Notes from the Shoot Office: Info for New and Old Shooters

We are excited to be welcoming a batch of new shooters into the league this year so we want to take a moment to inform them and remind everyone else about several shoot logistics items.

• 1) Website - Lots of good information can be found on our website (http://www.sbtl.org). This includes the most current Pre-Squad List, Scores from our tournaments, new and old Newsletters and the Rules.


• 2) The SBTL Rules - The rules can be found on our website. Please take a moment to understand the league that you are shooting. Most, if not all questions about the league can be answered in this document. As always, contact us if you have any further questions.


• 3) Contacting SBTL - The best way to contact the SBTL is through the "Contact Us" page on the website. Simply pick the correct subject matter inquiry and the system will automatically direct your note to the appropriate person. You should hear back from us in 24-48 hours.


• 4) Season Long Pre-squads - The SBTL offers the courtesy of Pre-squadding to all members that are planning to shoot for the majority of the season. Pre-squadding allows for quicker registration and the probability that the shooter will shoot with the same squad members for most of the league shoots. With pre-squadding comes a single requirement however: the league assumes that the shooter will be shooting UNLESS THEY INFORM US THAT THEY WILL NOT BE SHOOTING. We provide several different ways to contact us:
  
  
  
  • a) We send a "Pre-squad Reminder" email out approximately 5 days before each shoot. If the member is shooting, they don't need to do anything. If they are NOT planning to shoot, the member should follow the instructions on the reminder email and let the system know that they are not shooting.
  
  
  • b) The "Contact Us" page on the website is another alternative to the Pre-squad Reminder.
  
  
  • c) For those shooters that do not use email, or if one needs to contact us at the last minute, please use our central contact number: 408-409-6103. This voice mail box will transcribe your message and forward it to the appropriate people.
  
  
  For the good of the shoot and the other members of your squad, please contact us if you are not shooting.


• 5) Pre-squadding for the "Next Shoot" - we will happily accept requests for pre-squad for the "Next Shoot" only. If you are not permanently presquadded and will be joining us at the "next shoot", please use the "Contact Us" page on the website to request a pre-squad position. We will handle these requests up until noon, the Friday before the shoot. Permanent pre-squadders will take precedence, however if you want to take a spot of someone that has reported as absent, please let us know and we will do what we can to accommodate you. Please note: we cannot accept pre-squad requests for shooters that have not shot with us before and are not in our database.


• 6) Shoot registration process - The SBTL tries to simplify the process of registration for each shoot by performing as many of the registration tasks for shooters before the shoot as we possibly can. If a shooter is pre-squadded, all they have to do is grab their card, confirm their squad/post and check over their current handicaps. Assuming nothing is awry, the shooter can then proceed directly to the cashier. The only time that a shooter is required to speak to the handicapper or squadder is if they have never shot with us before or there is something that looks wrong on their card. Remember save yourself some time: be pre-squadded; grab your card; check it over; proceed to cashier; give your pound of flesh; have fun shooting!


• 7) Handicapping - The SBTL handicaps very differently than either of the national leagues. Except for the shooter's first handicap when they sign up for the league, all handicapping is preformed by our computer following a specific set of rules. A simple explanation is that the shooter is handicapped based on their running SBTL average constrained by national league yardage and SBTL Declared and Earned Minimums. With South Bay, a shooter does not have to win anything to have their handicap advanced. If the shooter is shooting well, the computer will see this and attempt to equalize that shooter among the other competitors. If the shooter is shooting poorly, the computer will see this and slowly reduce their yardage accordingly.
  
  When scores are posted after each shoot, the shooter's new handicap for the next shoot is displayed. If a shooter thinks that they have been handicapped incorrectly, please contact us via the website before the shoot (this is preferred) or speak to the handicapper at the shoot. The handicapping rules are available in "The Rules" on the website. To calculate your own handicap, please use the "Handicap Worksheet", again found on the website. As always, if something does not make sense, ask us.


• 8) Declared Minimums - Unlike the national leagues, the SBTL will allow the shooter to shoot as specific yardages, provided that those "Declared Yardages" are equal to or longer than the SBTL calculated yardage and the national league yardages. The rules dictate that the shooter must shoot at his/her longest yardage, however we will do what we can to accommodate a shooter's request to shoot on a specific squad. Remember, "Declared Minimums" last for the entire season. e.g. if a shooter declares a minimum of 22 yards to stay on a squad, that shooter will not be permitted to move below 22 yards for the whole season, even if the SBTL calculated yardage or national league yardages are reduced below that threshold. A shooter may also declare advanced Singles and Doubles Classifications. As with Declared Yardage, the Declared Singles/Doubles Classif ications will last the whole season.


