SECTION 6 -- COMPETITION REGULATIONS
6.1 ASSISTANCE
During the individual matches, all loading and firing must be done by the
competitor. In the company matches, competitors may receive assistance
from members of their own company who are competing on the firing line;
but competitors must fire their own arms.
6.2 COACHING
Coaching during the individual matches is permitted. One coach is allowed
per competitor. Coaching may not interfere with other competitors. In company
matches, coaching and spotting are prohibited except by members of the
competing company, who may spot for and coach each other while competing
on the line.
6.2.1 VIDEO EQUIPMENT
No video equipment may be used on the firing line during company matches.
Any such equipment must be kept at least ten feet behind the line.
6.3 INTERFERENCE
The firing points and company positions shall be kept clear at all times
with the exception of competitors actually firing, individual match spotters,
necessary range personnel and persons granted permission by the range officials.
6.4 CROSS-FIRE
No competitor may fire on the target of another competitor in the individual
matches, or those of another company in the company events.
6.5 LEAVING FIRING LINE
Competitors in company matches may not leave the firing line after the
command "FIRE" or, after the company finishes the event, before the completion
of the inspection of arms performed according to paragraph 8.7.
Each company may retire upon direction of the company safety officer, who,
after satisfactory completion of his inspection, shall give the command,
"RETIRE!" A competitor with a fouled arm shall not leave the line until
the arm has been cleared in accordance with rule 8.6.
6.6 EXCHANGING ARMS
Competitors in the company matches may not exchange arms during a relay
of a company event. If a competitor's arm becomes fouled or disabled during
a company event, he may use whatever means or tools he has available with
his accoutrements or those of a company member on the firing line to clear
his piece. Muzzle-loading arms may be cleared through the nipple during
an event, but shall not be cleared via the muzzle. If the arm is still
fouled or disabled at the end of the event, it shall be handled according
to the procedure in rule 8.6.
6.7 MUSKET COMPANY
A competing unit in the musket company matches is a company. A company
may include more than 8 men, but not more than 8 men may compete on the
firing line during the company events. Supernumeraries from other organizations
may fill vacancies in reduced companies with the permission of the Skirmish
Director, the companies involved, and the individuals. In National Skirmishes,
no company may compete unless it contains 5 members of its own organization.
For purposes of credit for participation in a minimum number of skirmishes
annualy, the term "compete" also means "participate." In Regional Skirmishes,
a company may participate with less than 5 members of its own organization
with the permission of the Skirmish Director; however, the company shall
not be eligible for awards or for participation credit. (October 1995)
6.7.1 CARBINE COMPANY, NATIONAL SKIRMISHES
This company shall be organized identically to the musket company.
6.7.2 CARBINE COMPANY, REGIONAL SKIRMISHES
This company shall be organized identically to the musket company, except
that either 5-man or 8-man companies shall be utilized. Supernumeraries
may be assigned to vacancies in accordance with rule 6.7.
No company shall be allowed to compete for awards with less than three
(3) or five (5) members of its own organization for 5- or 8-man companies,
respectively. However, the Skirmish Director may give permission to a company
to participate with less than 3 or 5 men on a "non-award" basis.
6.7.3 POSITION OF COMPANIES OF THE SAME ORGANIZATION
Different companies of the same organization maybe assigned to fire in
the same relay or in different relays, but when firing in the same relay
they shall be assigned at least two positions away from each other. For
convenience to the members of such companies, they shall be assigned as
close to each other's position as possible.
6.7.4 ASSIGNED POSITIONS
Companies shall fire only on the position assigned to them, unless permitted
by the Skirmish Director to make a change. A company which fires from a
position other than that to which assigned shall be disqualified from that
skirmish.
6.7.5 SUBSTITUTIONS IN COMPANY EVENTS
Substitutions are allowed in company events, but no shooter may fire on
more than one musket company, one carbine company, one revolver company,
and one artillery crew in the same artillery class at a skirmish. No substitutions
may be made during an event after the event commences. Violations of this
rule shall be penalized under rules 6.9.3,
6.9.4, or 6.9.5,
as appropriate.
6.8 TARGET FRAMES
A company shall not eliminate targets by destroying the target frame. Companies
shall not fire on targets which have been grounded from a broken target
frame. Any company intentionally firing upon its target frame to cause
elimination of the targets shall be disqualified from further competition
at that skirmish. Any company which accidentally causes the frame to collapse
shall have its time for that event canceled and shall re-fire the event
during a succeeding relay on one of the hospital target frames. A penalty
of 10 seconds shall added to the time of the company for the re-fired event.
