Several decades back (mid-1990's), I had the supreme pleasure of helping the NJ Marine Corps League initiate a competitive shooting program. Early on in that process, almost a dozen of us were invited on down to MCS Quantico to train for a week with the Marine Corps Pistol Team.
Afterward, we stressed several concepts.
The first was to work as two man training partnerships, sharing turns as shooter and coach. Each would be given the same schooling in marksmanship basics, and then shooting for excellence would commence, with coaches observing and critiquing, then each switching roles. Critiquing would concentrate on both good examples of marksmanship performance as well as less good; nobody can sustain enthusiasm and confidence in an environment which showcases only the gloom and doom.
Periodically, team members would be swapped out on a random basis to keep the byplay clear and fresh, and to avoid stagnation and personality issues.
The second was to accommodate individual practice where each session confined its goals and practice to achieving a single marksmanship basic. Metrics based on scoring and other criteria were recorded and referred to as a measure of progress. The same amount (shots, time, etc.) of practice was performed for each skill, in rotation, over and over. Where progress was observed, the success was reinforced, and where not, more coaching was encouraged.
At no time were participation or progress awards distributed, the rewards were all on the mental/verbal level, and not the material level. Competition awards consisted of certificates for the first three individual places, the same for the first three Teams, and material prizes were not awarded. The overall goal was to raise skill levels, and not to enrich the participants. Team participation was the increment where the competitive spirit was exercised, with each MCL Detachment having a participating Team.
Prizes add money to the equation, bringing organizational complexities and increasing competitive stresses to levels that are incompatible with the concept that if it's not fun first, we're doing it wrong.
The program began with concentration on 3-gun Bullseye Competition, expanded to National Match Course, and Infantry Team Trophy events, then the Carlos Hathcock Sniper Match, and was leavened with family fun events (Ham Shoots, Rimfire challenges).
Our attitude was that if we weren't enjoying it, we were doing it wrong, it needed some fixing (improvement without a tireless pursuit of perfection), and that we all benefited when the individual benefited. Competition was a means to that end, and not vice-versa.
I felt and still feel that the inclusive spirit of the Corps, and its Team approach lay at the foundation of that program's continuing success.
Greg
