ISSF Rule interpretations

[Marc Orvin]

Sorry, posted this in the wrong forum a minute ago.

Here it is again.

International Shooting Sport Federation
Internationaler Schiess-Sportverband e.V.
Fédération Internationale de Tir Sportif
Federación Internacional de Tiro Deportivo
2015 ISSF RULE INTERPRETATIONS
The 2013-2016 ISSF Rules have now been in effect for two years. One
edition of “Rule Interpretations” for the current ISSF Rules was issued
in February 2013. In January 2015, the ISSF Technical Committee
approved some additional recommendations and rule interpretations.
These new 2015 interpretations are provided in this document to give
further guidance regarding the interpretation and application of ISSF
Rules during 2015 and 2016 ISSF Championships.
 Entries in 2015 Championships. With Olympic qualifying taking place at
all 2015 ISSF World Cups and Championships, record numbers of entries
are expected. Some events are expected to exceed maximum entry limits
so entries that arrive after maximum entries are reached must be placed
on a waiting list. Entries on waiting lists will only be accepted, strictly in
the order received, when a cancellation occurs. The best way for National
Federations to ensure that their athlete entries are not placed on a waiting
list is to make entries as soon as possible, well before the 30-day Final
Entry Deadline.
 Limited MQS Entries. Due to range capacity concerns for 2015 Shotgun
World Cups, MQS entries are not permitted prior to the 30-day Final Entry
Deadline. MQS entries for the 25m Rapid-Fire Pistol Men event in Munich
also will not be accepted before the Final Entry Deadline. If there are
open entry positions after the Final Entry Deadlines for Shotgun World
Cups or the RFP event in Munich, MQS entries will then be accepted
without the late entry penalty applying (3.7.3.4.3 will not apply) in the order
these entries are received and until the maximum entry is reached.
 Fair Allocation of Unofficial Training Opportunities. Organizers must
use a procedure for allocating Unofficial Training range spaces and times
according to the number of nations and athletes present. A first-come, first
served sign-up procedure does not fulfill this requirement because it allows
those first in line to claim more than their share of the training spaces.
Organizers can ensure a fair allocation of Rifle-Pistol firing points by
considering the number of athletes entered by each nation with athletes
present. Spaces on Shotgun training squads and the number of rounds
that can be fired must also be allocated by nation according to the number
of athletes each nation has entered in the competition. A nation with four
entered athletes should be allocated two times the number of training
2015 ISSF Rule Interpretations
March 2015, page 2
spaces as a nation with two entered athletes (every athlete must have
equal training possibilities).
 Recommendation to National Federations: Placement of National
Flags on Competition Clothing. The ISSF is cooperating with the
Olympic Broadcast System (OBS) to plan live television coverage of the
2016 Olympic Games Shooting events. For fans and spectators, there are
strong emotional ties to national flags and OBS is encouraging
International Sport Federations to increase the use of flags to help
spectators and television viewers identify the nations of competing
athletes. To further that objective, OBS strongly recommends that the
ISSF encourage its National Federations to include their nations’ flags on
their athletes’ competition clothing. Here are some guidelines for doing
this:
o Shotgun Vests. Rule 9.12.3 requires the IOC abbreviation of the
nation to be displayed on the back of Shotgun vests. It is permitted
to also place a national flag next to the IOC national abbreviation
(see ISSF Eligibility Rules, p. 135). Some nations already do this.
The ISSF encourages all National Federations to consider placing
national flags on their athletes’ Shotgun vests. Flags can also be
placed on the front of caps or visors.
o Pistol Shirts. Several national teams now place flags on the upper
left side of the front of their pistol shooters’ shirts (right-handed
shooter). This is an excellent, visible way to provide national
identification of pistol athletes. National Federations whose athletes
are not already displaying national flags on their outer garments are
encouraged to consider doing this.
o Rifle Shooting Jackets. These present a more difficult challenge
because many rifle jackets now incorporate athlete colors and not
national colors. A national flag placed on the upper right shoulder
would fulfill this requirement if the jacket design accommodates this.
Flags can also be placed on the front of caps or visors.
 Medalist Presentations. Television production and sports presentation
experiences during the 2014 WCH and WCs demonstrated how important
it is to present the three medal winners for TV, the media and spectators
immediately after the final ends. The ISSF will continue having medalist
