Planning

Effective stage planning is one of the most important aspects of designing a successful match. While creativity and challenge are key ingredients, the real art lies in planning a match that flows well, makes efficient use of your space and staff, and provides an enjoyable experience for all participants.

Match Flow and Stage Placement

The overall flow of a match matters more than the individual brilliance of any single stage. Shooters should naturally move from one stage to the next with minimal congestion and walking time.

• Design small stages to flow into medium ones, and medium stages to flow into larger ones.
• Avoid placing two long reset stages back-to-back.
• Be mindful of bottlenecks. For example, a fast speed shoot feeding into a complex 32-round field course will slow the entire match down.
• Consider walking distances and how much time it will take for squads to move between bays.

Reset Time vs. Round Count

Round count alone does not determine how long a stage will take to run or reset. A 10-round stage with complex activators and moving targets can take as long to reset as a 32-round field course.

• When planning, ask: “How long will this take to reset, and how many people will it take?”
• Simpler stages with minimal prop interaction can move shooters through faster and more reliably.
• Fun is not tied to round count. A well-built short course can be more enjoyable and memorable than a long field course.

Use PractiScore Data to Your Advantage

PractiScore includes tools that help track how long each stage takes to complete. Use this data from past matches to identify which stages created delays and which ran smoothly. Over time, this will inform better planning and design.

Resources and Constraints

Before finalizing your stages, assess the resources available:

• Number of Bays: Can each stage get its own bay? Will you need to reconfigure bays mid-match?
• Props and Supplies: Do you have enough walls, fault lines, steel, target stands, movers, and other materials for your designs?
• Build Crew: Do you have enough help to set up complex stages? Don’t overdesign for your build team’s capabilities.
• Time and Personnel: If setup has to happen the morning of the match, lean toward simpler stages.

Round Count and Balance

Your match’s total round count should reflect the level of match and number of stages.

• Keep stage round counts relatively balanced. Avoid one large 50-round stage followed by several 10-round stages.
• Most clubs aim for 120 to 180 total rounds at a level one match. Adjust as needed for your audience and range capacity.

Consider Your Audience

Design your match with your shooters in mind.

• A squad of newer or older shooters may benefit from less physically demanding stages.
• If you know you're getting experienced competitors, you can include more technical challenges or movement.

Questions to Ask When Planning

• How many shooters are you expecting?
• How much time do you have for the match?
• How many stages do you want to build?
• Do you have enough bays and props to support that number?
• Can your staff realistically build and manage these stages