THE TOTAL OPERATOR CHALLENGE RULE BOOK
1. Federal and State Law
a. It is the candidate’s responsibility to know, understand, and comply with all Federal, State, and local regulations related to the use and transportation of firearms, including all applicable National Firearms Act (NFA) rules concerning the construction, transportation, and use of any gun governed by NFA regulations. By registering for The Total Operator Challenge (TOC), each candidate affirms that they are legally able to handle firearms in accordance with federal and state laws.
2. General Rules
a. It is the candidate’s responsibility to read and understand the rules set forth by TOC and agree to be subject to these rules while participating in any TOC event.
b. It is the candidate’s responsibility to be present at the daily safety briefs. TOC runs on a very tight schedule, and if a candidate is late, it can back up the entire competition. Missing a safety briefing creates an unsafe condition and is disrespectful to all other candidates and the event staff; therefore, missing or being late to a safety briefing will result in a match DQ.
c. It is the candidate’s responsibility to read and understand the Written Stage Briefing (WSB) before competing in the stage.
d. It is the candidate’s responsibility to be on time and present for all verbal stage briefs.
e. It is the candidate’s responsibility to understand and obey any special conditions or requirements stipulated in the aforementioned documents or briefs. If there is a conflict in the documentation, the following order of precedence shall be used.
(1) Nothing supersedes the “Five General Rules of Firearm Safety.
(2) The written stage brief supersedes the Total Operator Challenge (TOC) rule set.
(3) The Verbal Stage Brief supersedes the Written Stage Brief.
f. Ballistic-rated eye protection is mandatory for Candidates, spectators, & officials at the event site.
g. Ear protection is mandatory for Candidates, spectators, & officials while on or near a stage while live fire is happening.
h. No Candidates or spectators shall consume or be under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs at the event site. Any competitor or spectator suspected to be impaired because of legitimate prescription drugs will be directed to stop shooting, and a match DQ will be issued.
i. Candidates must obey venue speed limits and rules. Violation will result in being ejected from the property and assessed a DNF (Did Not Finish) score for the remainder of the match. No refunds will be given.
j. Match officials may have to take actions to ensure completion of the match such as removing stages from the competition and any other measures deemed necessary to complete the competition.
(1) In extreme circumstances, if the competition cannot be completed, match officials reserve the right to end the competition and distribute the awards based on current standings.
k. Any rule not explicitly covered by this document will be resolved with a ruling by the Match Director (MD) or his designee. Rulings by the MD or his designee will be final and will serve as a precedent for the duration of the event.
l. In regards to prizes for divisions, the following rules apply:
(1) Prizes will only be awarded to first place in a division with 3-5 Candidates.
(2) Prizes will only be awarded to first and second place in a division with 6-8 Candidates.
(3) Prizes will be awarded to first through third place in divisions with 9 or more Candidates.
(4) Shooting targets to be used in a match outside of the competition will result in a match DQ.
3. General Conduct & Dispute Resolution
a. The total Operator Challenge reserves the right to revoke any title, trophy, or prize from any competitor at any time if it is found that they cheated, used unauthorized equipment, gained an unfair advantage not permitted by the rules or the spirit of the Games, or behaved unethically in relation to The Total Operator Challenge or its events.
b. TOC events are conducted on private property, and all staff and candidates are guests. Candidates and spectators are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous and sportsmanlike manner at all times.
(1) Any person who violates this rule may be ejected from the event site at the MD's discretion.
