Wolverhampton Air Rifle League Constitution

The WARL constitution below is reproduced unaltered. UKVARL adds the following amendments, which apply to competition run on this site and are also shown alongside the clauses they affect.

• Shooting distance (clauses 9b and 10): cards may be shot at 6 yards (18 feet) or 7 yards (21 feet). Measure from the front of the plate straight down to the floor, then along the floor to a clearly marked firing line. Clubs should use their normal range distance and keep to the same distance for the whole season.
• Adapted shooting for disabled shooters (clause 10, Shooting): shooters with a permanent physical disability may use an adapted position and/or equipment. See section A2 for the full rules.

This UKVARL amendment applies to all competition run on this site and modifies the free-standing requirement in section 10 (Shooting) for shooters who need an adapted setup.

1. A2.1Any shooter with a permanent physical disability may use an adapted shooting position and/or equipment to enable them to compete safely and fairly in the league.
2. A2.2

   Approved adaptations may include, but are not limited to:

   • Use of an ISSF/IPC-style spring-mounted rifle support stand (SH2-type).
   • Shooting from a seated position (chair or wheelchair).
   • One-handed shooting where two-handed shooting is not possible due to disability.
3. A2.3

   The adaptation must not provide a mechanical advantage beyond enabling the shooter to safely hold and aim the rifle. In particular:

   • The stand may support the weight of the rifle only.
   • No part of the shooter's body may gain additional support from the table, chair, stand, or any other artificial support beyond what is permitted under IPC/DSGB SH2 rules.
   • The stand may be fixed to the table or mounted on a tripod, but must not be rigidly braced to the floor or other structures.
4. A2.4For the purposes of this league, an “ISSF stand” means a spring-mounted rifle support as used in IPC/DSGB SH2 competition, which supports the weight of the rifle while the shooter maintains control of aim and trigger operation.
5. A2.5As this is a virtual league operating UK-wide, no separate written permission from the league committee is required for an adapted position or equipment that complies with this section. Shooters are expected to self-certify that their setup complies with these rules and to use a position and equipment consistent with their disability.
6. A2.6The league committee reserves the right to review any adapted position or equipment if concerns are raised regarding safety or fairness. If an adaptation is found to provide an unfair advantage or to be unsafe, the committee may require changes before further scores are accepted.

1. 1.1Nominations for each office shall be submitted in writing to the committee.
2. 1.2Officers should be elected at an AGM by a simple majority vote.
3. 1.3In the event of a tie where there are two nominees the vote shall be retaken unless one nominee withdraws. If a tie results in the second vote, the chairman shall have the casting vote.
4. 1.4With more than two nominees, the one receiving the lowest number of votes shall withdraw and the vote shall be retaken. This procedure shall continue, if necessary, until two nominees remain, then the above shall apply.
5. 1.5Serving management committee members shall be eligible for re-election to a further term of office should they choose to stand again.

1. 2.1The league treasurer shall collect and disperse all monies on behalf of the league.
2. 2.2Monies received by the league shall be placed in a bank account held in the name of Wolverhampton Air Rifle League.
3. 2.3All cheques drawn off the above account should be signed by the league treasurer and countersigned by the league chairman or league general secretary.
4. 2.4The league financial year shall run from 1 September to 31 August.
5. 2.5The league treasurer shall prepare an annual statement of account, a copy of which shall be sent to each club secretary at least seven days prior to the AGM.

