Alert: Volusia County GSSF Match V February 5-6 canceled due to weather

Host Application

For information on hosting a match at your club/range, fill out an Application to Host and send it in today.

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Details of Applicant Host Club
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GSSF Considerations For a New "Host Club" Application

1. DOES IT APPEAR THAT THE CANDIDATE HOST CLUB COULD DRAW ENOUGH ENTRIES TO CONTINUE IN THE GSSF PROGRAM OVER TIME?

2. IS THERE ALREADY ANOTHER CURRENTLY-HELD GSSF MATCH IN THE SAME GENERAL REGION OF THE CANDIDATE HOST CLUB?

3. DOES THE POTENTIAL GSSF HOST CLUB HAVE A FACILITY, PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT SUITABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCT A GSSF MATCH?

Generally speaking, GSSF wishes to get “the most bang for the buck”. GSSF’s budget and personnel resources are limited. There are also only so many weekends available to conduct GSSF matches. GSSF therefore seeks to increase average match size from year to year wherever and whenever possible. Here are the entries that GSSF matches have drawn for the past several years as of January 2020.

HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF GLOCK SPORT SHOOTING FOUNDATION MATCHES BY CALENDAR YEAR
MATCH201920182017
Talladega, AL GAS106110591167
Dawsonville, GA98010251145
Savannah, GA824914---
New Smyrna Beach, FL782743---
Morganton, NC724727772
Montgomery, AL688650634
Tallahassee, FL669714762
Topton, PA572506563
Bluefield, VA537------
Carrollton, TX502432352
Burro Canyon, CA470493474
Lexington, KY467446529
Jackson, NJ458539483
Pine City, NY456446503
Mobile, AL454430472
Marietta, OH449404532
Homestead, FL442423457
Wellington, KS434418426
Yolo, CA429425443
Richmond, CA419495603
Summerville, SC413400560
Atlanta, IN398351348
Johnstown, PA387349403
Mt. Pleasant, TN382318345
MATCH201920182017
Hallsville, MO360302401
Tucson, AZ356317302
Louisville, NE354296421
Greeley, CO324404375
San Antonio, TX321385291
Brighton, MI319299339
Dundee, OR317292308
Bridgeville, DE311407437
Grand Island, NE306282412
Missoula, MT288229230
St. Paul, MN282363308
Milwaukee, WI274205287
Pt. Townsend, WA262227261
Sparta, IL260218275
Albany, OR259256255
Monroe, LA257316349
Scarborough, ME254212---
Gonzales, LA252202259
Holmen, WI239306274
Littlefield, AZ223228---
Boise, ID209180208
Billings, MT205163202
Sioux Falls, SD201223260
Bauxite, AR175221216

GSSF is limited each year in the total number of events it can hold and will choose new matches based on the “best fit” for the program at that time.

STAGE SETUP REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDERATIONS

An “entry” at a GSSF match consists of the aggregate score from three stages; “Five to GLOCK”, “GLOCK ‘M”, and “GLOCK the Plates”. There are several different versions of “Five to GLOCK” and “GLOCK “M” for variety from match to match. GSSF matches usually erect multiple identical (at a given match) setups of the stages to facilitate getting competitors through the match in a timely fashion. Cost and acquisition of stage materials is normally the responsibility of the host club.

The cardboard target normally used is the 19” x 30” GSSF AC-1 cardboard target. These are provided by GSSF.

Target sticks 5’ in length are preferable. It is often difficult to find 10’-length stock that can be cut in half to provide two 1”x 2” x 5’ target stand sticks. If a bundle of 12 1”x 2” x 8’ sticks is cut at 5 feet, you get 12 5’ sticks and 12 3’ sticks. The 12 3’ sticks can then be overlapped by a foot, screwed together with 1” drywall screws, thus yielding another six 5’ sticks. If a club has a table saw and table saw operator available, it is most cost effective to make 1”x 2” x 5’ target stand sticks by buying and cutting to size, readily available 2” x 4” x 10’ timbers.

WET CONDITIONS

When rainy match conditions are expected the best target arrangements use a target stand that leans forward towards the shooter with utilizing two 5’ target sticks. To this is firmly stapled a “backer” consisting of a AC-1 target inside a 30-gallon plastic garbage bag. This backer assembly is then stapled at the top of the 5’sticks at the point on the target where the straight side of the AC-1 target ends and the semi-circle portion at the top of the target begins. This generally best supports the target and places the top of the target about 70” above the ground.

The AC-1 target itself is then clamped to the front of the plastic-enclosed backer with two medium “binder clamps” at the top and bottom. Such clamped targets may be readily replaced when necessary without having to delay the match.

As rain is often accompanied by some wind some care should be taken to ensure that the target sticks, and target, do not “flop” back and forth loosely in the target stand and thus, expose the target to the rain. Something should be wedged behind the target sticks to firmly “jam” the target stick/target assembly forward, toward the shooter. If available, empty 12-gauge shotgun hulls often work well for this purpose.

TARGET HEIGHT

Target heights can be varied to ensure that bullets passing through the targets come to rest safely in the impact berms. Targets are placed at different distances ranging from 15’ to 75’ from the shooting position. Target heights, distances between the targets and the shooting position, and distances between targets can be varied to fit a given range facility as long as all individual stage setups are functionally identical.

RANGE EQUIPMENT

Range equipment needed for a “Five to GLOCK” setup consists of 5 such target stands for the NRA AC-1 targets.