(2) Candidates may be subject to event disqualification for safety or conduct violations. Disqualification will result in complete disqualification from the event; the competitor will not be allowed to continue, nor be eligible for prizes, and will not receive a refund.
c. Clothing with any offensive or obscene logos, sayings, pictures, or drawings must not be worn or displayed while at the event site.
d. Clothing must be appropriate range attire, and should provide reasonably adequate protection against minor injuries such as scrapes, abrasions, hot brass, or injuries caused by tactical activities. If your clothing is found to be inadequate for protecting the candidate’s skin, the competitor will be asked to change into clothing that adequately covers their skin for the stage.
e. A competitor shall be disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. Examples of unsportsmanlike conduct include, but are not limited to:
(1) Intentionally altering a target prior to the target being scored to gain an advantage or avoid a penalty
(2) Altering or falsifying score sheets
(3) Altering the configuration of firearms or equipment without permission from the MD
(4) Threatening or assaulting other Candidates or Event Officials
(5) Disruptive behavior likely to disturb or distract other Candidates while they are shooting
(6) Willful disregard of Event Official instructions
(7) Attempting to or successfully altering movement standards to reduce the workload required to complete the movement.
f. The MD will make the final decision on all disqualifications and reshoots.
g. If a competitor wishes to arbitrate a score (time finished, number of hits/misses, or any other item), the following process will be followed:
(1) After the athlete judging is complete, athletes will review their scores, including time finished, number of hits/misses, points earned, etc. If there is an issue with the finish time or work performed, it will be addressed immediately. It is also required that the athlete capture a photo of their target(s). This photo will be brought to the MD or representative for review.
(2) The MD will review the dispute and make a final ruling.
(3) The MD will notify the competitor of the decision.
(4) After completion of the competition on Sunday, there will be a final arbitration period. This process is as follows:
(a) The final tally of the scores will be posted.
(b) The MD will announce the start of the arbitration period. This period will be left open for 15 minutes, unless the arbitrations under review require more time; if so, it will continue until all issues have been addressed.
(c) After the arbitration period is complete, the final scores will be posted. No further review of scores will be entertained. No scores will be adjusted after this period.
(d) After this time, no further review of scores, videos, targets, etc. will be conducted, and the scores will remain FINAL regardless of any later findings. The only exception to this rule is a finding of cheating, at which point changes will be made.
4. Competitor Safety
a. All events will be run on cold ranges.
b. Candidates' firearms will remain unloaded at the event site except under the direction and supervision of an Event Official.
c. Firearms may only be handled and/or displayed in a designated safe area.
d. Event officials will designate safety areas.
e. No firearm may be loaded in a safety area.
f. No ammunition (including dummy ammunition or snap caps) may be handled in a safety area.
g. Firearms may be transported to, from, and between stages only in the following conditions:
h. Handguns must be unloaded, cased or holstered, de-cocked, and with the magazine removed (Cleared).
i. Rifles must be unloaded, cased, secured muzzle up or muzzle down in a stable gun cart/caddy, or carried slung with the muzzle up or down. A chamber flag must be inserted, and detachable magazines must be removed. High-visibility chamber flags must be used at all matches.
j. A competitor who causes an unsafe discharge will be stopped by an Event Official as soon as possible and shall receive a MATCH Disqualification (DQ). Examples of unsafe discharge include:
(1) Any round discharged during a clearing procedure
(2) An accidental or negligent discharge that travels over a backstop, a berm, or in any other direction deemed by Event Officials to be unsafe.
(3) The discharge of any firearm other than when it is pointed at a target.
(4) A shot that occurs during remedial action in the case of a malfunction.
(5) A shot which occurs during movement, except while engaging targets.
(6) A shot that occurs while transferring a firearm between hands.
(7) Exception – a shot that strikes the ground due to a "squib."
(8) Exception – a detonation which occurs while unloading a firearm. A "detonation" is defined as the ignition of the primer of a round, other than by action of a firing pin, where the projectile or shot does not pass through the barrel (e.g., when a slide is being manually retracted, when a round is dropped, etc.).
(9) Exception – A "slam fire" detonation caused by the firing pin traveling forward when the gun is on safe during "make ready" that does not travel over the berm or impacts in a safe place. If the gun can be repaired and demonstrated to be safe to match the staff, the competitor may continue with it.
k. A competitor who performs an act of unsafe gun handling will be stopped by an Event Official as soon as possible and shall be disqualified. Examples of unsafe gun handling include:
(1) Dropping a firearm at any time after the "Make Ready" or "Go" command and before the "Range Is Clear" or "Cease Fire" command. Dropping a cleared firearm will not result in a match DQ. A firearm is considered clear when it has been inspected by match staff.