1. 3.1Quorum shall be delegates from each team.
2. 3.2Meetings shall be held at a suitable available place.
3. 3.3Each club shall ensure attendance at each delegates meeting.
4. 3.4Only one delegate from each club shall have voting rights at such meetings.
5. 3.5Management committee members may act as a delegate for their respective club.
6. 3.6The league general secretary shall send an agenda to each club secretary at least seven days prior to the meeting. Clubs wishing to raise specific points shall notify the league general secretary at least 14 days prior to the next meeting; without such notice only urgent problems shall be raised under “any other business”.

a) Member club

• Each club shall be a member club of the league.
• On re-election at each AGM, on payment of the annual subscription.

b) Affiliated clubs

• Any club formed between AGMs shall become an affiliated club of the league, shall pay an affiliation fee, and receive acceptance at a delegates meeting. Such acceptance shall entitle the affiliated club to participate in friendly matches with clubs and be considered for member club status at the subsequent AGM.
• Affiliated clubs may take part in events organised by the league other than league matches, providing its members shall have shot in at least six friendly matches.

c) Club member

• All club members must be registered in writing with the league competition secretary at least seven days prior to the commencement of each league season.
• New club members must be registered in writing having signed the range rules with the league competition secretary, and shall shoot a minimum of one match as a reserve and must have paid the relevant fees.

d) Safeguarding

• The league has a safeguarding officer with full DBS check; any concerns should be reported immediately.

• League trophies held by an individual member withdrawing from the league must be returned immediately to the competition secretary.

1. 6.1Non-payment of annual subscriptions, committee fees, insurance premium or any other debt due to the league.
2. 6.2Non-adherence to the league constitution and rules.
3. 6.3Behaviour prejudicial to the sport and reputation of the league.
4. 6.4Behaviour prejudicial to good relationships with other clubs.
5. 6.5Bringing the league and sport into disrepute.
6. 6.6Members must complete the range rules form.

1. 7.1All matches shall commence at 8:15pm and shall be shot during the week shown in the official fixture list. If any of these fixtures cannot be maintained for extra special reasons outside those shown below, the club concerned may make representation to the management committee, whose decision shall be final.
2. 7.2In adverse weather conditions postponement shall be allowed, but the match shall be rearranged as soon as possible thereafter.
3. 7.3A match may be postponed or suspended if there is failure of equipment; in such event scores already recorded at the time of postponement or suspension shall stand.
4. 7.4The shooters declared on the match report at the time of postponement or suspension shall not be altered on recommencement.
5. 7.5The match should be continued as soon as possible thereafter.
6. 7.6Any postponement or suspension shall be notified to the competition secretary.
7. 7.7Failure of a club to register its shooters by 8:45pm, for reasons other than those above, shall not be sufficient reason for the postponement of a match.

In the event of an unresolved dispute the club involved shall:

• a) Within three days furnish the committee with a written account of the dispute.
• b) Attend, at the discretion of the committee, a specially convened committee meeting to clarify any points required of them.
• c) Abide by the committee's decision, which shall be final.

All matches shall be shot using a bell target of which:

• a) The target disc shall be made of hardened steel, but not stainless.
• b) The target disc shall be five inches outside diameter, with a three-eighths inch diameter hole at the centre and concentric rings engraved at radii of half an inch, one inch and one and a half inches.

The target shall be positioned such that:

• a) The perpendicular height from the floor to the centre of the target disc is five feet.
• b) The shooting range shall be 18 feet measured horizontally from a point on the floor perpendicularly below the target face, to a point on the floor which shall be clearly marked by tape or similar and which shall be termed the firing line. (Equivalent diagonal distance from centre of target disc to firing line is eighteen feet, eight and one quarter inches.)
• c) All worn targets must be replaced as necessary so that the target is acceptable to the visiting team captain.
• d) Team captains shall inspect the target and declare its acceptability or otherwise before commencement of a match.
• e) The use of a target shall be restricted to one shooter at any one time.

