Challenges – Only participants may review their targets and challenge scoring. Once targets have been scored, they will be made available for review by the competitor firing on those targets for a period of sixty (60) minutes, unless otherwise posted. Shotgun competitors have 15 minutes to challenge their score after the final scores are posted and/or are announced. Upon completion of that time period, the right of challenge expires, and scores will be deemed correct as posted.
Challenge Fees - Any challenge must be accompanied by a fee of $1 per hole challenged. Serial challenges (following one challenge with another) are permitted, but once the competitor has reviewed and either challenged or accepted their scores, the right of review terminates. A jury (not including the original scorer) will review each challenge and render judgment to the challenger. An upheld challenge will result in changing the score to reflect the proper score and return of the challenge fee. Challenges sustained, i.e., scoring determined to be correct, will result in forfeiture of the fees, which will be deposited in Championships funds. No fee is required to point out mathematical errors or similar mechanical problems.
Protests and Protest Fees - Youth participants only (no coaches, parents, or other adults) may protest:
an injustice they feel has been done to them individually.
conditions under which another competitor was permitted to fire, or
equipment not meeting standards another competitor was permitted to use.
Steps to Filing an Official Protest - Only the competitor affected can make the protest – not parents, coaches, or other adults. A protest must be initiated immediately upon the occurrence of the protested incident. Failure to comply with the following procedure will automatically void the protest:
State the complaint verbally to the CRO. If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the CRO, then:
Appeal the decision in writing to the Assistant Range Officer within 30 minutes of the CRO’s decision. The Assistant Range Officer will then assemble a Range Jury (Jury) within 60 minutes of receiving the written appeal.
The Jury of five (5) shall be composed of a range official (not the one that just ruled), two state team coaches and two 4-H competitors. Jury members must be familiar with the rules and have experience in competition. It is the responsibility of the Jury to interpret and apply the rules and resolve protests. Jury members may not rule on a matter in which they or their team are personally involved. Decisions by the Jury must be based on applicable rules or, in cases not specifically covered by the rules, must be governed by the intent and spirit of the rules. The jury may also hear verbal explanations from both the CRO and the person making the appeal. No Jury decision may be made that is contrary to the Rules. Written protests must be decided by a majority of the Jury and the Jury must render their decision of the protest within two hours after assembling. If not satisfied with the decision of the Jury, then:
The Final Appeal in written form and accompanied by a $50 cash protest fee must be submitted to the Match Director within 30 minutes of the Jury’s decision. The written protest must include the competitor’s name, date, time, description of incident, a solution, and signature of the competitor. A Match Jury composed of the Match Director and two representatives of the 4-H Shooting Sports National Committee will render the final decision within 24 hours. No further appeal may be made.
If the Match Jury decides in favor of the appeal, the cash protest fee will be returned. If the previous decision is upheld, the protest fee will not be returned.