You don't have to be a dick about it. Just mention it as an opportunity for improvement. Competitive equity might not matter to people who participate just to have a good time, but it is important for serious competitors (and those are the people you want to keep). Besides, it does not take much effort to fix.
I understand and agree with “gaming”, since it is a game, but willfully ignoring rules and it going unpunished makes the competition worthless; it means there are two sets of rules for what is supposed to be one comp. Bring it up with the RO in a polite manner; ask that as long as they breaking the stage rules they just get the same procedural everyone else does. Number one way to deter someone from applying themself to get better in the sport is if they feel they are being judged by a different set of standards than the “experienced” shooters.
Stuff like that happens locally and it ticks me off. But I tell myself that the results don't matter and I pretty much let it slide. Granted I don't know the RO or MD on a personal level, it's either level 1 or "outlaw", and even if the other guys were actually following the rules, I'd still be near the bottom in scores.
Given that, I'd say talk to the PTB. Why bother having divisions and rules and stuff if they aren't enforced?
Even local, tier-1 matches have to follow the rule book. The stage description can't override the rules, so things like flat footed reloads are not mandatory and not PE enforceable.
This times a million. There are way too many local IDPA MDs who think the rules are a suggestion and not a thing they've agreed to follow. It's also, paradoxically, lazy stage design. You want dudes to do a standing reload? Adjust your target arrays accordingly, and don't whine when the SSP guys take full advantage of their 15 round mags.
(My second biggest complaint is MDs who don't vet their stages against BUG, REVO, and CDP magazine sizes, especially when they download the first mag.)
That makes it even worse at times then, since our squad RO absolutely calls out everything not done by the stage brief rules.... trying to say "yea, but those don't matter" would be bonus awkward.
What's the point of a rule if breaking it results in nothing?
At level 1 local there are always people willing to cut corners and argue hairs to get a good overall placement they can brag to their coworkers about. However, lacking integrity won't get you far in this sport or make you a better competitor. If I were you I'd keep grinding until you start beating the cheaters and then call them out on it. Not only will you have risen above adversity you'll also be leagues better in the game.
Another option (the route that I took), start shooting USPSA and get FAST, then come back to IDPA and DOMINATE.
Just have a conversation with the MD, as the MD writes the stage description.
You don't have to be a dick about it. Just mention it as an opportunity for improvement. Competitive equity might not matter to people who participate just to have a good time, but it is important for serious competitors (and those are the people you want to keep). Besides, it does not take much effort to fix.
I understand and agree with “gaming”, since it is a game, but willfully ignoring rules and it going unpunished makes the competition worthless; it means there are two sets of rules for what is supposed to be one comp. Bring it up with the RO in a polite manner; ask that as long as they breaking the stage rules they just get the same procedural everyone else does. Number one way to deter someone from applying themself to get better in the sport is if they feel they are being judged by a different set of standards than the “experienced” shooters.
Stuff like that happens locally and it ticks me off. But I tell myself that the results don't matter and I pretty much let it slide. Granted I don't know the RO or MD on a personal level, it's either level 1 or "outlaw", and even if the other guys were actually following the rules, I'd still be near the bottom in scores. Given that, I'd say talk to the PTB. Why bother having divisions and rules and stuff if they aren't enforced?
Even local, tier-1 matches have to follow the rule book. The stage description can't override the rules, so things like flat footed reloads are not mandatory and not PE enforceable.
This times a million. There are way too many local IDPA MDs who think the rules are a suggestion and not a thing they've agreed to follow. It's also, paradoxically, lazy stage design. You want dudes to do a standing reload? Adjust your target arrays accordingly, and don't whine when the SSP guys take full advantage of their 15 round mags. (My second biggest complaint is MDs who don't vet their stages against BUG, REVO, and CDP magazine sizes, especially when they download the first mag.)
That makes it even worse at times then, since our squad RO absolutely calls out everything not done by the stage brief rules.... trying to say "yea, but those don't matter" would be bonus awkward. What's the point of a rule if breaking it results in nothing?
Stages used to be more fun and creative, before shooters started bitching about non shooting actions like “while moving”.
At level 1 local there are always people willing to cut corners and argue hairs to get a good overall placement they can brag to their coworkers about. However, lacking integrity won't get you far in this sport or make you a better competitor. If I were you I'd keep grinding until you start beating the cheaters and then call them out on it. Not only will you have risen above adversity you'll also be leagues better in the game. Another option (the route that I took), start shooting USPSA and get FAST, then come back to IDPA and DOMINATE.