SECTION 11 -- OFFICIAL PROGRAM

11.1 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

The minimum program shall consist of the following:

11.2 COMPANY COMMANDERS' MEETING

This meeting shall be held before the opening ceremonies of the company matches. Attendance shall be required of company commanders or designated deputies. The meeting shall be conducted by the Skirmish Director. The meeting agenda shall include the following subjects:
a. Assignment of company firing positions and relays. 
b. Explanations and instructions for the program, target erection, scoring rules, ceremonies, and safety rules. 
c. Settlement of finances. 

11.3 INSPECTIONS

At a time designated by the Skirmish Director and prior to the opening ceremonies, an inspection of probationary organizations and equipment shall be conducted as specified in Section 9.

11.4 OPENING CEREMONY

Unless adverse weather conditions exist or the size of the skirmish makes it necessary to shorten the time of the opening ceremony, the conduct of the opening ceremony shall conform to instructions contained in rule 11.8.2 and 11.8.2.3. Where such adverse conditions exist, the companies may be directed to fall in at the 25 yard line without marching onto the field.

11.5 GENERAL RULES FOR OFFICIAL EVENTS

a. The Musket Company Matches shall consist of not less than four events of which three must be official events as listed under rule 11.5.1. The carbine company matches shall consist of not less than three events of which two must be official events as listed under rule 11.5.1. For musket company matches consisting of four or more events and carbine company matches consisting of three or more events the following number of official Events under rule 11.5.1 shall be used in all official skirmishes:
Musket or Carbine Events Number of Official Events Required
3 (Carbine only) 2
4 2
5 3
6 3
7 4
8 4
9 5
10 5
b. All firing shall be in the off-hand position, as specified in rule 6.10. Target frames and supports shall be constructed and utilized in accordance with Rule 11.10, 11.10.1, 11.10.2, and 13.12. 
c. No more than one silhouette or volley fire event per match. (The use of one precludes the other.)(October, 1992) 
d. No more than two clay pigeon events per skirmish. If the mounted clay pigeon event (pigeon board) is scheduled, it shall always precede any other 50 yard event. The clay pigeon backer boards must be previously unused. 
e. When clear or translucent targets are selected they shall be filled with a tinted liquid (generally water) to contrast to the background. 
f. COLOR - All targets, where possible, should be of a color contrasting to the general background color. 
g. SHRAPNEL - Targets may be filled with liquid or powder but shall NOT contain hard non-structural components generally called shrapnel (e.g. stones, clay chips, lead, or other hard materials). A single attached metal washer and/or attached wire fasteners are considered to be structural components. 
h.
HANGING TARGETS - For hanging target events the targets must be hung singly and securely by twisting the wire into a closed loop around or through the cross member. The wire must also be twisted into a closed loop around or through the target, as directed by the Skirmish Director. Pots may be secured by a closed loop, or by a washer larger than the hole in the bottom of the pot, in the manner of Figure 11.1, as directed by the Skirmish Director. Targets which fall before the "COMMENCE FIRE" command shall be scored as unhit targets per Table 15.3. A company found to have wired two or more targets together or to have hung targets without closed loops, or the washer device if required, shall be disqualified and penalized under rule 6.9. figure11.1
i. SPACING - For hanging multiple-target events, the targets shall be hung alternately high and low. The upper row shall be hung approximately 6" from the top member of the frame. The lower row shall be hung beneath the lower level of the upper row of targets. There must be at least a target's width of distance between each two adjacent targets. 
j. WIRES - Wires, when used at Fort Shenandoah, shall be No. 16, No. 18 or No. 19 soft annealed black iron and must be at least 30 inches in length. Wires used at Regional Skirmishes must also be at least 30 inches in length. 

11.6 HITS

A target under rule 11.5.1 (a) (silhouette event) shall be considered hit if the arc of the bullet overlaps the arc or plane of the outside edge of the target. Any target intended to be eliminated by rupturing or breaking under rule 11.5.1 shall be considered eliminated if:
1. The wire or clip by which it is suspended is cut, causing it to fall to the ground. 
2. It is ruptured by a bullet, causing it to leak fluid, if it is fluid-filled. 
3. It is broken, cracked, or has material removed by a bullet, if it is of a breakable material. 
4. A part is broken away or if it is knocked to the ground by fragments of a target eliminated by a bullet. A mark or crease made by a bullet, or the removal of paint from a painted target, shall not be considered a hit unless the integrity of the target is destroyed as in 1-3 above. A cracked or chipped target shall not be considered eliminated unless it shows the obvious evidence of contact by a bullet, i.e., a lead mark. 