(2) Use of any non-approved ammunition will result in a MATCH DQ.
(3) Shooting of any barricade or prop made of wood on the firing line will result in a Stage DQ.
(4) Shooting any barricade or prop made of steel will result in a match DQ.
l. Abandoning a firearm during a stage in any location other than a designated safe abandonment location, as stipulated in the stage briefing, will result in a MATCH DQ.
(1) This includes intentionally leaving a firearm to gain a competitive advantage.
(2) Firearms abandoned in an unsafe manner that result in a discharge will result in a MATCH DQ.
(3) Firearms may only be abandoned in one of the following conditions:
(a) Loaded, safety catch fully engaged, muzzle pointed in the designated safe direction.
(b) Completely unloaded (no ammunition in the firearm), detachable magazine removed, muzzle pointed in the designated safe direction.
m. Unloading any firearm in an unsafe manner will result in a MATCH DQ.
n. Allowing the muzzle of a firearm to break the 180-degree safety plane, designated safety plane, or prohibited muzzle safe direction as outlined in the stage briefing will result in a MATCH DQ.
o. In the case of a competitor facing downrange, the muzzle of a loaded handgun may point slightly uprange while drawing, so long as it does not point outside an imaginary circle of three (3) feet radius from the candidate’s feet.
p. Engaging a steel target in an unsafe manner will result in a MATCH DQ, such as:
(1) Engaging steel targets with handgun ammunition at a range of less than 7 yards.
(2) Engaging steel targets with rifle ammunition at a range of less than 50 yards.
q. Allowing the muzzle of a firearm to point at any part of the competitor, or any other competitor, at any time (i.e., sweeping) will result in a MATCH DQ.
(1) Exception – sweeping of the shooter's lower extremities (below the belt) while drawing a handgun, provided that the candidate’s fingers are clearly outside of the trigger guard.
r. Pointing a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, in any direction deemed by Event Officials to be unsafe will result in a MATCH DQ.
s. Candidates may receive a single STAGE DQ in a match; any further infractions that would be deemed a Stage DQ will be treated as a MATCH DQ.
t. Unless otherwise stipulated in the stage briefing, required firearms will begin the stage in the following ready conditions:
(1) Handgun: Holstered with no magazine inserted.
(2) Rifle: Unloaded, on safe, and in a designated area.
u. At no point may the competitor shoot a firearm while holding a second firearm. This will result in a match DQ.
v. At no time may any person enter the stage who is not currently competing, judging, match staff, or a volunteer.
5. Equipment
a. All equipment must start and finish the match in the same condition. Altering equipment to gain a competitive advantage is prohibited and will result in a Match DQ. Removal of any attached equipment after the athlete checks in will result in a stage DQ.
b. If a competitor experiences a malfunction during the course of a stage, it is the competitor's responsibility to return their weapon to a safe operating condition. If the candidate is unable to clear the malfunction, they may continue the stage without using that specific weapon system or replace it with a standby firearm.
c. Replacement of the firearm must be approved by the stage Range Officer (RO) and will be subject to review immediately upon completion of the stage.
d. At no point may a firearm be removed from the firing line without first being cleared by match staff.
e. If a firearm experiences a catastrophic malfunction, it is to be grounded in a safe direction on the firing line, and the stage RO will be called. At this time, the RO will release the athlete to retrieve a standby firearm.
f. The Candidates must retrieve the firearm; it may not be brought onto the field of play by another person.
6. Magazine Retention:
a. Some stages will require candidates to retain and carry up to five (5) magazines of both pistol and rifle.
b. The manner of retention may be reconfigured during a match.
