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TECHNICAL RULES FOR "NATIONAL SPORTING"

VIEWING POINT
5.00 Any shooter who has not had an opportunity to see targets on any stand, i.e. at the commencement of the competition each day, shall have the right to see one target from each trap for that stand.  The position to view any such targets will be specified by the shoot organiser or the Referee but will not be from within the stand.

SEQUENCE
5.01 Targets may be thrown as singles, report pairs, following pairs or simultaneous pairs. No alteration is to be made to either the target or sequence of targets on any stand once a competition has begun.

5.02 Targets will be thrown by non-verbal and non-visible instruction by the Referee after the shooter has pronounced the word "ready" or "pull".

TARGETS
5.03 FITASC targets (mini, midi, battue, rocket, ZZ and rabbit targets) may be used as well as standard or "flash" ISSF targets. The total amount of FITASC targets shall not exceed 40% of the total number of targets in the competition.  Targets may be of any colour.

SINGLE TARGET
5.04 A single target launched from any trap.

REPORT PAIR
5.05 Is a pair where the second target is launched at the sound of the gun firing at the first target.

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FOLLOWING PAIR
5.06 Is a pair where the second target is launched from the same trap as soon as it is safely possible after the first target.

SIMULTANEOUS PAIR
5.07 Is a pair where both targets are launched simultaneously from either one or two traps.

TRAJECTORIES
5.08 At each stand, the trajectories shall be the same for each shooter in height, distance and speed. It must be possible for all the targets to be hit within the effective range of a 12-bore shotgun.  Before a shoot, organisers will establish a scheme for the trajectories of targets: these trajectories, established and calculated in calm weather, may be altered by wind, but if so altered, will remain regular targets.

SHOOTING POSITION
5.09 The shooter must remain positioned within the area of the shooting stand and only allowed to load cartridges into the gun within the confines of the stand. The gun will at all times will be kept pointing down the range and targets will only be called for when the Referee has given the signal to start. In no case may a shooter move to the stand before the preceding shooter has left the stand and it is their turn to shoot. 

5.10      Shooting stands shall be clearly defined squares of 0.91m and must have cages or some form of restriction on both sides, to a height of 2m, to prevent any safety problems when addressing or firing at any targets presented. The sides of any cage/restriction should not prevent the Referee from having a clear view of the shooter.

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The recommended dimensions of the cage follow the standard Sportrap cage size of; 1200mm x 1200mm area with a removable front bar at 300 to 600mm height (to allow disabled shooters access and position) with cage sides to 2m and a padded top bar centrally positioned on the top of the cage. Front entry and variations on the size of the cage will remain acceptable provided the arc of fire is contained within the safety zone.

DULY NOTIFIED
5.11 A competitor is "Duly Notified" to compete when their name is called out by a referee, scorer or other person authorised to do so. If a competitor is absent after being called, the Referee shall call the name on the card loudly three times equally spaced within one minute. If the competitor is still not present they will be "Declared Absent" and their card will be marked accordingly.

PENALTY
5.12 If a competitor is declared absent they will be fined two targets by the jury and given the opportunity to shoot the remainder of the targets on that stand at the jury's discretion.

"NUMBER / ORDER OF SHOTS AT TARGETS"
5.13 Two cartridges can be fired at a single target, but the shooter will not be allowed to load more than two cartridges for firing at each pair. 

PROCEDURE FOR MALFUNCTION ON SINGLE TARGET
5.14 If after firing the first shot at a single target a gun or cartridge malfunction occurs (providing it is not the third or subsequent malfunction on that stand) and the target has not been hit, the Referee shall instruct the competitor to reload their gun with two cartridges. The competitor will then be instructed to call for a new target but to miss with the first shot and attempt to hit the target with the second shot. If the new target is hit with the first shot it will be declared lost.

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SCORING RE PAIRS
5.15 In simultaneous pairs the shooter has the right to shoot either of the targets first. Should the shooter hit both targets together with either the first or second shot, the result will be scored pair scored. 

5.16 In any regular pair the shooter having missed the first target may fire their second cartridge at the same target, the result being scored on the first target, the second target being counted as lost unless the shot breaks both targets.

NO BIRD
5.17 The clay will be declared "No Bird" and a new target will be launched, the shooter having fired or not if:

5.18 The target is broken at the start.

5.19 The target is launched from the wrong trap.

5.20 Two targets are launched simultaneously when a single should have been thrown.

5.21 The target is definitely of another colour than the targets used for the competition at that stand.

5.22 The first or second target of a pair is irregular.

5.23 Two targets are launched simultaneously during a report pair or a following pair.

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5.24 The target is launched before the shooter has said "ready".

5.25 The target is launched after a delay of more than three seconds.

5.26 The target zigzags, or its initial speed is not sufficient, or if its trajectory is irregular.

5.27 The shooter misses the first target and this target collides with the second before the shooter has fired their second shot.

5.28 In the case of a "No Bird" in simultaneous or following pairs the shooter will be asked to fire at a second pair to determine the scores of the two shots. 

5.29 This will also apply in the case of a malfunction of gun or ammunition not attributable to the shooter, provided that it is not the third time on that stand. 

5.30 The Referee may also order the launching of a new target when: 

5.31 The shooter has been materially disturbed.

5.32 Another competitor fires at the same target.

5.33 The Referee cannot decide for any reason if the target has been hit or lost. 

5.34 The Referee cannot in any case give a "No Bird" if the shooter has missed for any reason other than those stated in the "No Target" rules. 

REPORT PAIRS
5.35 When a second target of a report pair is declared "No Bird" the result of the shot at the first target will stand and the shooter will be asked to repeat the pair to determine the result of the second target.

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5.36 When re-shooting the pair, the shooter must make a reasonable attempt to hit the first target before attempting to shoot at the second target.

5.37 Referees must ensure that shooters adhere strictly to rule 5.36.  If a violation of rule 5.36 takes place, the Referee shall ask the shooter to repeat the pair (1st bird established).  If the shooter violates rule 5.36 on three occasions then at the third occasion the second target will be declared "lost".

TIE BREAKER
5.38 In the event of a tie, whenever practicable and in accordance with the Jury's instructions, a shoot-off will decide the Winner. The ‘count back’ system shall not be used at SCTA Registered events.

5.39 Ties will be broken by shooting initially at five pairs from a stand(s) decided by the Jury or organisers. Scoring will be out of ten.

5.40 If a tie still exists following the above, five pairs from a different stand will be shot at. Scoring will be out of ten.

5.41 If a tie still exists, a sudden death shoot-off on pairs will follow (scoring out of two) until the tie is broken. All shooters must shoot at an equal number of pairs.

TEAM TIES
5.42 If two or more teams obtain the same scores the captain of each team will nominate three members of the team to shoot in a sudden death shoot off. The captain may include himself/herself as one of the three. The selected team members will be numbered "one", "two" and "three". To start the shoot off all of the selected team members numbered "one" will shoot a pair of targets from a new stand (not used at any other stage of the event), in turn, in a team order decided by the tossing of a coin. Should a tie still exist after they have shot, the team members numbered "two" shall then shoot at the same pair of targets from the same stand Should a tie still exist after they have shot, the team members numbered "three" shall then shoot at the same pair of targets from the same stand. Should a tie still exist after all three members of each team have shot then the same procedure will be carried out until the tie is broken.

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