Scoring

The scoring rings denote scores (from inner to outer) 4, 3, 2; the remaining area between the ‘2’ ring and the edge of the plate is a ‘0’ score. As of August 2023, scoring is as follows, from the centre moving outwards:

• A clean shot, with no mark on the plate, is a 5.1.
• A small mark on the plate, approximately less than half a pellet with no central paint spot, is a 5.
• A “disputable” small mark on the plate, approximately half a pellet but with no paint mark, is decided by use of a probe. This is a league-issue standard item, with a guide peg of 3/8” and a flange of specified diameter; it is put into the central hole, left in place, not rotated, and checked around the flange for any visible marks. No marks is deemed to be a 5; any visible mark is deemed to be a 4.
• A small mark but with a visible paint spot is a 4.
• Larger or full pellet marks within the area between the edge of the hole and the first scoring ring are deemed a 4. If the centre paint spot overlaps but still touches the outer edge of the scoring ring, it is also still a 4.
• A mark with the paint spot outside of the first ring and progressing outwards and across the second scoring area is a 3; again, if the spot touches the outer edge of the scoring ring it is a 3.
• A mark with the paint spot outside of the second ring and progressing outwards and across the third scoring area is a 2; again, if the spot touches the outer edge of the scoring ring it is a 2.
• A mark outside of the third scoring area, but on the plate, is a 0.
• A missed shot is taken again.

If there is a multi-target arrangement at a venue, competition is on one designated target.

If the marker and checker cannot agree on a score, two more markers and checkers are to approach the target and, without any prompting, adjudicate the shot; this is an overriding decision. If the new marker and checker can't agree, the shooter has two options: take the lower of the scores called, or take the shot again.

If shooting is on a home-and-away basis, a home shooter shoots all their 8 shots, then an away shooter takes up position and continues as per the home shooter. If a second target is available, reserves may shoot alongside team shooters.

Scores are recorded on a standard marking sheet; as each shot is verified, a total is recorded and announced to the room.

Score sheets are sent electronically as soon as possible to the competition secretary, normally announced on the following weekend if possible.

In the event of a problem or gun malfunction, the gun must be held in a safe position or carefully placed on the table, and a signal given verbally and/or visually to the marker and checker that there is a problem. Appropriate safe action as deemed suitable is to be taken and the gun removed and put in a safe area. The shooter then has the choice to use another rifle to continue, or to suspend their shoot to check if their rifle can be fixed and finish later. If the shooter suspends their shoot and the gun can't be fixed, the shooter can still choose to borrow another rifle or abandon their score/shoot.

Marker

Marking is carried out by a marker from the home team plus a checker from the away team.

Shooting

• Rifles can have open or aperture sight systems (specific optical requirements may be used).
• Maximum power output allowed is 7 ft/lbs. All 10m rifles are acceptable.
• Multi-pump, multi-shot / magazine feed, Tyrolean and thumb-hole stock rifles are not allowed.
• Only round nose, lead based .177” cal pellets to be used.
• Clothing can be casual wear — anything accepted at any time by the ISSF or NSRA. Guns must not be placed inside jackets. Devices attached to the gun, or use of clothing as a support for the rifle, is not permitted.
• Shooting distance is 18 feet, taken as a vertical line from the front of the plate down to the floor, then 18 feet measured along the floor.
• Shooting is free standing; no resting on or against tables is allowed.
• Any shooters with physical disabilities or special requirements will be accommodated as per their individual requirements.
• Competition shooting consists of a choice of no sighters or pre-scoring sighter shots, followed by 8 scoring shots.
• Pre-scoring options are for the shooter to call “straight off”, meaning the first shot will be a scoring shot; “sighter”, meaning the shooter will take one only practice or sighter shot then begin scoring shots; or “sighters”, meaning more than one practice or sighter shot within a short reasonable time.
• A scoring shot, when taken, requires the shooter to replace the gun on the table, not cock or load it, and await the appropriate scoring and checking to take place, then wait for the marker and the checker to safely exit the range before continuing with the next shot.

• The match report shall be compiled by the home team and shall be signed by both club secretaries at the end of each match.
• No score shall be recorded after the match night and after the match report has been signed by both secretaries.
• On completion of each shooter's scoring shots, the scorer shall call the score as recorded on the match report.