7. Ammunition
a. Handgun ammunition shall be 9mm Parabellum (9x19mm NATO) or larger, unless otherwise stipulated under equipment division rules. Pistol ammunition must meet or exceed 125 power-factor.
b. Rifle ammunition shall be .223 Remington (5.56x45mm NATO) or larger, maximum 3200fps
(1) Event Officials may use a chronograph to verify compliance. Candidates may be selected for testing on any basis approved by the Match Director. The chronograph procedure is as follows:
(a) The chronograph will be placed at an appropriate distance from the muzzle of the firearm.
(b) Event staff will load and shoot the firearm over the chronograph.
(c) Rounds will be fired, and the average velocity will be used to determine the power factor.
(2) Handgun power factor requirements are 125PF for 9mm, 165PF for .40SW, .45acp, and 10mm (Bullet Weight in Grains X Speed in FPS)/1000= Power Factor. I.e., (115gr X 1087FPS)/1000= 125.005 PF
c. AK ammunition is acceptable but may not be steel core. Maximum 3200FPS
d. Ammunition containing tracer, incendiary, armor-piercing, steel-jacketed, or steel/tungsten/penetrator core projectiles is unsafe and prohibited.
e. No bi-metal ammunition is permitted. Bi-metal is the less expensive Full Metal Jacket made with a lead center, steel jacket, and a copper wash, making it appear like the standard lead/copper full metal jacket accepted at most ranges.
f. Candidates will be financially responsible for replacing targets damaged by prohibited ammunition.
g. A match DQ will be issued for anyone found to be shooting prohibited ammo.
h. Magnets may be used to inspect ammo at any time while on the venue property.
i. Candidates found in violation of possessing/using ammo prohibited in section 7 and its sub-sections will receive a Match DQ and will not receive a refund. Do not bring prohibited ammo to the event.
8. Firearms:
a. All firearms used by Candidates must be serviceable and safe. Event Officials may inspect a candidate’s firearms at any time to check they are functioning safely.
(1) If any firearm is declared unserviceable or unsafe by an Event Official, it must be withdrawn from the event until it is repaired to the satisfaction of the Range Master.
b. Firearms must be of a factory configuration. Prototype firearms are specifically prohibited.
c. Internal and External modifications are allowed, provided the changes do not alter the original function and operation of the firearm.
d. Firearms capable of fully automatic or burst-fire may only be used in semi-auto mode (i.e., not more than one (1) round fired with each pull of the trigger). Violation of this rule will result in a match DQ.
e. No factory safeties may be disabled on rifle/pistol. This includes the firing pin block, grip safety, and trigger safety.
f. Candidates must use the same firearms (handgun and Rifle) for the entire event, including the optic which is mounted on that firearm when it is initially inspected before the event.
g. Candidates generally may not reconfigure any firearm during the course of the event. Explicitly prohibited acts include changing caliber, barrel length, sighting systems, and/or stock style.
h. Lasers cannot be used unless specifically allowed on stage.
i. Catastrophic Malfunctions: Defined as an inability for the firearm to pass projectiles down range. This definition does not include a loss of zero, loss of electronic-optical sight picture, or ejection issues.
j. If a candidate’s firearm becomes unserviceable, that competitor may repair their firearm with directly equivalent replacement parts.
(1) If replacement parts result in a significant change to the firearm configuration, then the repair must be approved by the Match Director.
(2) This can be done during the course of a stage; the entire situation will be put under review immediately following the stage.
(3) The MD will determine any penalties or time added, and the decision will be final.
k. If a participant's firearm becomes unserviceable, that participant may replace their firearm with another firearm.
(1) This can be done during a course of fire; no competitive advantage should be gained, and the entire situation will go under review with the MD immediately after the completion of the stage.
(2) If a competitor swapped the firearm, and the MD can clear the malfunction without the use of additional tools, the competitor will receive a stage DQ.
(3) If it is discovered that a competitor was attempting to gain a competitive advantage, the situation will result in a MATCH DQ.
l. If a candidate’s firearm becomes unserviceable and no replacement parts or gun is provided;
(1) The competitor will receive a 10-second penalty for each firing sequence and a 5-second penalty for every shot not taken, in addition to the misses counted on paper.