• 9) Earned Minimums - The SBTL Earned Minimum is the least understood part of the SBTL Handicapping System. As simply as possible, an "Earned Minimum" is a notation placed on the shooter’s computerized shooting record that indicates the shooter has won, or in the case of an un-shot shootoff, forfeited an event. When a shooter meets this criteria, the computer will automatically advance the shooter’s class ification or yardage and not permit them to be reduced for a specific length of time.
  
  E.g. a shooter wins the Handicap 22-23 Yard Group standing at the 22 yard-line. During the next handicapping cycle (which happens before each tournament), the computer will see that the shooter won while standing at the 22 yard line. It will automatically advance the shooter to the 23 yardline and hold them there until that shooter has shot eight (8) additional Handicap events.
  
  Again, as example, a shooter shoots the high score for B Class Doubles. They are called for a shootoff but did not show up. This "forfeit" is noted in the computer and the computer will automatically advance this shooter AS IF THEY HAD WON THE EVENT to "A Class Doubles" and place a counter on the record for eight (8) Doubles events.


• 10) Shootoffs - Shootoffs for all events will be handled at the end of each tournament by our shootoff staff. The SBTL rules only permit one trophy per shooter per tournament. As addressed below, trophies are awarded hierarchically and as such, shootoffs cannot be determined until the last score is entered into the computer. Please DO NOT BOTHER THE SHOOT OFFICE ASKING IF YOU ARE IN A SHOOTOFF. We cannot tell you for sure until the last score is entered. The end of a shoot is a particularly busy time for the shoot office and answering shoot off questions slows us down for everyone.
  
  If a shooter has one of the top two/three scores in any event, they should stick around to see if they are in a shoot off. The shoot office has an astounding history of using technology to produce the shootoff list within moments of the last score being entered. Please be patient, we will get you shooting and headed home as soon as humanly possible.
  
  SHOOTERS CAN BE PENALIZED IF THEY DO NOT SHOOTOFF. The SBTL rules state if a shooter is called for a shootoff and they chose not to shoot, the shooter’s handicap/classification will be advanced as if they had shot off and won. If a shooter shoots off and loses, then they do not get this penalty.


• 11) Trophies - Trophies are awarded at every tournament and will be available after every shoot is complete. Unlike most ATA/PITA Tournaments, the SBTL only allows one trophy per shooter per tournament and awards trophies hierarchically as follows: High Overall (HOA), Handicap, Doubles, Singles, and then Category Shooter (VT, SV, LY, JR).


• 12) The Bank - For those shooters that like to play purses and options, the bank will open at the end of each shoot. It does take a few moments to make the final calculations, however the shoot office does endeavor to get the bank open as soon as possible so that each shooter can collect their money and head home. WE DO NOT SEND OUT CHECKS FOR WINNINGS. If you cannot collect your winnings at the end of the shoot, your funds will be available at the following shoot.


• 13) Yardage difference on a squad - The SBTL follows the ATA safety guidelines of 2 yards between shooters and a maximum of 3 yards difference on a squad, where all shooters on that squad are at 21 yards and above. If there are one or more 20 yard or less shooters on a squad, the requirement changes to 1 yard between shooters and a maximum of 2 yards difference on the squad.


• 14) Post-Shoot Score Posting - Our goal is to have scores posted on our website by Wednesday of the week following the Saturday shoot. We will always do our best to have the results available within this timeframe.

Space does not permit us to cover every little nuance of the league in the newsletter. Please take time to review the rules and let us know if you have any questions.

Warren FAY-

Handicap Purses

Directions

For directions please click here.

Pre-squad List

For those shooters that are pre-squadded and have an email address on file with us, you will receive a Pre-Squad Reminder Email several days before each shoot. Please use this email to report an absence for that shoot.

If you have no email address on file, please call (408) 409-6103 or use this online form to pre-squad, to notify us of changes, or to report absences.

For the current pre-squad list, please click here.

Team Standings

Trophies & Awards

Livermore-Pleasanton Rod & Gun Club

Los Banos Sportsmen's

Metcalf Coyotes

Newman Swamp Rats

Sunnyvale Rod & Gun Club

South Bay Trap League Volunteers