Normal range equipment needed for a “GLOCK ‘M” consists of four of the same target stands and one USPSA “Pepper Popper” or equivalent. Steel targets can vary so long as the steel erected on all individual stages are functionally identical. Steel targets are placed at 33’ to 60’ from the shooting position depending on the “GLOCK ‘M” version used. The minimum 33’ distance is most common.

The “Rimfire” and “Pocket GLOCK” (G42 Only), and any division open to the G28 (.380) must always be shot in “ring and paint” mode due to the lower power of the .380/.22lr rounds. “Ring and Paint” is now the standard GLOCK ‘M setup option. Should a host club have sufficient steel targets available to do so, 3 “knock down” steel targets may be erected in the classic optional “knock down” mode rather than “ring and paint” mode on each individual stage setup.

Range equipment needed for a “GLOCK the Plates” setup consists of a “Bianchi” Plate Rack or the smaller version generally called a “Speed Rack”. The plates themselves are normally round and 8” in diameter or hexagonal in shape. They may vary at a given Host club provided all plate racks used for the match are functionally identical.

PLATE RACKS

For locations within a one day drive of Atlanta, GA, GSSF can often supply the steel targets necessary to fully equip up to six “GLOCK the Plates” stages. By the third year of its participation in the GSSF program, it is requested that Host Clubs obtain their own steel targets sufficient to equip their own respective annual GSSF matches.

New host clubs can sometimes arrange for GSSF to finance their acquisition of such equipment. The costs of this are subsequently set against the per-match entry compensation GSSF normally pays to the host club for as many successive years of annual GSSF matches as are necessary to “pay” for the equipment provided “up front” to the new Host Club by GSSF. This is discussed further in the “Host Club Compensation” section below.

NUMBER OF STAGE SETUPS REQUIRED FOR A SUCCESSFUL GSSF MATCH

We have observed that at the GSSF matches that are best received by our individual members those members are generally able to arrive, shoot their match entries, and leave in no more than about three hours. If it takes longer the member often has a negative experience and is not as likely to return to that particular match the next year nor bring new shooters with them.

A GSSF match usually runs from between 9AM to about 4 to 5PM each of the two weekend days that it is held. Generally speaking about 60% to 70% of GSSF entries are shot on Saturday and the remaining 30% to 40% on Sunday.

It is understood that a single stage setup of “Five to GLOCK” or “GLOCK ‘M” can conduct one “entry” about every 5 minutes, or about 12 per hour. Therefore, a GSSF match setup consisting of only one of each of the three stage setups (a 1/1/1 setup) can cycle about 80 entries per day, or 160 entries for the entire two-day match.

Matches that generally draw less than 200 entries from one year to another are often discontinued after being given several chances to increase in size. For a minimum sustainable GSSF match of 250 match entries the host club should plan a minimum of two each of “Five to GLOCK” and “GLOCK ‘M” and one “GLOCK the Plates” (referred to as a 2/2/1 stage setup).

For matches of 250 to 300 entries the host club should plan for a 3/3/1 or 3/3/2 setup. For matches from 300 to 400 entries the host club should plan for a 4/4/2 or better setup.

VOLUNTEER SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS

It is ALWAYS better to have more setups than needed. The quicker all the GSSF member participants can be cycled through the match the better they like it and the more likely the match will experience future growth from year to year. It also reduces the workload on the individual Volunteer. Overworked Volunteers are less likely to participate the next time. The “rule of thumb” is that the Host organization needs about three Volunteers to man each stage setup. Add another 25% for relief’s, etc.

For a 2/2/1 setup the Host Club would need about (5 x 3) = 15 Volunteers plus 5 for a total of 20 Volunteers.

A 3/3/2 setup should have (8 x 3) = 24 Volunteers + 6 = 30 Volunteers

Most Volunteers do not need any special training or certification. Most Volunteer duties consist of scoring and administrating the shooting order. For those Volunteers who supervise shooters, individuals who have training and/or experience as a Range Officer at other pistol shooting competitions such as IDPA or USPSA are preferable.

HOST CLUB COMPENSATION

For the first 200 entries or less, the Host Club receives two certificates redeemable for GLOCK Firearms.

For every “round” 100 entries above 200 entries, the Host Club receives an additional certificate.

For entries “above” the last round 100 entries, the typical per-entry fee to the host club is usually set at $4. Or the Host club can pay GSSF the difference for an additional certificate.

For example, let us assume a GSSF match totaling 470 match entries. The Host club would receive 4 GLOCK certificates for entries 1-400. The remaining 70 entries can be handled either of two ways at the discretion of the Host club.

Either:

  • GSSF pays the host club at $4 per entry (70 x $4 = $280). Or,
  • The Host club pays GSSF the difference ((500-470) x $4 = $120) for a fifth GLOCK firearms certificate.

The host club also receives one (1) certificate redeemable for a GLOCK firearm compensation for providing lunch to the volunteers on Saturday and Sunday.

VOLUNTEER RANGE OFFICER COMPENSATION

Each Volunteer gets a GSSF Range Officer hat. Additionally, they receive their choice of several GLOCK products based on the number of days they volunteer. Items include magazines for GLOCK firearms, one-year or two-year GSSF membership, or a no-charge entry for the match itself. All competitors are eligible for match awards as well.

At the conclusion of the event, GSSF will raffle one (1) certificate redeemable for a GLOCK firearm to the volunteers that worked the match. If the Host Club sets a new attendance record, a “Record” certificate will also be raffled to the volunteers that worked the match.