(2) If points are being used, a point per shot not taken will be removed from the score.
(3) If using As Many Rounds As Possible (AMRAP) scoring, the score that the Candidate earned before the malfunction will stand.
9. Handgun:
a. Slide-mounted red dots are allowed in all divisions. Electronic laser sights are prohibited.
b. Compensators are allowed on pistols
c. Handgun holsters must be a practical/tactical carry style and must safely retain the handgun during vigorous movement
(1) must completely cover the trigger.
(2) Holsters must have active retention; if turned upside down, the pistol must not fall out of the holster.
(3) Revolver holsters must completely cover the trigger and the cylinder.
(4) The belt upon which the handgun holster is attached must be worn at waist level.
(5) Shoulder holsters and cross-draw holsters are prohibited.
(6) Belly bags or "fanny packs" are prohibited as they do not adequately protect the trigger from being depressed while in the bags.
d. If an unloaded firearm falls out of a holster at any time during a stage, it will result in a stage DQ.
e. Unless in the case of a catastrophic malfunction, a single holster must be used for the entirety of the match. The MD must approve any changes to holsters.
f. Magazines' length may not exceed 170mm in the case of single-column magazines and may not exceed 140mm in the case of staggered-column magazines.
g. Calibers Allowed: 9mm, 40s&w, 45acp, 10mm
10. Rifle:
a. There are no main optic restrictions on rifles.
b. Rifles may be equipped with a secondary optic (offset or top-mounted red dot sights are authorized, but not required).
c. Supporting devices mounted to the rifle are prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to
(1) bipods,
(2) tripods,
(3) support bags.
d. Slings are a required piece of equipment.
(1) Slings must remain attached to rifles unless otherwise stated.
(2) Slings must remain on rifles for the entirety of the match.
e. Only non-ported muzzle devices are authorized. These devices must direct ALL gas generally forward in line with the barrel. Any ports, holes, etc that let gas escape in any direction that is not directly in line and parallel to the barrel will NOT BE ALLOWED.
f. This rule prevents a muzzle device from obstructing the view of the targets to the person to the left and right of you on the firing line. It also reduces the potential for blast trauma to fellow candidates. This rule has nothing to do with an advantage gained by a compensator or brake.
(1) A2 or Birdcage muzzle devices
(2) Three-pronged or four-pronged devices are permitted.
(3) Suppressors are permitted but must stay on the weapon throughout the event.
(4) Blast forward devices are approved, such as the Surefire Warden.
(5) Compensators and Brakes that are not covered by a blast forward device outlined above ARE NOT ALLOWED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
(a) In the event the blast forward device is removed at any point, the competitor will be immediately DQ'd.
g. No more than 30 rounds may be loaded per magazine.
11. Scoring and Penalties
a. Each stage has a maximum point value of 100 match points.
b. There are three main scoring systems:
(1) Time Plus Penalties, in which your score will be determined by the following;
(a) The time it takes to complete the stage (raw time)
(b) Plus time penalties which result from misses of incomplete tasks.
(c) Missed shots will be assessed a 10-second penalty per missed shot unless otherwise noted in the stage brief.
(d) Other penalties will be explained in the stage brief.
(e) Once the penalties are added to the raw time in seconds, this will be your final time.
(f) The Candidate with the lowest final time receives 100 match points, and everyone else will receive the percentage of their performance.
Example
Candidate 10 completes the stage in 200 seconds and has 50 seconds of penalties; their final time is 250
Candidate 20 completes the stage in 300 seconds and has 10 seconds of penalties; their final time is 310.
Candidate 10 is the stage winner and receives 100 match points. Candidate 20 receives 80.6 match points because 250/310=80.6%
(2) Points, in which you will earn points for your marksmanship and work completed.
(a) The point system will be briefed in the stage brief.
(b) The candidate who earns the most points in the time allowed receives 100 match points, and all others receive the percentage of their performance.
