Challenges and Protests

When a competitor or coach feels that a match fired where he/she is competing has been improperly evaluated or scored, the competitor, coach or designated adult official may challenge the score.

A challenge must be made within the challenge time.

It shall be the challenging person's privilege to inspect the target during or following the re-scoring.

A challenge fee of not more than $3.00 may be charged to all persons making challenges. The challenge fee will be collected before the first re-check of the challenged score.

If the competitor's challenge is sustained the challenge fee will be returned. If the challenge is lost, the challenge fee will be included in the general revenue of the tournament.

In NRA competition to which the NRA assigns a Referee, Jury, or Supervisor, the decision of the Official Referee or Jury will be final.

It shall be the responsibility of the tournament sponsor to state in the program or by Special Bulletin Board notice the time limits within which a challenge may be made.

When targets are scored in the Statistical Office or on display racks, the re-checks will be made by the Chief Statistical Officer (provided the Chief Statistical Officer has not previously scored or checked the target) and the Official Referee or Jury in that order.

Decisions on the value of shot holes, made by means of scoring gauges, in accordance with Rule 14.3.1, are final and cannot be appealed.

A competitor, coach or designated adult may formally protest any injustice which the competitor or coach feels has been done except the evaluation of a target, which he/she may challenge as outlined in Rule 16.1.

A competitor, coach or designated adult may formally protest the conditions under which another competitor has been permitted to fire.

A competitor, coach or designated adult may formally protest the equipment which another competitor has been permitted to use.

National Championships Protest Committees may be established at National Championships to rule on protests arising from activities at those sites.

The decisions of these special protest committees shall not contravene prior interpretations of the NRA rules and/or precedents established by the NRA Protest Committee.

A protest must be initiated immediately upon the occurrence of protested incident. Failure to comply with the following procedure will automatically void the protest.

State the complaint orally to the Chief Range or Chief Statistical Officer. If not satisfied then proceed to the next step.

State the complaint orally to the Official Referee or Jury Chairman. If not satisfied then proceed to the next step.

File a formal protest in writing with the Official Referee or Jury stating all the facts in the case. Such written protest must be filed within 12 hours of the occurrence of the protested incident.

At National Championships, a competitor must state the complaint orally to the Chief Range Officer or Chief Statistical Officer and if not satisfied with the officer's decision, the competitor must file a written protest with the Match Director.

If the competitor is not satisfied with the Match Director's decision on the matter, the Match Director will forward the protest to the Protest Committee along with a written statement of the decision. The decision of the Protest Committee at the National Championships is final.

Challenges and protests in team matches must be made by the Coach.

Team members who believe they have reason to challenge or protest will state the facts to their Coach who will make the official challenge or protest if he/she feels such action is justified.