Before the match: equipment control

The single most important thing you can do before your first ISSF competition is to clear equipment control before match day. The Equipment Control Section is open from the official training day (ISSF Rule 6.7.6.2) and runs throughout the competition, but you do not want to be in the queue at 07:00 on the morning of your relay.

At major competitions — World Cups, Continental Championships, and above — the process works like an assembly line:

  1. Data entry: Your name, ISSF ID, and events are recorded on an Equipment Control Card.
  2. Rifle inspection: A judge checks dimensions, trigger weight, overall weight, butt-plate width, sight compliance, and any attachments against the templates in ISSF Rule 7.4.4. For air rifle, the maximum weight is 5.5 kg and the total length may not exceed 850 mm. For air pistol, the maximum weight is 1.5 kg with a minimum trigger pull of 500 g.
  3. Clothing checks: Jacket thickness (2.5 mm single / 5.0 mm double), stiffness (a deflection of 3.0 mm is required), overlap (80 mm minimum), trouser thickness, shoe-sole flexibility, and glove dimensions are all measured on specialised devices. Clothing that passes gets an ISSF seal — a tamper-evident sticker with a serial number unique to you.

The rifle is marked with an indelible pen and you receive a copy of the Equipment Control Card, which you must keep with your equipment at all times.

Practical advice: If your jacket stiffness is borderline (testing at 3.0 or 3.1 mm), it is at high risk of failing on re-inspection. Build in tolerance. If a clothing item fails three separate inspections, it must not be used (ISSF Rule 6.1).

Packing your kit bag

Arriving at the range without a critical item is a needless source of stress. Here is a checklist that goes beyond the obvious:

  • Pellets: Bring more than you need. A 10m air rifle match is 60 shots; air pistol is also 60 shots. A tin of 500 gives you plenty of room for sighters and spills.
  • Pellet trap / pellet catcher: Some ranges provide these; many do not. A simple bullet trap lets you test-fire on the sighting range or in your hotel room (if permitted).
  • Air / CO2 supply: Check that your cylinder is within its manufacturer's validity date — ISSF Rule 6.7.6.2.h states this may be checked, and in some countries using an expired cylinder is a federal offence. Bring a filled spare.
  • Tools: Allen keys, a small screwdriver set, and any tools needed to adjust your sights, butt-plate, or hand-stop.
  • Spare parts: A spare front-sight insert, an extra recoil absorber (pistol), and o-rings for your air cylinder. Small things that break.
  • Clothing: Jacket, trousers, shoes, glove, and a belt (maximum 40 mm wide per ISSF Rule 7.5.5.1.d). Do not forget your underclothing — it must not exceed 2.5 mm single thickness.
  • Comfort items: Water bottle, a light snack (banana or energy bar), earplugs if you are sensitive to neighbouring shots, and a towel.

Match-day timeline

A typical ISSF 10m competition day follows this structure:

1. Report to the range

Arrive at least 60–90 minutes before your relay. Find your firing point, set up your equipment, and get comfortable. If equipment control is still open and you have any doubts, get a re-check now rather than after the match.

2. Preparation and sighting (15 minutes)

When the Range Officer gives the preparation command, the 15-minute sighting period begins. During this time you may fire an unlimited number of shots. The targets are marked as sighting targets — these shots do not count toward your score.

Use this time wisely:

  • Confirm your zero. Fire 3–5 shots at the sighting target and check where they land.
  • Check your sight picture and natural point of aim.
  • Do not rush. You have 15 minutes; most experienced shooters are done sighting within 5–7 minutes.
  • Do not use sighting time to "practise" your shot process — that is what training is for. Use it to confirm equipment settings.

3. The match

After the sighting period, the command "Start" is given and the competition clock begins. For 10m air rifle and air pistol qualification, athletes fire 60 shots within a time limit (75 minutes for rifle, 60 minutes for pistol in the current format). Each shot is scored in tenths — the inner ten is further divided into decimal scoring zones (10.0 through 10.9).

During the match:

  • Follow your shot process for every single shot, regardless of score. A bad shot is behind you; the next shot is a clean start.
  • Monitor your time. Most shooters average 60–90 seconds per shot in qualification. If you fall behind schedule, speed up slightly — but do not sacrifice your process.
  • Do not look at other shooters' scores on the electronic display. It is tempting, but it feeds anxiety.
  • If your rifle malfunctions, raise your hand and wait for the Range Officer. Do not attempt repairs yourself.

4. Post-competition checks

After you finish, do not leave the firing point immediately. The Equipment Control Jury conducts random post-competition checks, and all athletes who qualify for a Final are tested (stiffness, dimensions, weight). If you are selected, an escort will accompany you — this is standard procedure, not an accusation.

Managing competition nerves

Research published by the ISSF Medical Committee confirms what every competitive shooter already knows: performance typically decreases from training to competition. Holding ability, aiming accuracy, and cleanness of triggering all suffer. This is entirely normal — and it is more pronounced in your first few competitions.

A few evidence-based strategies:

  • Accept the drop: Knowing that a 5–10 point drop from your training average is normal takes away the panic when it happens. Elite shooters train specifically to close this gap, but it never disappears entirely.
  • Control what you can: Equipment preparation, sleep the night before, nutrition, and your shot process are all within your control. The scores are not — let them go.
  • Breathe: Competition heart rates are typically higher than in training. A deliberate breathing routine between shots (for example, three slow breaths before each shot cycle) brings your heart rate down and improves the stability of your hold.
  • Focus on process, not outcome: ISSF research on the seven physical components of air rifle technique shows that stability of hold alone accounts for 54% of the variance in shooting score. Thinking about the "outcome" (the score) disrupts the automatic execution of your hold and trigger. Think about your stance, your breathing, your follow-through — the score takes care of itself.

After the match: review and improve

The competition does not end when the last shot is fired. What you do with the data matters:

  • Save your target: Photograph it with TargetLog — the app automatically scores each shot using ISSF decimal rules and stores the full session data for comparison over time.
  • Compare to training: Look at your average, your standard deviation, and how many inner-tens you shot. Compare these numbers to your training data. The gaps tell you what to work on.
  • Write notes: What went well? What felt different from training? Was your stance uncomfortable, did your pellets group differently, or did your trigger feel heavier under pressure? These notes are gold for your coach and for your future self.

Common first-match mistakes

These come up at every club-level and national competition:

  • Skipping equipment control: Arriving on match day with untested clothing is a gamble. Get it done on the training day.
  • Changing settings during the match: If your zero is confirmed during sighting, resist the urge to adjust during the match. Small drifts in point of impact are more often caused by you than the rifle.
  • Rushing the first 10 shots: Adrenaline makes everything feel urgent. Fight the impulse. Your first shots should be the most deliberate, not the fastest.
  • Forgetting to eat and drink: A 75-minute match without water or a snack affects concentration and fine motor control. Drink between shots and eat something small before stepping onto the range.
  • Staring at the scoreboard: The electronic results display updates after every shot. Looking at it after a bad shot adds a second, emotional penalty on top of the first. Set a personal rule: check the scoreboard only after every 10 shots, or not at all.

Getting ready for your next competition

Your first match is a learning experience. Every competition after that is an opportunity to sharpen the skills that only real-match pressure can build. ISSF research emphasises that nothing recreates the stress and anxiety of a live competition — so the fastest way to improve under pressure is to compete more often.

Start with local and club-level events before moving to national or international competitions. The format is the same, the stakes are lower, and the equipment checks are less formal — giving you a low-pressure environment to practise the routines that will serve you at every level.

For tracking your progress across competitions and training sessions, download TargetLog and let the app handle the scoring so you can focus on shooting.