Example
Candidate 10 earns 175 stage points
Candidate 20 earns 165 stage points
Candidate 10 is the stage winner and receives 100 match points. Candidate 20 receives
94.3 match points because 165/175=94.3%
(3) As Many Rounds As Possible (AMRAP)
(a) Your fitness is not scored, but earns rounds (bullets) to shoot.
(b) Your score is whatever you earn with your marksmanship skills.
(c) The score is calculated in the same way as the points stage.
c. Paper targets will be used in various stages throughout the events.
(1) Candidates will be given a written stage brief and verbal walk-through explaining the targets, their hit and miss areas, and whether or not there are any low percentage targets.
(2) Rounds striking the "hit" zone will be counted as hits.
(3) The rounds striking outside the "hit" zone will be counted as misses.
(4) If a "grease ring" of a round strike touches the "hit" zone line even the slightest bit, the round will be counted as a hit.
d. Steel Targets may be utilized.
(1) Steel targets will be counted as hit or miss.
(2) Sometimes, strike indicator lights will be used to assist the judges in determining whether a round fired was a hit or a miss.
(3) The judges will also be aware of failed strike indicator lights and will be watching for;
(a) splash on steel
(b) dirt splash
(c) Listen for the sound
(d) Watch for the strike indicator to illuminate.
(e) When a judge cannot discern whether or not a round fired was a hit or a miss, the benefit of the doubt will be given to the competitor.
e. Bonus targets or stop plates may be used to terminate a course of fire.
(a) This is done to allow a competitor to gain points if they are a capable marksman, rather than just moving fast under a burden.
f. All physical and shooting tasks must be performed with the stage's original intent;
(1) Any movements or shots taken outside of the stage's intent or task standards are subject to penalties as the MD deems equitable.
(2) If a task is being performed outside of the intent, a judge will ask the competitor to stop and return to the point where the movement became unacceptable and redo the task.
(3) In the case a judge does not stop the task, or it is done outside of the view of the judge, the Stage Boss and/or MD reserves the right to add a time penalty after completion.
(4) If you have questions regarding movement standards, ask the Stage Boss ahead of time.
(a) This can be done privately after the stage brief is completed.
g. A minimum work requirement will be set to score above zero.
(1) This will be very rare, and all stages will be programmed with options that allow all competitors to continue.
(2) If the minimum requirement is not met, a "Did Not Finish" (DNF) will be issued for that stage, resulting in a score of zero.
(3) In ALL cases, the competitor will be able to continue to compete in the competition after receiving a DNF (0) for a stage.
12. Weather Affecting Targets
a. A weather-affected target must be partially or wholly obscured or removed from the backer.
(1) This could be caused by any natural means, including but not limited to;
(a) Heavy wind and rain that alter the viewability of the target scoring area.
(b) Harsh weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, which cause the backer to move, but do not alter viewability, are not considered to be affected.
(2) In the case of weather affecting targets, the competitor must engage the target as though it is still present.
(a) Performing the proper firing sequence as prescribed.
(b) At the same cadence as they did in previous rounds.
(c) Failure to do so will result in a score of 0 hits for that target.
(3) In the case that a target cannot be removed from the backer without causing the target to be destroyed, a photo will be taken of the target, and the photo will be scored. The image will be made available to the shooter upon request.
(4) Targets that become un-shootable, meaning they are completely obscured or have been removed from the backer, will be scored as follows;
(5) If a target is partially obscured, the judge will make the RO aware of the situation and will note the round in which it occurs. This will be reported to the scorer's table.
(6) If a firing sequence (F/S) or multiple F/S have been completed, the average of those scores will be applied to the remaining F/S.
Example
4X10 Pistol Loadout. F/S 1 and 2 are performed with a full target presentation. F/S #1 is scored as 8/10, F/S #2 is scored as 6/10. In Round 3, the target becomes obstructed due to wind, affecting F/S 3 and 4. A score of 7/10 will be applied to rounds 3 and 4.
(7) In a case where an average results in a fraction, the number will always be rounded up.
