FAQ

Q. What is the Steel Challenge?

A. The Steel Challenge as a match has a history which rivals USPSA’s own. In his column in the July 1986 Front Sight, then-USPSA president Dave Stanford wrote:

“While I usually do not report or comment on matches that are not USPSA/IPSC sanctioned, I think that there are two that warrant an exception to that policy. The first one is the Steel Challenge. The Steel Challenge is a steel match extraordinaire. It is a real professional undertaking. The SWPL puts on a real show every time.”

The match draws top shooters from a broad spectrum of shooting sports, including USPSA, IDPA, SASS, GSSF and others. The event generates international attention, accompanied by broad newspaper and television coverage, even in California.

The match is highly spectator-friendly and the competition is easy to understand – it is all about the speed. And by maintaining consistent challenges from year to year, the competition lends itself to the notion of setting – and breaking – speed records, which greatly adds to the excitement for shooters, spectators and media.

Steel shooting offers a port of entry to the shooting sports that is far less intimidating than practical shooting. Steel shooting provides an excellent starting place for young or beginning shooters. It also provides a soft way for those who have begun to suffer the problems associated with ageing a vehicle to remain involved in the shooting sports. All this provides an alternative for those who might otherwise be lost to shooting.

Q. What is the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA)?

A. The Steel Challenge Shooting Association is the membership organization chartered to grow and extend “speed-steel” shooting competition at the club level. It is the vehicle by which we intend to spread the “gospel” of steel shooting. Our vision is to build the SCSA into a network of affiliate clubs and individual members much as USPSA is structured. We are already finding non-USPSA clubs that have been shooting steel matches without the benefit of a supporting organization or that are excited to begin doing so.

Q. Why did USPSA buy the Steel Challenge?

A. The decision to purchase the Steel Challenge was rooted in our firm belief that there is a tremendous opportunity for growth, not only for steel shooting but also for USPSA. We are also convinced that there is much to be learned from the people who built the success story that the match has been.

Steel Challenge is more than a match. It is one of the strongest “brands” in the practical shooting sports. We believe that acquiring the Steel Challenge was a step towards USPSA’s strategic vision and tangibly strengthens the USPSA brand itself. By acquiring the Steel Challenge, we begin to position USPSA as the leader in practical shooting sports.

Q. Why should my club affiliate with the SCSA?

A. Steel Challenge competitions draw shooters of all ages, all levels of physical ability, and all shooting disciplines. As such, Steel matches have great potential to bring new shooters – and new revenue – to your club, and to provide an on-ramp into other forms of practical shooting competition for them. By affiliating with SCSA, your club will benefit from access to USPSA’s network of 16,000 members, 400 clubs, bi-monthly magazine, website match listings and many other things that will help your Steel matches grow and succeed. Included in the benefits offered by SCSA is that we can help your organization be better just as your organization can help SCSA be better, all of which will lead to more people participating in the shooting sports.

Q. Why should I join the Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA)?

A. Joining SCSA makes you a part of the fastest practical-shooting sport on the planet! By joining the SCSA, you’ll benefit from member-only services such as:

Q. Our club is currently affiliated with USPSA. Do we need to have separate affiliation with SCSA?

A. SCSA affiliation is separate from USPSA club affiliation. A club application is available on request from the officer or as a download here: SCSA Membership Club App.pdf . The form should be filled out and mailed (826 Metcalf Street PMB 73, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284) or faxed (360-855-0380) to the office. Note that, in grateful acknowledgement of their support for the practical shooting sports, all USPSA-affiliated clubs in good standing as of 12/31/07 will be given complimentary affiliation in SCSA for 2008.

Q. I’m currently a member of USPSA. Do I need to join SCSA?

A. Similar to the club policy, in grateful appreciation of their support for USPSA, all members in good standing on 12/31/07 will be given a complimentary membership in SCSA for 2008. The procedure for applying is to download the new member application here and mail or fax the completed form to us register online using our secure server. Be sure to include your USPSA member number for faster processing.

Q. I want to shoot the Steel Challenge World Speed Shooting Championship in Piru, California, August 14-16, 2008? Do I have to be a SCSA member?

A. SCSA membership is required to shoot the Steel Challenge. However, in recognition of past practice and the contributions of many who have shot previous versions of the match SCSA membership will be complimentary in 2008. Anyone who is not listed as a SCSA member at the time of match registration will be required to complete the new member application here. Competitors can save time by joining in advance.

Q. Do the Steel matches count towards our mission count with the USPSA?

A. No.

Q. How are results submitted?

A. At present by mail or fax. However, we will have a scoring program available as quickly as possible that will facilitate uploading the scores.

Q. How should my match handle non-member shooters?

A. Of course we would love to have those non-members transformed to members, but there is no requirement for SCSA membership in order to compete in Tier-1 (local) SCSA matches. Non-member shooters are welcome to compete in local matches, but activity fees should be collected from them and submitted with the rest. It is not reasonable that non-members compete without supporting the systems created and sustained by members without helping to pay for them.

Q. Can we use the steel targets we already have?

A. Yes, Tier I (local) matches may use any steel targets they wish. However, scores from stages employing non-standard targets will not be included in the ranking system unless they have been uploaded, approved, and added to the online stage library. The upload must show the targets actually used.

Q. Does SCSA offer marketing materials for the use of affiliated clubs at matches, gun shows, and other such opportunities?

A. Absolutely! At the moment we have member and club brochures and the Front Sight Annual Edition, which contains information about shooting steel, in addition to a media CD with a ton of information about both USPSA and SCSA. Eventually we will have much more to offer, but it takes time to develop these resources. Contact SCSA Administrator, Kimberley Williams (kim@steelchallenge.com) for material.

Q. Lastly do you have pointers or insight?

A. Besides being easier to set up, score and reset than a traditional match, Steel Challenge competition has been described as “the most fun you can have with your clothes on”. We made this acquisition because we believe it is a great way to help clubs attract shooters and grow practical-shooting competitions. Just like any other competition format, though, there are some tips we can offer to help your matches run more smoothly. They include:

1. Know and follow the rules and match procedures, whether USPSA or SCSA.

2. Operate your club/match like a business. Treat the shooters as customers and your staff as valued employees, watch expenses like a hawk, and make sure your pricing is adequate.

3. Don’t lose sight of the point of all this: Have fun!

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