Most practical shooting associations seek to accommodate both novice and experienced shooters. This is mainly achieved by classification, which allows you to compete against people of similar skill level. In order to determine which class you will be competing in, you will shoot a timed classifier.
The classifier consists of three stages or courses of fire (COFs):
STAGE 1:
STAGE DETAILS:
START POSITION:
Shooter Position 1 (6.4 metres)
24 rounds total All Shot from P1
STAGE PROCEDURE:
String 1 (12 shots): Load exactly 6 rounds in the firearm. Draw and fire 2 shots to each body, re-load from slide-lock and fire 2 shots at each head.
String 2 (6 shots): Draw and fire 2 shots at each target strong hand only.
String 3 (6 shots): Start with firearm in weak hand, pointed down range at a 45 degree down angle, safety may be off but the trigger finger must be out of trigger guard. Fire 2 shots at each target weak hand only.
STAGE 2:
STAGE DETAILS:
Shooter Position 2 (9.1 metres)
Shooter Position 3 (4.6 metres)
The start position for all strings is standing erect with hands naturally at sides.
STAGE PROCEDURE:
String 1 (12 shots): Load exactly 6 rounds total in the firearm at P2. Start back to the target, turn, draw and fire 2 rounds to each target, re-load from slide-lock and fire 2 more shots at each target.
String 2 (6 shots): From the 10 yard line (P2), draw and fire 2 shots at each target while moving forward. Do not cross the line at P3.
String 3 (6 shots): From the 5 yard line (P3), draw and fire 2 shots at each target while retreating from the targets.
STAGE 3:
STAGE DETAILS:
Shooter Position 4 (18.3 metres)
Shooter Position 5 (13.7 metres)
The start position for all strings is standing erect with hands naturally at sides.
STAGE PROCEDURE
String 1 (12 shots): Load exactly 6 rounds total in the firearm at P4. Draw and fire 2 shots at each target using from either side of the barricade, re-load from slide-lock using cover, advance to barrels at the 15 yard line (P5) and fire 2 shots at each target using cover shooting inside of the barrels on either side. Shooters choice. Shooter may not shoot around outside of barrels without incurring a penalty as per rule 5.1.
String 2 (12 shots): Load exactly 6 rounds total in the firearm at P5. Draw and fire 2 shots at each target using cover from
inside of the barrels, re-load from slide-lock using cover, move to the opposite barrels and fire 2 shots at each target using cover from inside the barrels. Shooter may not shoot around outside of barrels without incurring a penalty as per rule 5.1.
Penalties and misses add to the total time which will determine a shooter's score. Lower scores are therefore better.
This is just the details on the classifier itself, but there are also different divisions, which are determined by the equipment used by a shooter. Most novice shooters, however, will probably start out competing in Stock Service Pistol division (SSP).
More detailed information on the rules of IDPA is available at the official IDPA website: www.idpa.com