presentations after 2015 and 2016 Finals. For these presentations to be
successful, Jury Members must assist in bringing medalists to the
presentation area. Coaches or other athletes must wait for a few moments
after the Final while the medalists are announced before they enter the
FOP.
 6.2.3.1, Definition of “Load.” Question: Is a gun loaded when a
cartridge in placed on the gun or in the chamber or is it only loaded when
the action is closed? Answer: A gun is considered loaded when a
2015 ISSF Rule Interpretations
March 2015, page 3
cartridge or pellet touches the gun. No one may place a cartridge or pellet
on the gun or in its chamber or barrel until the command “Load” is given.
 6.3.6.4, Backing Targets for 25m Events. This rule requires that full
backing targets must be in place for all 25m electronic targets that cover
the entire width and height of the 25m frames. There was a question
regarding whether full backing targets are also required for 25m paper
targets. The answer is yes, full backing targets must be in place for all
25m events because their purpose is to identify shots that miss the
targets.
 6.7.7.1, b), Equipment Control Center. This is a reminder that this rule
requires Organizers and Equipment Control Juries to have the Equipment
Control Section “open to provide voluntary inspections for athletes’
equipment, starting with the Official Training day and continuing through
the last day of Rifle-Pistol-Running Target competition.” It is important for
all athletes to have the possibility to check their equipment at any time
during a competition. For Pistol athletes who want to check triggers or
ammunition velocities, it is possible to have trigger weights and a
chronograph available on the 25m range.
 6.7.7.1, e), Seals for Rifle jackets and trousers. Rifle and Equipment
Control Juries are reminded that all rifle shooting jackets and shooting
trousers must have a one-time inspection and a serial-numbered seal
placed on them. This serial number must be recorded in the ISSF
database. Rifle athletes can have only one active seal for each item and
compliance should be checked on a random basis. If numbered seals are
not available at a Championship, jackets and trousers can be checked on
a temporary basis and an equipment control sticker can be placed on
them. However, without a permanent seal this check applies only for that
competition.
 6.7.9.1. Post Competition Testing. This rule identifies specific items
that post-competition checks must cover. Rifle checks must include
shooting clothing, underclothing, taping and rifles. Pistol checks must
include shoes, taping, trigger weighing, pistol dimensions and grips and
ammunition velocity checks. Shotgun checks must include ammunition
and Skeet marker tapes. This rule is interpreted to mean that specific
items listed in 6.7.9.1 are subject to disqualification when violations are
found in post-competition testing. Items that are not listed such as
blinders and caps are regarded as minor violations and should receive
warnings, but are not subject to post-competition disqualifications. Juries
should detect and correct these items during training or before qualification
competitions are completed.
 6.14.1, Posting Preliminary Results. This rule requires the Classification
Office to “publish Preliminary Results on the Range Scoreboard as soon
as possible after each relay and stage and completion of each event.”
Posting Preliminary Results and offering a 10-minute Protest Time
2015 ISSF Rule Interpretations
March 2015, page 4
(6.16.6.1) are necessary before a Finals Start List can be produced. This
must be done immediately after a relay is finished, even if post-competition
equipment tests (6.7.9.1) are not yet completed. Do not wait until
equipment control post competition tests are completed. If there is a DSQ,
version 2 of the Preliminary Results can be published. This procedure is
necessary to avoid delaying the publication of Finals Start Lists and the
start of Finals.
 6.17. Shoot-offs and Malfunction Refires/Completions in Finals.
During the last two years, we have had a few unfortunate situations where
athletes became confused as to whether they were supposed to shoot or
not shoot in tie-breaking shoot-offs or malfunction refires or completions.
The ISSF agrees that in these situations, it is often difficult for athletes to
clearly understand what they should do. When these circumstances
occur, athletes must not be penalized. When necessary to clarify a
situation, a Jury Member should intervene to make sure any athlete who is
in a shoot-off is aware of this and is advised to load and complete the
shoot-off. Jury Members and Range Officers should also be prepared to
stop any athlete who is not in a shoot-off or malfunction refire/completion
from loading.
 6.17.1.3, Athletes may not receive assistance during Finals. Rule
6.17.1.3 requires athletes to “report with their equipment including
sufficient ammunition to complete a Final.” This means that once a finalist
is called to the line to start a Final, a coach, Range Officer or Jury Member
