Just my 2 cents, I believe that the biggest reason that match attendace is getting smaller in 100-300 yard, is do to equipement. Lets put it this way, anymore the matchs have become a equipement race, many get tired of keeping up, and get burned out, when they are not competitive. I belive that the IBS despertly needs to have a factory class. If you look the 600 yard stuff is growing, and I would say the reason why is because the palying field is levaled out, a fellow can modify a factory gun and have something that is competitive. One of the best matchs I have ever shot at is a 600 yard club match in SE ohio, this match has brougt in new shooters, and is rapidly growing. They have big payouts, and everyone has fun. They have devided the winnings so that more people have a chance of winning. I belive that the reason why IBS matchs are getting smaller, is do to cost. It is much cheaper to shoot club matchs, and many have paybacks. Wood is nice, but I would rather have cash.
With that said, I would say that the IBS needs to change its rules a bit, what needs to happen is to have matchs to get newer shooters interested. Where do most people start they usualy use a factory gun. A few sujestions would be, most new shooters like reactionary targets. maybe a factory class where shooters shoot lolly pops, paint balls, or billiard chalk. Keep these match short, and put them before the standard matchs, this alows people to have fun, and if they want to leave they can, but if they are interested in persuing this further they can learn, and not feel intimidated. The biggest thing I have found it getting new shooters involved, is they dont want to look like a fool, now we all know that this is precieved, as no one will make fun of them, but they feel on edge, and are afraid to shoot because of it. making things fast and fun, and shooting a target that doesn't point out errors as bad would get new interest, also haveing more events where people did not have to travel would be a great help. Promote it toward kids, maybe have a girls boys class. Look at a count fair, not evryone is into livestock raising, or high end horse racing, but there is other stuff geared towards kid, to maybe interest them in the future if they are so inclinded. But keep this to where parents can get involved, maybe make it a team sport, where you have a combined average.
Maybe add score to group like is done in 600 yard, and have a winner in both, and the same person can not win both. We use to have club match where we would shoot groups on a score target. For one it speeded up matchs, and two it saved on target cost, as we would shoot 3 shot groups on each target one target was 20 shots, insted of having an x count the tie breaker was group size. You could shot a couple of targets, calling each target a match, and pay out more often.
With this said I have no intention to change what we all have come to love, and enjoy, I think things done the way they are are a great things, but I believe that there needs to be a bit of variety, and something more aimed at involving new shooters, in addition to what we do. These matchs could be ran after yardages at the end of the day, to give shooters a break. (Kind of a tension breaker.)
. To think an organization that touts using cutting edge, state of the art equipment is that far in the stone ages in terms of meetings and policy making is, well...ironic.