National Collegiate Athletic Association

The NCAA News - News and Features

July 7, 1997

Rifle committee seeks format flexibility to attract '98 host

The NCAA Men's and Women's Rifle Committee, meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, June 20-21, attempted to attract bids to host its 1998 championships by recommending that the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet approve an option in format.

Because no sites have bid, the committee seeks to allow more institutions the option of hosting by requesting that the sites be permitted to flip-flop the traditional format, having the team competition on Friday and the individual competition on Saturday. This would allow shooting ranges with 12 firing points to be considered for hosting. Traditionally, hosts must have a minimum of 14 shooting points.

Any athletics director from an institution interested in hosting should call Michelle Pond, NCAA assistant director of championships, at the national office.

Rules changes

The committee also made the following rules changes for next year:

Made the smallbore sport rifle -- which cannot exceed a weight of 13.3 pounds, including sights, palm rest and hook butt plate -- legal for smallbore competition.

Added language to Article 5 on gloves stating that any strap or other device at the wrist may be elasticized to enable the glove to be put on, but it must leave the glove loose around the wrist.

Added a section allowing dry firing for both preparation and competition in smallbore, but prohibited the practice for air rifle competition.

The committee also moved Rule 5.1.7.g to the new dry-firing section.

That rule reads: "Shooters using a gas-propellant air rifle who wish to release any of the propellant must inform the officer before the preparation period and discharge the propellant in a safe manner on the range as directed."