11.7 OPTIONAL COMPANY EVENTS

The remaining company events may include any elimination, point or sequence events that the Skirmish Director desires. Targets should be of the destructible type so that competitors, judges and spectators may observe the progress of the firing. Exploding targets are permissible providing they do not present a hazard to the participants and meet with the approval of the local range authorities. Any optional event used at a National Skirmish must have been field-tested during at least one Regional Skirmish at which a member of the Board of Directors was in attendance. Such member's written approval of such optional event must be forwarded to the Program Chairman. The Program Chairman shall evaluate the recommendation and accept or reject it for recommendation of approval by the Board of Directors for inclusion in the skirmish. He shall so notify the Skirmish Director immediately. In no case shall any form of live animal, fish or fowl be used as targeting or part of targeting in an official or unofficial event. (October 1994)

11.8 AWARD CEREMONIES AT NATIONAL SKIRMISHES

Upon completion of the company matches, companies who have qualified for awards shall receive these awards in appropriate ceremonies.

11.9 INDIVIDUAL MATCHES

Targets shall be standard as listed below. Target numbers are those of N-SSA designation; approved equivalent targets may be used if desired, subject to approval by the Commander. Carbine and musket matches shall be of 20-minute duration. Revolver matches shall be of 30-minute duration. (April 1991)
a. Carbine Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #1, 5 record shots per bull maximum. 
b. Carbine Match (100 yards); Target N-SSA #2, 10 record shots per record bull, maximum. 
c. Rifle or Rifle-Musket Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #1, 5 record shots per bull maximum. 
d. Rifle or Rifle-Musket Match (100 yards); Target N-SSA #2, 10 record shots per bull maximum. 
e. Revolver Match (25 yards); Target N-SSA #5, 5 record shots per bull maximum. (October 1994) 
f. Revolver Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #4, 10 record shots per bull maximum. 
g. Breech Loading Rifle/Carbine II Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #1, 5 record shots per bull, maximum. (April 1991) 
h. Breech Loading Rifle/Carbine II Match (100 yards); Target N-SSA #2, 10 record shots per bull maximum. (October 1993) 
i. Smoothbore Musket Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #2, ten shot record maximum. (April 1991) Individual matches shall be optional with regions, but where held the targets and number of shots per bull specified above shall be used . Alternately, 5-shot record individual matches may be used for regional matches and selected from the following list. 5-shot matches shall be of 10 or 15 minute duration at the option of the region. (October 1991) 
j. Carbine Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #1, five shot record. 
k. Carbine Match (100 yards); Target N-SSA #2, five shot record. 
l. Rifle or Rifle-Musket Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #1, five shot record. 
m. Rifle or Rifle-Musket Match (100 yards); Target N-SSA #2, five shot record. 
n. Revolver Match (25 yards); Target N-SSA #3 or #5, five shot record. 
o. Revolver Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #4, five shot record. 
p. Breech Loading Rifle/Carbine II Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #1, five shot record. (October 1993) 
q. Breech Loading Rifle/Carbine II Match (100 yards); Target N-SSA #2, five shot record. (October 1993) 
r. Smoothbore Musket Match (50 yards); Target N-SSA #2, five shot record. (October 1993) 

11.10 TARGET FRAMES AND SUPPORTS

Target frames and/or supports, as required, shall be supplied in accordance with the following minimum specifications.

11.11 INDIVIDUAL ARTILLERY MATCHES

All National Skirmishes shall include one match for each class of artillery.

11.12 DEMONSTRATION FIRING

Any demonstration firing of non-N-SSA approved firearms or at non-N-SSA approved target materials must be approved in advance by the National Commander. Requests for approval must include identity and number of participants, types of arms to be used, types of target materials to be used, the range of fire, and any other pertinent information.

11.13 DURATION OF A NATIONAL SKIRMISH

A National Skirmish at Fort Shenandoah shall consist of at least three days of firing. Times for all elements of the official program shall be established by the Board of Directors.

11.14 REGION ALL-STAR MUSKET COMPANY MATCHES (NATIONAL SKIRMISHES)

When held, all-star matches shall consist of at least three (3) events. Such matches shall be scheduled so as not to interfere with any other part of the official program as defined in rule 11.1.1. Regions may establish their own methods for selecting their all-star company members.

11.15 PARTICIPATION IN FUNCTIONS OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS

When other organizations schedule activities in conjunction with official skirmishes, they must be held separately from the skirmish program. N-SSA organizations may not charge fees for non-N-SSA events, nor may members of skirmish host organizations provide safety, statistical, logistical, or directive services for non-N-SSA activities held in conjunction with N-SSA skirmishes. N-SSA insurance covers members only when they are functioning on behalf of the N-SSA, and not when working on behalf of another - organization.

11.16 SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES

Supportive activities which may be sanctioned by the Board of Directors or its designated representatives, and which are subject to guidelines set forth by the Board of Directors, are included in the following list:
Veterans Skirmish
Non-regional skirmishes
Drawn-team skirmishes
Gatling gun demonstrations
B.B. Gun matches
Modern military small arms demonstrations (April 1991)