Twin Cities IDPA has Altered It's New Shooter Rules

[IDPA Shooter]

IDPA held 3 different new shooter orientations in 2007 and will hold another one in the Spring of 2008. Since we are moving indoors and have limited time and range space we believe we had to alter how we accept new shooters into our club.

Note that this is a club rule and our sister club at Minnetonka can and does follow a different practice for introducing new members to our sport. Also, the match directors and I are willing to approve other training on a case by case basis if we have not listed an organization. An example would be if Don L tells us X shooter attended his holster class or Farmer J says Shooter Y did well in their classes, that's fine with us and they can join us after a new shooter safety briefing.

What we do in IDPA is not that hard or they would not let me compete, but is is different than standing in a bay and putting lead downrange from the bench or low ready position. We encourage folks to come down and watch a match and work thru our process described below.

http://twincitiesidpa.com/newmembers/

We encourage and support new shooters. However, unless you meet our exception criteria, do not just show up at our match and expect to shoot. IDPA is accident free as a sport in the metro area and our officers want us to stay that way. Joe H has already expressed a willingness to into new shooters to the sport and we have several more, so it it will not be an issue.

[rucker]

The matches are at 5:00PM on a Sunday? Hallelujah, it's a time that I'm not working! I am very interested in getting started. If I understand right I have to find someone to mentor me correct?

[IDPA Shooter]

The matches are at 5:00PM on a Sunday? Hallelujah, it's a time that I'm not working! I am very interested in getting started. If I understand right I have to find someone to mentor me correct?

Correct, unless a rated member is already first hand familiar with your shooting ability and advises you have the experience to safely do what we do. Note I just said safely, we are not worried that you be able to do it at high speed, and we have a lot of shooters who take their time and get the hits. We are not into spray and pray in IDPA.

So let's say you have shot a steel match with Someone1980 and he lets the match directors or me know that Rucker is OK for IDPA. We still think it is useful for you to come down, attend a briefing and watch and help out at match, without shooting it. They way you get to hear the rules, watch us screw up some courses, learn about procedurals, cover, scoring, see the type of guns being used, etc and decide if its for you, without the pressure of actually shooting.

People who do this have a better first exposure than someone who shows up with a Kahr PM40 and is confused about how many rounds to load, what class their gun is in, how to squad and score, is surprised to find us shooting at 15, 20 sometimes 35 yards and realizes their 3" XD, while a fine carry gun, is not real competitive with Someone 1980's 5" XD in 9mm with it's fiber optic sights and trigger job.

One more while I'm rambling on. We have several shooters who do shoot their carry guns routinely and focus on doing it as they would in an encounter, drawing from concealment, turning the correct way and really using cover, etc. These folks will use their carry ammo at times and their guns have not had a lot of work, and they focus on good hits. Others have the Glock 34's with the Tru Glo sights and shoot to they are happy and it all works. While IDPA is game, we keep score, the timer is used and the targets don't shoot back, you can get some good practice on skills I think may be handy in a real encounter.

I look forward to seeing you on the range!

[meltedeyes]

This sounds interesting. I may just be checking into this.

in terms of qualifications, I'm still new, but I did take a handgun class from Don L this summer

[JoeH]

The offer still stands. I'd like to introduce as many people to IDPA as possible.

My thought is that we would "buddy up" at a match. I'd show you the basics: How do you run a cold range? What do I do with my carry gun? What's a safety table? What are the RO commands? Division rules, scoring, helping out, etc.

If you have the experience, you may be able to shoot too. Otherwise you can just observe and get the feel for it. I went to the New Shooter Class AND observed a match before I shot one.

It may seem like a lot. But it's really basic and usually intuitive (YMMV).

Watch the TC and Mtka IDPA schedules. I try to be at every match. PM me if you are interested in joining me at a specific match.

[IDPA Shooter]

The offer still stands. I'd like to introduce as many people to IDPA as possible.

My thought is that we would "buddy up" at a match. I'd show you the basics: How do you run a cold range? What do I do with my carry gun? What's a safety table? What are the RO commands? Division rules, scoring, helping out, etc.

If you have the experience, you may be able to shoot too. Otherwise you can just observe and get the feel for it. I went to the New Shooter Class AND observed a match before I shot one.

It may seem like a lot. But it's really basic and usually intuitive (YMMV).

Watch the TC and Mtka IDPA schedules. I try to be at every match. PM me if you are interested in joining me at a specific match.

Please note that there is no charge to just show up and watch, we just need signed releases for our club and Bill's. However, and this is key, you CAN Not just shoot unless we have a rated shooter, who has seen you shoot, vouch that you can do it.

Even then we insist the shooter and mentor be cleared in advance myself , Mike or Keith our match officers. We are particularly interested in knowing the details on any classes, i,e. we had someone who took Basic Handgun Familiarization at Bills show up and want to shoot with us. Ah no our range is not where you start the holster work. Same with new permit holders, I don't know know any instructors who teach holster work as part of their basic permit training.

Joe right that it is pretty basic for an experienced shooter like himself. But it is also a lot going on and there is the stress of the timer, courses meant to test and confuse,different terms, tactical order, tactical sequence, Vickers Count, etc and the audience. Some of the courses can be somewhat physical, particularly if you are older, bigger and have bad kness, he said talking about himself. I recommend you watch before you do, you'll have a better time unless you already have a background in some form of action shooting.

Ben , Mike, Jeff and other IDPA shooters pls jump in with your thoughts about when you were new. If Ellis and Zerwas had not taken me under their wing when I was new, there would not be a Twin Cities IDPA, as I would have been a washout and missed a great sport and many fine folks. We have had over 200 folks shoot with us over 4 years, at least a 100 that were new to the shooting sports and our club really tries to make new shooters feel welcome and comfortable. We have our 5 Gun Master and several IDPA Experts, but most of the club and IDPA fall into the Marksman and Sharpshooter class, some still trying to make Marksman, but its all good.