5th Revision Feb 1, 1998
4th Revision June 26, 1996 |
3rd Revision July 5, 1995
2nd Revision June 10, 1994 Revised November 10, 1993
December 1, 1992

The following represents official USPSA policy as adopted by the Board of Directors.

1. Classification hit factors will be input every month. All classifiers received at USPSA headquarters on or before the 10th of the month will be input that same month. Those received after the 10th will be input and reported the following month.
2. For initial classification, shooters who have 4 or more valid, different classifier scores input at Headquarters by the 10th of a month can expect to receive their classification card by the end of that same month.
3. For reclassification, the most recent 8 unduplicated classifier scores are used for determining classification percentage, the two lowest which are not duplicates are dropped before averaging the remaining high six.
4. If a shooter's membership has been expired for more than two months, classif er scores are not entered for him/her. Once a membership is renewed, classifier scores will again be entered for that shooter.
5. If a person shoots a hit factor that results in a final score of 2 percent or lower on a classifier it is not entered. That score does not count for credit for shooting the four diff rent classifier scores required for classification.
6. Effective January 1, 1997, if a classification score for one category is more than one class below the shooter's other category, the low score will not be entered. No category class will be more than one class lower than the other.
7. A person may be up-classed if the percentage he receives at a major tournament match (e.g.: Nationals, Area matches, some large Sectional and State matches, Tournaments, etc.) is in a higher class than his present classification status.
8. A person may be down-classed if the shooter requests in writing a review of is classification record; if there are no scores on record for at least one year in his assigned lass; and if the president of his club, or the Section Coordinator, writes and verifies that the shooter's ability actually is in the lower class requested. Final decision to down-class remains with President of USPSA. (Special circumstances may be considered in cases of severe, permanent injury.)
9. If a person loses his classification by dropping membership for a period of three years or less, he shall be reinstated in class according to previously known ability once he resumes competing.
10. All classification score sheets must be returned toUSPSA for entry. Neither the Range officer nor the Competitor may cross out or invalidate a score, and that future revisions to the classification score sheets reflect this change in policy. (adopted 2/1/98)
11. If a shooter is not classified in a particular category, the first four scoresheets will be accepted regardless of percentage, but the shooters initial classification wil not be more than one class lower than the other category. (adopted 2/1/98)

1. If the error is ours and we accidentally missed inputting the score/scores, the score is input as soon as the mistake becomes known. If a person becomes classified as a result of entering that score he will be sent a classification card immediately.
2. If a club forgets to write "new" or "pending" by a new shooter's name on the hit factor summary sheet; if the shooter was indeed a member when the classifier was shot r within two weeks after it was shot, his score/scores will be input.
3. If a club forgets or delays sending in a shooter's membership application an fee, so that the shooter doesn't get credit for classifiers shot when he, in good faith, believe himself to be a member.
4. If a lapsed member renews and requests that scores be added (See page 5, section 5).
5. If a club president requests in writing that a member's score(s) be moved fr m Open to Limited or Limited to Open because of an error in reporting, i.e. the scores were print d on the wrong summary sheet.
6. When scores are input in this manner, and by those scores a shooter becomes classified, the shooter must wait to receive his classification card until the next monthly bat h of cards is sent out, except in case #1 (above) when the mistake was made at Headquarters.

1. If the shooter shoots a classifier when he is not a member and does not join USPSA until more than two weeks after the classifier was shot.
2. If the club left off the shooter's name and hit factor completely from the summary sheet. (Because there is no proof that he did shoot the classifier on that day, or that if he shot, it was a valid score).
3. If a person shoots a hit factor that results in a final score of 2 percent or lower on a classifier, it is not entered. That score does not count for credit for shooting the four clasification scores required for classification.

1. Mission Count Verification and Summary Sheet Preparation: Classification packets are given to Mission Count Coordinator for verification of correct mission count and appropriate payment of fees. Any Pending or New members are highlig ted with a marker. Match date is highlighted and Club Identifier number written on Match summary sheet. Coordinator then updates mission count activity in computer files.
    