may not assist them in preparing for the Final or in changing positions.
Delivering forgotten or fallen items of equipment is not permitted. If an
athlete must return to the Preparation Room to obtain a forgotten item, this
is permitted if it does not disturb other athletes, but no additional time will
be allowed and athletes must be present for the presentation.
 6.17.1.12 d) and 6.17.1.12 k), When can finalists remove safety flags.
There is a conflict in these two rules. 6.17.1.12 d) states that when riflepistol
finalists take their positions on the FOP, they may “remove safety
flags, but they may not dry fire…. 6.17.1.12 k) states, “Safety flags must
remain inserted until the Sighting and Preparation Time starts.” The ISSF
Rifle and Pistol Section Committees have decided that 6.17.1.12 k) is the
prevailing rule. When finalists are called to their firing points, “they may
handle their guns, get into firing positions and do holding or aiming
exercises, but they may not remove safety flags or dry fire until the
Preparation and Sighting Time starts.”
 6.17.3, Rifle 3-Position Finals. The reason special equipment boxes
were introduced for 3-Position Finals is to provide a means of keeping the
field of play (FOP) clean and orderly so 3-Position Rifle Finals will be more
attractive on television and to spectators. Image is important to the
success of our sport! The fundamental rule regarding the use of
equipment boxes is that all of the equipment the athletes use except rifles
and shooting stands must be brought to the FOP in these boxes and all
2015 ISSF Rule Interpretations
March 2015, page 5
equipment not used during a firing position must be in the boxes. If
shooting trousers are removed for the prone position, they must be folded
and placed in the equipment box. All 3-position finalists are kindly
requested to place all unused equipment in their boxes. If something is
unintentionally missed, a Jury Member or Range Officer can place it in the
box. Range Officers and Jury Members should also try to fold or remove
shooting mats after athletes change from prone to standing.
 6.17.3, d. Insertion of Safety Flags During Finals Presentations. The
rule in this case is clear. "Finalists must unload their rifles and insert
safety flags for the presentation" and further that "A Range Officer must
verify that gun actions are open with safety flags inserted." Range Officers
and Juries are reminded to continue to enforce this safety flag requirement
during the presentation of Rifle-Pistol Finalists.
 6.17.5, 25m Pistol Women Finals. A new system for managing athletes’
equipment during 25m Pistol Women Finals was introduced at the
Granada WCH. Finalists were given
small equipment boxes for their pistols,
ammunition and equipment, which they
used to bring their equipment to their
firing points. After the semifinal, the
two athletes in the bronze medal match
used their boxes to move their
equipment to points C and H; the two
athletes in the gold medal match were
authorized to take their pistols to the
preparation room where they can do
warm up exercises. All other athletes used their boxes to move their
equipment to a table on the side of the range and then take their seats
with their coaches. This system facilitated a much better transition from
the semifinal to the medal matches and will be continued in 2015 and
2016.
 6.19, Does the ISSF Dress Code apply to coaches? The ISSF Dress
Code clearly applies to Athletes (6.19.2) and Officials (6.19.3). While
6.19.3 does not specifically name coaches, the ISSF wants all coaches
who will appear on the field of play where they can be seen by spectators,
media and television to be appropriately dressed. This will be especially
important during the Olympic Games when our Finals will be seen by
millions of TV viewers. This means coaches who are going to be on the
FOP for qualification or Finals competition should not wear sandals, jeans,
cut-off shorts or other non-sporting clothing.
 7.4.5.1, e). Prohibited Lower Butt Plate Projections. This Rule
prohibits the use of devices or weights projecting from the lower part of the
butt plate. It is not permitted to wrap tape around such a device and
another part of the butt-stock and then claim that the device or weight is
part of the stock. Any device or weight that projects out from the lower
2015 ISSF Rule Interpretations
March 2015, page 6
part of the butt plate and that violates the intent of 7.4.5.1, e) is illegal even
if it is covered with tape.
 7.5.7. Under Clothing. Some 3-position rifle athletes have been
observed putting on a second layer of underclothing when preparing for
the standing position. This is permitted if the total thickness of all
underclothing layers does not exceed 2.5 mm in thickness. Any athletes
who use double layers of underclothing are advised that both layers
together may not exceed 2.5 mm in thickness and that athletes who use
double-layers of under clothing are subject to targeted post-competition
testing.
 7.7.3, Failure to change targets to Sighting for position changes.
