testosterone wrote:
GOF wrote:

The Rules on the use of cover while the shooter is engaging targets are some of the most clear, and concise, Rules in the current book. I wish all the current Rules were that well written.

For Vertical cover a shooter must have 100% of their lower body below the torso behind cover and concealed from the target they are engaging, and from all other yet to be engaged targets. For the upper torso, above the waist, 50% must be covered. For Horizontal cover (low cover) 50% of the upper torso must be behind cover.

That's clear. Is there some degree of subjective opinion as to what constitutes 50% of body, as opposed to 49% body? Yes. But, if you have to have a Rule on the use of cover while engaging a target, I can't think of a way to write this Rule more clearly.  

I think some of the 'subjective enforcement' comes from the collection of Novice and new MM SOs, who lack experience in the IDPA game. Maybe that will change when the TTs get to SO qualifications, and re-certification. I think this is not a problem with the actual Rule... just a problem with individual SO interpretation of it.... which seems to be a continuing problem with many Rules, as currently written.

I'm sure the TTs will fix that Smile.


So, where does " The cover calls were sometimes painful too. Cindy, Travis, and I agreed ahead of time to not award PE's for a couple inches out of cover, but half of your foot - yes. This sounds easy to manage, but what about 1/3 of someone's foot?"

A foot being half out of cover would seem to lead to not 100% of lower body being behind cover?

I think Steve does not fall under the category of Novice SO right?

Hopefully fixed in new rules because this is a case study in broken.
Steve & Cindy are both experienced SOs (both of them ran me at the SO Worlds on different stages, and did it very well). With that said, their decision to 'go easy' on cover calls does not negate the Cover Rules, as written.

The Rule is still clearly written. Maybe they are too restrictive? Maybe individual SO opinions affect the way the Rule is called? You don't have to be a MM SO to inject personal opinion, as opposed to written Rule. These two are very experienced, and very competent SOs. I have no idea why they decided to call things the way they did (I didn't shoot the 2012 Nationals, so I wasn't there) .

But, they did. Maybe the Cover Rules could be re-written, maybe not. But, they seem pretty clear as currently written. Their interrpretation was their's at the time, and that's how it was called. 

They were the SOs, and that was their call.  

Chris Christian A23489   former SO 
Arguing with a fool is like rolling around in the mud with a pig. You both get filthy dirty, but the pig enjoys it.