. For example, there was a shotgun portion with 3 targets, then another 3 targets a bit away from them. I was able to shoot all 6 from one position, but he told me I was supposed to move before shooting the 4th target. Comptetitors other than me shot the 6 targets in various combinations, but none were told what I was told. Then, when we ran the CoF again, as I started moving as he directed me, he stopped me and told me I was supposed to stay at that initial position and shoot the 4th target. This seemed like an obvious misdirection, and it rattled me, but I continued. I ended up doing poorly that run compared to my 1st run. I want to be able to participate without this happening, unless there is a good reason for it that I can't see. I guess I'm asking for a way to diplomatically handle it?

Please excuse the length of this post... I am new to shooting competitively, have shot in 4 competitions of different types so far, and I am not sure what to make of this last competition. As some background, I have been shooting for a few years and have been to many trainings and have several certifications (Active shooter, Conceal-carry, defensive pistol, hunter's ed, RSO). I am very comfortable handling a pistol, and pretty comfortable handling a shotgun and rifle- I do stop and think things through the first time I fire rifle/shotgun at competition, as they are not as instinctive to me as pistol is. I wanted to share this because I participated in a 3-gun competition, and the RO treated me significantly different throughout every CoF. This was my 2nd event there. I did have a new rifle and the scope was not quite sighted in, and I ended up using my BUS to participate. He would not let me put a mag in the pistol unless it was holstered (and I had always done admin reloads out of the holsters before that, in every class, every certification, and it felt very strange to me). He also would not let me touch my unloaded and clear-bore-indicated guns while in the racks. I had wanted to put a sling on my rifle, and I left it alone when he directed me not to touch it. When we were running the CoF, he would give me direction and tell me not to do this or that, and in one case he completely reversed what he said about a particular shooting position from one CoF to the next. All other competitors were freely doing the things he told me not to do, such as making decisions about shooting their CoF, picking up unloaded guns to show each other different parts/features, or to simply get them ready for their CoF (such as managing optics or preparing to use another competitor's gun for their CoF), etc... Is there a point when the RO can hinder actions without there being a safety issue or violation, DQ, etc... and how should I address these concerns in the future? I feel like in the least, I was not given the opportunity to participate without interference, but I do not want to be disrespectful RO. Any advice? Thank you!