2. Verification of Hit Factors and Pending Membership Numbers: Hit factors on score cards and match summary sheets are individually checked for errors, i.e. Minor point values used if Minor is circled on score cards, number of shots recorded equal minimum shots required and string times are added correctly. If a hit factor is incorrect, the incorrect number on the match summary sheet is crossed out and the correct number written next to it. Pending and New member numbers are checked. If there is no number, the match summary sheet is placed in a file folder to be rechecked the following week af er the next round of new members has been input. This procedure is repeated once more if no numbers are found for New or Pending members. Completed match summary sheets with correct hit factors and all possible membership numbers are placed in the classifier input basket. Score heets are placed in a file box for further reference. Only scores submitted by clubs with payment will be entered. Individual scores mailed or faxed to headquarters will not be entered.|
    
3. Input of Hit Factors: The following information is entered for each record: USPSA number, club identifier, match date, classifier number, hit factor and date entered. The computer program checks whether the hit factor being entered is within 15% above the maximum percentage for the class the shooter is in, or 5% below the minimum. If the difference is greater than 15% or 5%, the program asks whether the score is valid. If the score is out of the range the following it ms must be considered: Was the stage set up correctly? Has the shooter been practicing?
   To answer these questions, the person entering the scores should look for a trend on the match summary sheet, i.e. If numerous other people have factors seemingly higher than normal, it is a possible indicator of incorrect stage setup and therefore the scores may not e valid. Checking the shooter's past scores may indicate the shooter's ability. If the shooter has other scores with similar percentages, it could be a valid score and the score is entered. If there are no similar percentage scores, again it could indicate an improper stage setup and the score is not entered. If the score is too low, the shooter's past performance and activity is also checked. If the shooter needs the score to become classified then it is entered. Scores for shooter whose memberships have been expired for more than 60 days cannot be entered. After the hit factor have been entered, the sheet is stamped and initialed by the enterer. All sheets are placed in a basket to be verified and filed.
    
4. Verification of Hit Factors: Upon completion of entering all classifiers, including those sheets with Pending and New members, a classifier verification listing in alphabetical club order and numerical classifier number is printed. Each score on the verification listing is cross-checked with the actual hit factor on the match summary sheet. All errors are corrected in the computer.
    
5. Purging of Old Scores Once per year, after the December reclassification, old scores will be purged from the files. Old scores are those that are more than 36 months old at the purging, or those that are more than the eight needed to calculate the classification.

The board of directors took formal action in a phone meeting June 27 to adopt changes to the classification system, making the system more responsive to new members, and less easily manipulated by "sandbaggers". To summarize:

1. It is no longer possible to lose a classification by not participating or by dropping membership for a few months.
2. It now takes only four classification scores on file for a new shooter to be classified. This is in response to those new members who have had difficulty getting a card so they can shoot for class trophies. Reclassification procedures remain unchanged with the best 6 of the most recent 8 scores being averaged to achieve the classification.
3. New wording in the policy says, "Effective January 1, 1997, if a classification score for one category is more than one class below the shooter's other category, the low score will not be entered. No category class will be more than one class lower than the other."

This change will require some re-coding of the database management program so it won't go into effect immediately. The major impact will be on those shooters who carry two classifications that are far apart. At last count there were 92 Grand Master and Master class shooters in Open category who had Limited cards of B, C, or D. With this change, the lowest Limited card a Master class Open shooter can have is A; Grand Masters will have at least Master Limited cards. Similarly, there are some Master class Limited shooters who will get new A Open class cards.

There may very well be some legitimate reasons for a greater difference between classes, but it was the board's conclusion that the opportunity for mischief was simply too great not to adopt this change. However, if a member has a sound reason for shooting much worse or much better in one category than another, a petition to USPSA can resolve the problem.

Why bother with two classification systems if there is going to be so little difference between them? Why not just give everyone the highest of his two classifications and drop the extra paperwork?

It is important to the development of the Limited category that the system reflect the basic difference in philosophy. The difference between Open and Limited is not the same as the difference between the the other competition sub-categories. For example, we have Junior, Women, and Senior in each category. Limited isn't just another sub-group of Open; it is seen as more like a completely different sport. Members may shoot in each "sport" and compete in both nationals if they choose, and since Limited-style guns are acceptable in Open competition, there needs to be opportunity for both classifications. It may not make perfect sense to everyone, but for the time being it is serving us well.

Changes in policy or rules are nearly always upsetting to some members. The classification system will never be perfect. We would love to set up one master classification match at a specific place and have all the members travel there to go through it with the same RO and the same weather conditions. That's not likely to happen. We think these changes are very much for the better and will polish the classifications a great deal