There were several instances during 2014 WCs, when Rule 6.11.7.1 was
incorrectly interpreted and penalties were applied to athletes in 3-position
rifle events when those athletes neglected to switch their targets back to
Sighting for the next position after completing their competition shots in
one position. When an athlete does not switch his/her target to Sighting,
the first sighter shot in the new position will be displayed as an additional
illegal shot in the previous position. This does not warrant a 2-point
penalty. The intention of Rules 6.11.7.1 and 7.7.3 is not to penalize an
athlete for such a procedural lapse, especially one that can be so easily
rectified. In the event this occurs, the Range Officer and Competition Jury
Member must complete a Range Incident Report (Form IR) and
immediately inform the SIUS Technical Officer and Classification Jury
Member on duty in the Range Control Room. They will complete a manual
intervention within the EST system and reset the individual athlete’s
monitor on the field of play to sighters.
 8.7.6.2, 3), Disqualification for a shot fired before the LOAD command
(25m Pistol events). A question was received regarding the correct
penalty for loading and firing before the command “LOAD.” Rule 6.2.3.4
states that “if an athlete fires a shot before the command “LOAD” or
“START” is given,…“he may be disqualified if safety is involved.” Rule
8.7.6.2 e), which applies only to 25m Pistol events, states “An athlete who
fires a shot or shots before the command “LOAD” must be disqualified.” If
such a violation occurs in 25m Pistol events, Rule 8.7.6.2, 3) must be
applied. For other events, the Jury must decide whether this was a safety
issue or resulted from confusion or some other cause.
 9.4.3. Shotgun Ammunition. Procedures adopted in 2014 were
designed to strictly enforce Rule 9.4.3 that requires the disqualification of
any Shotgun athletes who are caught with shotshells having a shot charge
of more than 24.5 g. The ISSF is advising shotshell manufacturers to take
care to ensure that no shot charges exceed 24.5 g. National federations
are also advised that in 2015 and 2016, the Equipment Control Jury or the
Shotgun Jury will conduct checks and that violators must be disqualified.
Athletes and team leaders should be aware that ISSF Technical Delegates
2015 ISSF Rule Interpretations
March 2015, page 7
and Jury Chairmen have government-certified check weights to confirm
that the scales used to weigh shot charges are accurate.
 9.7.3, 9.8.3, Preparation Time Limits. In 2014, the ISSF began to strictly
enforce preparation time limits for all Shotgun events. These rules apply
to Trap and Double Trap and state, “An athlete must take his/her position,
close the gun and call for the target/double within 12 seconds after the
previous athlete has fired at a regular target, has opened the gun and the
result is registered, or after the Referee has given the command “START.”
Applying this rule for qualification and semifinal rounds is clear, but there
has been some confusion regarding when to start the 12-second clock
during Finals medal matches. In medal matches, the Referee must give
the “START” command for the first athlete. The 12-second clock for the
second athlete must automatically be started for the second athlete after
the first athlete’s result is registered. A “START” command for the second
shooter is not necessary. After both medal match athletes have fired and
moved to their next stations, the Referee must again give a “START”
command for the first athlete after both athletes have entered their next
stations.
 9.8.6.1, a), Double Trap Trial Targets. This rule states, “Each day, after
the traps have been adjusted and approved by the Jury, one trial regular
Double must be thrown for each setting (schemes A, B and C) before the
start of the first round of competition.” The question here concerns
whether this means doing this only once on each range before the first
squads start or doing this before each squad fires its first round for the
day. Since this procedure can only be fair if all athletes have the same
opportunity to see the trial Doubles, this rule must be interpreted to mean
that one trial regular Double for each setting must be thrown before each
squad fires it first round for the day.
 9.9.3.6, c) Is tracking Skeet targets with one hand permitted? This
rule states, “Prior to the start of the round an athlete is not permitted to
make any aiming or sighting exercises with or without the gun on any other
station. The intent of this rule is to prohibit shouldering and sighting the
gun on stations other than station 1. Some Referees have interpreted this
to include actions where athletes who are not shooting use their hand to
track the targets. The intent of this rule is not to prohibit an athlete from
using a single hand to track targets while another athlete is shooting.
Anyone with further questions about how ISSF Rules should be
interpreted is encouraged to contact ISSF Headquarters with their
questions.