(8) If a target becomes obscured in the middle of a shooting sequence, the average will be applied to that sequence.
(9) If the target is not recoverable, or the target is obstructed before a complete round can be fired, the target will be scored as follows;
(a) An average will be created for the candidate's current available shooting percentages for all stages fired up to that point, and any additional stage completed that day. The average will be applied to the target that is not available for scoring.
Example
Stage 2 of day 1, Pistol loadout 4X10. The wind blows off the pistol target during F/S 1 after 4 rounds are fired. The target is recovered. The shooter will continue firing at the same cadence for all remaining rounds. Upon completion of the stage, the RO will confirm the situation and notify the MD. The shooter will continue to match day, all remaining paper targets for that day will be scored, and an average will be given across those targets. The average of the additional targets that day will be used as the score for rounds 1-4 for the target from stage 2.
13. Re-Shoot and Range Equipment Failure
a. For poppers, other hinged targets, falling steel, or clay targets, the following options shall apply under Weather Rules concerning re-shoots due to range equipment malfunction.
(1) If any targets are blown down, fall, or are otherwise defeated by weather-related causes BEFORE the Range Officer (RO) has activated the start timer initiating the Course Of Fire (COF), the RO shall stop the competitor, make the COF safe, remedy the target(s), and restart the competitor.
(2) If any targets are blown down, fall, or are otherwise defeated by weather-related causes AFTER the RO has activated the start timer initiating the COF, the shooter shall continue the course of fire, but MUST engage the head box of the target or its stand with the prescribed number of rounds with the correct firearm for that target.
(3) Failure to engage the defeated steel or paper target will result in all applicable Failure To Engage (FTE) penalties.
14. Work and Scaling
a. In nearly all physical stages, candidates will have the ability to scale to their capabilities.
(1) Work is weight x distance. Therefore, if the stage requires you to move 200 lbs 40 yards, then the candidate can choose to accomplish that work in one effort of 200 lbs, two efforts of 100 lbs, or four of 50 lbs.
(a) The original movement standards must remain. If it were a bear-hug carry, each effort must be carried as dictated by the movement standards.
(b) This is a competition, and it is a valuable training opportunity for each candidate.
(c) The staff will endeavor to ensure no candidate experiences a “hard stop” due to physical tasks.
(d) Scaling options will be programmed for any physical task that requires a high level of skill, such as rope climbs.
(e) The scaling options may take longer to complete than the programmed work. This is done purposely to maintain the spirit of the competition, so candidates cannot dodge programmed work to gain a competitive advantage.
15. Coaching
a. This is a competition, but coaching is authorized as long as it does not interfere with other candidates.
b. Only judges, TOC staff, and those actively conducting the stage may be on the playing field/range.
c. Competitor judges and volunteers can and should provide the Candidates with information during the physical test portions, such as rep count or time remaining.
16. Positions
a. Standing off hand
(1) The rifle must be supported entirely by the shooter’s hands and shoulder.
(2) The support hand may be placed anywhere on the handguard, but may not contact the gear.
(3) The sling may be used to create tension and improve stability.
b. Kneeling unsupported
(1) Rifle must be supported only by the shooter’s hands, shoulder, or body.
(2) The sling may be used to create tension and improve stability.
(3) No part of the shooter’s body above the knee may be in contact with the ground.
(4) The buttocks may be in contact with the heel but may not touch the ground.
c. Seated unsupported
(1) The rifle must be supported only by the shooter’s hands, shoulder, and body.
(2) The sling may be used to create tension and improve stability.
(3) The competitor must be seated on the ground, with both buttocks in contact with the ground.
(4) No part of the shooter’s body above the buttocks may be in contact with the ground.
d. Prone unsupported
(1) The rifle must be supported by the shooter’s hands, shoulder, and elbows.
(2) The shooter must lie flat on the ground, chest down, with both legs extended rearward.
(3) The magazine may contact the ground.
(4) The sling may be used to create tension and improve stability.