REVISED AUGUST 2006

GENERAL: This is a 90% handicap league. NSSA rules apply except as modified in subsequent paragraphs or by a grievance jury. When sixteen or fewer teams compete a league will normally run for eleven weeks - except for winter league, which may be shorter. When there are more than sixteen teams, a league will run sufficient time for each team to shoot sixteen nights.

TEAMS: A team will consist of six shooters, A minimum of three shooters on the team roster must participate each night or the team will forfeit. (see SHOOT-AHEADS below) Substitutes (not a member of any team) can be used as fourth and/or fifth shooters only when a team has less than five regular members present (including any who have shot-ahead.) A single substitute may be used on the last night of a league.

Teams consisting of five (or fewer) members are allowed, due to this handicap, to substitute freely for up to and including the sixth shooter. The captain is responsible to ensure payment is made for the sixth shooter.

SHOOT-AHEADS: Each team captain is allowed a set number of shoot-aheads (three for every four nights teams are scheduled to shoot) per league to be used at his discretion. Shoot-aheads can be accomplished at any time prior to a given league night, but must be fired at Fairfax Rod & Gun Club (FRGC). A disinterested person (not a team member) must score the rounds fired and attest to the scores. No more than two shoot-aheads may be used on one league night; however, only one may be used on the last league night.

Shoot-aheads must be declared in advance (before the first shot is fired).

HANDICAP: For the opening night of winter league and for new shooters, handicaps will be computed and added to the individual scores after the shoot. Thereafter the established handicap for each shooter will be used on the next shoot night. For all other leagues, the overall average of the previous league will be used as a factor in determining initial handicaps (through the first 150 targets). Handicap will be 90% of the difference between a shooter's average and 25. Handicaps will change weekly and, with the exceptions above, will be based on the last 200 targets fired. Score plus handicap cannot exceed 25.

SCORING: The highest four individual scores with handicap will be used to compute the team score for each round. If only three team members (including shoot-aheads) are present and no substitutes are available, the lowest scratch score of the three shooters each round will be used as a fourth score to compute the team score. One point is awarded to the team winning the first round, one point for the second round, and one point for the high total of both rounds.

BYE-NIGHTS/ODD NUMBER OF TEAMS/FORFEITS: If there are more than 16 teams, one or more teams will be off each night (have a bye-night). Since all teams will be scheduled for the same number of bye-nights, no points will be awarded to teams with byes.

If there are an odd number of teams, one team each night may be scheduled to compete against one of the other teams shooting at the same time (randomly selected in advance). That team may earn 0-3 points; the randomly selected team only competes against its regularly scheduled opponent.

If a forfeit occurs (see TEAMS above), the opposing team must be present to be awarded three points; otherwise, each team is awarded 0 points. Any scores posted by either team will not be used to compute handicaps, but will be used at league's end in determining winners of individual awards. The scores may also be used as future shoot-aheads, if declared in advance.

GUNS: FRGC range rules apply regarding appropriate guns and ammunition. Within those rules, any gauge gun may be used during a league. If desired, a shooter may change to a smaller gauge gun during the course of a league, but then must stay with the smaller gun. Under no circumstances can a shooter change to a larger gauge once a league has commenced. Likewise, shooters are not to change to a more open choke or make any other mechanical change during a season with the intent to improve scores or increase handicaps. Team captains are responsible to insure compliance. There are no restrictions on guns used when shooting against a forfeit, but recognize scores fired with smaller guns could affect chance of winning individual awards.

TIME LIMITS/LATE SHOOTERS: 7 PM teams are expected to be off the field, including picking up hulls, by 8 PM; they must vacate NO LATER THAN 8:10 PM. Under no circumstances will any shot be fired after 9:30 PM.

Shooters arriving late may join their squad in any manner that is convenient at the discretion of the referee; however, the 8:10 PM and 9:30 PM time limits must be observed.

REFEREES/SCORE SHEETS: The team scheduled for 8 PM on a field shall provide a referee for the 7 PM team on that field, and vice versa. In the absence of a referee, the team must referee for itself.

Team captains are to get and fill out score sheets for their team. The 7 PM team captain is to get a clipboard and pencil, and the 8 PM team captain is to return same, along with the completed score sheets.

RESOLUTION OF TIES: In the event of a tie for team awards, the winner will be determined by the results of head-to-head competition between the teams during regular league competition. If the head-to-head match was tied, or if the teams did not compete against each other, the place awards for the tied teams will be combined and then split between the teams. Ties for high average will be resolved in the same manner. Ties for most straights, 24s, 23s, 22s, lady champion, most caps with handicap, and most improved will be resolved by high overall average. In the event high average is also tied then duplicate awards may be given. When a shooter qualifies for more than one individual award, the higher will be awarded.

CANCELLATIONS: When, due to dangerous weather or equipment malfunctions on a field preventing fair competition, shooting does not occur AND bye nights are scheduled, the use of proxy scores may be used to determine the outcome of matches. These proxy scores will be the scores shot on the following night of competition unless the cancellation occurs on, or a bye is scheduled for the last week, in which case the previous weeks scores will be used. Handicaps will be adjusted between weeks.

GRIEVANCE JURY: Consists of team captains present and league chairman and secretary. Any team captain can request a meeting to resolve an issue.

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING PRACTICE ROUNDS: In accordance with FRGC Range Rules (Section III, Rule 1) which states that non-members can shoot only as guests of members, non-members in the league who desire to shoot-ahead or shoot practice rounds prior to the matches may do so only if they are participating with a club member acting as their sponsor with the following exception. FRGC Range Rules (Section III, Rule 3 states “ Guests participating in Club-sponsored matches may practice only on the range so designated for that event... “ which is interpreted to mean after 5 p.m. on a regularly scheduled league night. Furthermore, league shooters so participating are requested to be especially careful that all practice rounds - both member and non-member - are paid for in the clubhouse prior to leaving on Thursday evening. Furthermore, there is a tendency of many league shooters to want to shoot several extra targets prior to or after the match –(i.e. give me a double at station 4, or give me another low 8, etc.) and these targets are used but rarely paid for. Team captains please watch this closely.

FEES: League fees will be announced on the schedule in advance of a season's shooting and will be in accordance with club policy. In addition, an award fee (normally $12.00 per league, but occasionally more) will be charged. All fees are due NOT LATER THAN the second week a team participates in league competition. Rounds not paid for by then will not be counted for team score or individual score.

Team captains are responsible for collecting and turning in all fees to the league chairman.

SPECIAL RULES: The Dobranski Rule; On nights when the setting sun interferes with the shooters ability to see high-house birds, team captains have the option of shooting two singles from low eight in lieu of one high eight and one low eight.

DAVE ATWELL
League Chairman