Notes from the Shoot Office: Scoring ...

Scoring seems to be one of those things that we as shooters take for granted ... until something goes wrong ... at that point, we might find ourselves on the wrong side of a scoring decision if we do something wrong.

Some of our host clubs are used to scoring competition tournaments monthly. Some others only ever score competitions when they are hosting the SBTL. It is our job as shooters to assist the clubs to make sure that scoring is fair and uniform across all our squads.

To avoid confusion for our competitive shooters, the SBTL follows the same scoring procedures as the national leagues (ATA/PITA).

• 1) While not required, it is considered good etiquette for fellow squad members to watch each other’s birds and confirm each other’s scores. If a scorer makes a "mistake", the general etiquette is that the shooter that shot, does not defend themselves. A fellow member of the squad speaks up and suggests that the bird was not "lost" (or "dead" as the case may be).
  
  While the scorer is not required to, they will then usually poll the squad to see what each contestant saw and then make a choice whether to change the score or not. The scorer is not required to change the score just because one or more members of a squad disagrees with the scorer’s call. Remember, the scorer is considered always correct and has the final say unless a referee is on the field. If the scorer seems to be having a bad day, the shooters may stop the sub-event and ask a referee to observe and/or replace the scorer.
  
  
• 2) It is important that a scorer not be distracted while scoring. If a scorer seems distracted, it is the right of the contestants to stop the sub-event on their turn and ask the scorer to concentrate on their sub-event. If the scorer is not able to remove or ignore the distraction, it is the right of the shooters to stop the sub-event and immediately ask for a referee to come to the field to address the issue.
  
  
• 3) Scorers are required to notify the shooter when a bird is being scored as "lost" in a clear loud voice.
  
  
• 4) It is a right of the contestant to be able to hear a scorer call "lost" birds. Sometimes we find that scorers don’t want to embarrass shooters by calling lost birds in a loud voice. Those of us that have been shooting a while, use the old "I have trouble hearing" trick ... when approaching each field to check-in with the scorer, us old-timers will tell the scorer: "Please call our lost birds out as loud as you can. I have trouble hearing." Most of the time this will put the scorer at ease and they will call "lost" out so that everyone can hear. Again, if one cannot hear the scorer, stop the sub-event when it is your turn, and let the scorer know that they need to call lost birds out louder. If a shooter is still having trouble hearing, it is perfectly fine to stop the sub-event on a post change and ask for a referee.
  
  
• 5) Scorers are required to score "dead" birds with a "\", "/" or an "X". While normally scored with an "0", birds scored with any symbol other than "\", "/" or an "X" are considered "lost" birds. Where there is any confusion on the marking on the score sheet, a bird is considered "lost" not "dead" by the shoot office.
  
  
• 6) Scorers are not supposed to ever erase a score. Sometimes though, a score needs to be corrected or changed. The proper process for correcting a score is to clearly write the word "dead" or "lost" in the score-box and initial the correction. As a reminder, if a score is not clearly marked as "dead" or with a symbol such as "\", "/" or an "X" the bird is considered "lost" by the shoot office. Where a scorer marks a score as "Ø" without the designation of "dead", the bird is always scored as "lost".
  
  
• 7) Technically the rules state that a score sheet must always be visible to the shooter during a sub-event. Since this is generally not practical, the SBTL and most clubs hosting a national league tournament, allow the scorers to hold the score sheets on a bench in front of themselves. At the end of each post (or round) in a sub-event, the scorer will stop the shooters and command them to "Open actions and rotate". During the rotation, the scorer will call out the scores. Please do not delay your rotation. Some shooters insist on remaining on their post until they hear their score. This is not necessary and disturbs the harmony of the shoot.
  
  If, while the shooters are rotating, a shooter disagrees with their score, they are permitted to raise an objection with the scorer. Remember, it is the scorer’s discretion to change a score or not. The scorer is not required to make any changes if they feel they have scored each shooter correctly. Though it is not required, a scorer will normally poll the other shooters to determine if they agree or disagree with a scoring change. As always, if there is an irreconcilable difference, it is the shooter’s right to ask for a referee. Please remember if the referee is not on the field, they will generally assume the scorer to be correct unless the preponderance of evidence suggests that they are incorrect. In the case where a referee is called to a field, their word will be considered final.
  
  
• 8) Every contestant in a squad will be permitted to examine the score sheet throughout the sub-event to audit their recorded scores. At the end of each sub-event, each contestant should review their scores, confirming corrections and counting the "X"’s to confirm that the number of "dead" birds are recorded correctly. The squad leader is encouraged to review the scores with each shooter and see that any corrections are properly performed.
  
  
It is important to remember that in all cases, a score for a given post in a sub-event will stand if the shooter has shot his/her first bird on their next post. In the case of the last post of the sub-event, the score stands if the shooter leaves the field of that sub-event. A shooter should not leave the field if they protest their score. Once a shooter leaves their field the referee will have no option but to have the score stand.


• 9) The shoot office is required to audit every score sheet to confirm that the scores are correctly counted according to the above rules. The shoot office is not permitted to change a score. They are permitted to make counting corrections only. Where the SBTL shoot office suspects a counting error on a score sheet, we have two or three independent people privately count the scores to arrive at a correct total. If a score count is changed, the original count is stuck out, though will still remain readable, and the new score is noted. Again, if a score is not clearly marked as "dead" or with a symbol such as "\", "/" or an "X", the bird is considered "lost" by the shoot office. Where a scorer marks a score as "Ø" without the designation of "dead" the bird is always scored as "lost".
  
  
• 10) While it is the shoot office’s responsibility to enter the scores accurately in the computer, it is the final responsibility of each shooter to check their scores on the posted score sheets. With all leagues including the SBTL, the shooter generally has a limited amount of time to report scoring keypunch errors to the shoot office. For the purposes of calculating that day’s event’s monies and awards, the SBTL permits the reporting of keypunch errors up to 10 minutes after each event. After the 10 minute deadline, the entered scores become final for that day.
  
  The SBTL permits keypunch error reporting after the 10 minute deadline up and until the beginning of the next tournament for the purposes of correcting year-end bird count calculations, but reporting after the 10 minute deadline will have no effect on that tournament. If a shooter suspects a keypunch error, please come to the shoot office and request to audit your score sheet. Shooters are only permitted to audit their own scores sheets. Shooters are not permitted to audit score sheets on behalf of another shooter or score sheets that do not show their own scores.
  
  

As always, if anyone has any questions, please speak to a member of the shoot office and we will be happy to assist.

Warren FAY

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