[jhmartin]

Thanks Marc.

6.17.1.3 ... makes sense, I see lots of help given in finals, and it should be "you're on your own".

6.17.3 --- policing the area in Finals ... OK, I get it. But I fear next will be a requirement to police their brass too.
I'd like to know if they are allowed to leave OH stands on the Firing Line after kneeling, thru prone, and thus into standing. With all the rushing back and forth, it will look really dumb on TV if someone knocks over a stand and the contents scatter over the next few positions.

And WHAT is this:

All 3-position finalists are kindly requested to place all unused equipment in their boxes.

Is this a rule or a "kindly request?"

[Grzegorz]

.....
And WHAT is this:

All 3-position finalists are kindly requested to place all unused equipment in their boxes.

Is this a rule or a "kindly request?"

"If something is unintentionally missed, a Jury Member or Range Officer can place it in the box. Range Officers and Jury Members should also try to fold or remove shooting mats after athletes change from prone to standing."

Yeah... Just lack of imagination and foresight...
So, do nothing - Jury Members will clean it :-)

PS. Do not count on me, anyway :-)

[jhmartin]

Yeah... Just lack of imagination and foresight...
So, do nothing - Jury Members will clean it :-)

PS. Do not count on me, anyway :-)

I agree, Jury & ROs should not be wandering back & forth picking things up. Not only is it a distraction for the shooters ... but for the TV audience as well! :-)

I personally have no problem with tools by their side, next buttplate ready so that when given the next prep & sighter period they can do much of the gun setup w/o too much moving around. I think part of the "tactics" of, especially the 3P, final is how you organize your gear around you, not only for the current position, but for the next as well.
I think shooters that have extensively trained for a final, now know that while there is not all the time in the world, there is plenty of time if you are organized have have a clear head. The ones you see tossing stuff all over have clearly already freaked themselves out.

[Marc Orvin]

So, in the case of an athlete that does not fold up his pants and put them in the box, what is the jury member to do?? According to this, we should be cleaning up after them, but according to the earlier wording, we are not to help them with anything. And there is no penalty for being untidy. So many ISSF rules have no enforcement clause. Not looking to just penalize folks like a Barney Fife, but if there is no penalty, why is there a rule??

A shooter in standing trying to adjust his butt plate happens to drop his wrench. I'm likely to go pick it up and hand it to the shooter. Not according to these interpretations. But if he doesn't tidy up his firing point before he starts shooting, I'm supposed to step in and perform his housekeeping function???

Sometimes the interpretations are worse than the poorly written rules.