This policy describes actions and procedures for addressing frequent or excessive Match Disqualifications (DQs). The policy applies to all competitors engaged in any match type hosted by Austin Practical Shooting Club (APSC), including but not limited to USPSA, SCSC, and Hit Factor matches. The APSC President and Board of Directors (BOD) will make the final decision on remedial actions needed or discontinuance of APSC match participation for the effected competitor.
Effective Date: October 01, 2025
1. DQ Data Collection
All APSC matches must:
• Develop procedure(s) to collect and record the information required below for each DQ occurring during a match and report the DQ(s) to the President and BOD within one week of the match, preferably sooner.
• Report the following DQ information to the President and BOD.
• Date of DQ Offense
• Match Name
• DQed Competitor’s Name, USPSA Number, and Contact Information, if available.
• RO’s Name and Contact Information, if available.
• Brief description of violation, if necessary, and applicable rule(s) supporting the DQ.
• Any amplifying information RM feels germane to the DQ scenario.
• If the DQ was arbitrated, a copy of the arbitration paper work including arbitration result.
The DQed competitor’s data will be compiled into a single master list by the President.
The DQ data will be made available to individual Match Directors on request via email.
2. Master DQ List Evaluation
2.1 The President will review the Master DQ List monthly for excessive individual DQs and quarterly for trends of matches. The President may review the Master DQ List more frequently. The President will email match directors with the results of the monthly competitor review showing competitors with two (2) DQs. The President will email clubs with results of quarterly review.
2.2 Match Directors may request the President to review the Master DQ List for a specific competitor or Match Type to determine if either demonstrates a problem(s) as defined herein.
2.3 If a single competitor DQs a total of three times or more within rolling twelve (12) month period, the competitor will be flagged for remedial action. The rolling twelve month period covers the last day of the current month to the first day of the twelfth month prior, i.e., July 31, 2024 to August 1, 2023.
2.4 If an APSC Match Type shows excessive DQs on a quarterly review, the President will flag the match type for remedial action. Excessive DQs is defined as ten (10) DQs for the same rule infraction in a twelve month period, or a cumulative DQ rate in excess of 3.5% of the clubs total competitors for a twelve month period. Examples of remedial action are:
• Review of stage design relative to the DQs with club staff
• Require stage review and, if necessary, stage modification prior to a match by section members knowledgeable and experienced in stage design and setup
• Require club to obtain CRO certifications for stage designers, and CRO review prior to Matches.
3. Remedial Action for Competitors
3.1 The President will notify the APSC Match Director and the competitor flagged for remedial action. The competitor’s privilege of competing in APSC matches is temporarily suspended until the competitor attends and successfully completes a USPSA Safety Class defined by the President.
3.2 The President will notify USPSA of the any suspension (temporary or permanent), and reinstatement in accordance with current USPSA rule book for the applicable USPSA discipline. Notify USPSA via email with the competitor’s name, USPSA number, reason for suspension, and type of suspension (temporary or permanent). Notification should be made within three (3) working days of the suspension, but in all cases prior to the next USPSA sanctioned section match. The President will notify USPSA of a reinstatement within the same time-frame.
3.3 The President will designate a trainer (or list of trainers) to the competitor to schedule and present the USPSA Safety Class, and remedial training. The competitor may be assessed a class fee of $100 which will be paid to the training resource for their time and efforts. The President will determine the appropriate punitive “charge” for the remedial training class. A punitive charge must be approved by a majority of the APSC Board of Directors prior to assessing the charge.
3.4 Attending the USPSA Safety Class does not ensure passing the class. The competitor must show competent and safe gun handling as well as adherence to USPSA safety rules in order to pass the USPSA Safety Class. The trainer will determine if the competitor passed or failed the training course. If the competitor does not pass the USPSA Safety Class the trainer will advise the student additional training is required and schedule additional training as needed at a fee defined by the President per training event. The failure to successfully complete the required training will be documented in the Master DQ list and an appropriate amplifying information pertinent to the competitor’s failure to successfully complete the training.
3.5 The trainer will notify the President of results of the training, any pertinent additional information regarding the training, and either recommend additional training or recommend the competitor be allowed to compete in club matches. The President will determine if a match attendance suspension should be assessed beyond the remedial training based on the recommendation(s) of the trainer, and will notify the Match Director(s) of the club of the decision and the competitor.
3.6 The President will document the successful completion of remedial training in the Master DQ database. If the competitor completes ten (10) matches without a DQ, the competitor’s record will be cleared. If the competitor DQs once during this period, the competitor will discontinue attending APSC club matches for three (3) months, then attend and pass another USPSA Safety Class and remedial training as defined by the President, and the competitor must attend a USPSA Level I Seminar (USPSA Range Officer (RO) certification class), and successfully pass the examination. Attendance is required at the next Level I Seminar offered in the section, or attend any Level I Seminar offered by USPSA NROI.
3.7 A competitor flagged for excessive DQs, who successfully performed a second remedial retraining process shall be monitored until successfully competing in ten (10) matches. One (1) DQ during this time-frame will result in permanent suspension from APSC matches, and the President will notify USPSA of the competitor’s permanent suspension and recommend USPSA place the competitor on the USPSA ineligible list. If no DQs in this time-frame, the competitor’s record will be cleared.
4. Remedial Actions for APSC Matches
4.1 If an APSC Match is flagged for remedial action, the Match Director will be notified of the situation by the President.
4.2 The President will review all DQ events that occurred at the APSC Match and attempt to correlate a trend of common unsafe actions that could be remedied by alternate stage designs, Shooter Safety Training, RO Retraining, etc. Guidance will be given on a case by case basis.
4.3 If the trend of excessive DQ’s continue at a specific APSC Match, which cannot be linked to specific competitor(s) causing the issue, the President will request that the Match Director discontinue hosting matches until the Match Staff can prove competence in hosting safe matches that adhere to USPSA Safety Rules.