6.9 DISQUALIFICATION, COMPANIES
This paragraph shall apply to companies in violation of rules 6.1
through 6.6, inclusive, and of any other rule
in which this rule is cited. Disqualification under this rule shall result
in the disqualified company receiving 150% of the time recorded for that
company for the event for which it was disqualified.
6.9.1 DISQUALIFICATION, INDIVIDUALS
Individuals violating this section or other rules pertaining to sportsmanship
or duties of competitors may be disqualified by the Skirmish Director or
the Inspector General from competing in the remainder of the individual
matches or company events, as appropriate.
6.9.2 DISQUALIFICATION, INDIVIDUALS FAILING
INSPECTION
An individual who fails to pass an inspection during company matches shall
be disqualified from further competition in that company match until the
violation has been corrected to the satisfaction of the Inspector General
or the inspecting officer who found the violation. An individual who fails
to pass an inspection during the individual matches shall have the target
just fired disqualified, and shall be disqualified from further competition
with the firearm in violation until the violation has been corrected to
the satisfaction of the Inspector General or the inspecting officer who
found the violation.
6.9.3 DISQUALIFICATION OF COMPANIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
Any company in which a firearm is found not to comply with these Skirmish
Rules shall be disqualified for the event immediately preceding the discovery
of the violation, and penalized according to rule 6.9.
6.9.4 ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION, COMPANIES OF AN
ORGANIZATION
An organization which moves shooters from one of its companies to another
during company matches shall cause those companies to be disqualified from
further participation in that company match.
6.9.5 ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION, COMPANY
A company which knowingly employs a shooter who has already fired in another
company at that skirmish shall be disqualified from further participation
in that company match, and its times shall be canceled.
6.9.6 ILLEGAL SUBSTITUTION, INDIVIDUAL
An individual who participates on more than one musket company, carbine
company, revolver company, or artillery crew of the same artillery class
at a skirmish shall be barred from participation under Article II, Section
7 of the By-Laws.
6.9.7 FAILURE TO HANG REQUIRED NUMBER OF TARGETS
A company that fires an event after hanging less than the proper number
of targets shall be penalized full time for that event with additional
time added for each missing and/or unhit target as prescribed in penalty
chart 15.2 (October 1995)
6.10 POSITIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL MATCHES
Unless otherwise specified in the match program, all individual matches
shall be fired from the offhand position. The position of the supporting
arm shall be at the competitor's discretion.
6.10.1 PROHBITED EQUIPMENT
Slings shall not be used to support or to steady shoulder arms. Modern
shooting jackets with shoulder pads may not be worn during individual or
company matches. Shoulder pads shall not be used unless worn inside the
clothing where not visible and are worn only for the protection of the
body.
6.10.2 HANDGUNS
All firing shall be done with the gun held in one hand only, supported
only by the strength of the arm, the other arm being used in no way to
support the gun or gun arm. All portions of the shooter's clothing, body
and gun shall be clear of artificial supports.
6.11 DISABLED FIREARMS - INDIVIDUAL MATCHES
When a firearm is fouled during an individual match, it shall be cleared
in accordance with the procedures in rule 8.6.
If the firearm is cleared during the individual match, the competitor may
continue the match. Alternately, the competitor may elect to finish the
match, but only during the next individual relay of the same duration.
6.12 REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUAL TARGETS AT NATIONAL
MATCHES
An individual target shall be removed only by staff personnel.
6.13 ALTERATION OF TARGETS
Alteration of targets in any form is prohibited; i.e., spotting marks on
individual or company match targets, etc.
6.13.1 SUBSTITUTION OF TARGETS
Substitution of individual match targets and/or alteration of target labels
shall not be permitted. A competitor found to have made such a modification
shall be penalized by disqualification of that target. In addition, rule
3.6 may also be applied.
6.14 AUTHORIZED TARGETS AT NATIONAL SKIRMISHES
At National Skirmishes only preregistered official targets for that skirmish
may be fired upon.
6.14.1 AUTHORIZED USE OF RANGE AT NATIONAL
SKIRMISHES
The range may be used only by registered competitors, firing in competition,
during scheduled individual and company matches. (October 1992)
6.15 LOSS OF TARGET DURING AN INDIVIDUAL MATCH
When an individual target and/or cardboard blows off a frame during an
individual match, the shooter may be granted an alibi if, to the satisfaction
of the Individual Match Officer or Skirmish Director, the target was not
blown off due to carelessness of the shooter. If an alibi is granted, the
shooter must complete the number of unfired rounds in the next individual
match relay of the same time duration. An alibi shall not be granted if
the shooter cannot find his target which was blown off the frame.