There's more that goes into a successful Cowboy Action match than meets the eye at first glance. The key players and roles are:

The Stage Writers who create the stage layouts and story lines that make Cowboy Action Shooting FUN!

The Prop Builders who create the props that enhance our stages.

The Volunteers who show up (usually the day before) to "build the range" and make it functional

The Match Director who makes sure that all the various pieces come together to make a smooth running match

The Range Officer(s) who manage the firing line, help the shooters through the stages, and ensure firing line safety.

The Scorekeeper who keeps the stage moving (by  making sure shooters and spotters are ready) and looks after the on-the-line paperwork.

The Spotters who watch for misses, target order and procedurals and report to the scorekeeper immediately after each shooter has finished.

The Loading/Unloading Table Supervisors who ensure all shooters have loaded properly for the stage and that all guns are cleared at the end of each stage.

The Volunteers who help dismantle the range at the end of the day.

With so many jobs to be done to make a fun match and our posse being typically 8 to 15 people, you can see where EVERYBODY can (and should) be contributing.

Prop Builders

All kinds of things can be useful props for a cowboy match, from a frying pan to a wall with windows.

Some props are specially constructed (like our bar) while others can be "borrowed" from members homes (like a frying pan), while others are scrounged (like our whiskey bottle). Since storage space for props is somewhat limited at the range, "borrowed" props are the most convenient. If you have a good prop we can borrow, let Calamity Jane know and we'll include it on our resources page.

Large props may have to remain under the firing line roof and may be used by other (less considerate) shooters for purposes other than what we intend, so bear that in mind if you are considering donating a prop.

The more props we have, the more varied and interesting we can make our stages.

The first step in creating a successful Cowboy Action match relies on the Stage Writers. The Stage Writers create the story line and the range layout using the targets and stage props in our inventory. (For the list of targets and stage props, click HERE.)

The Stage Writer creates the story line, shooting sequence, and stage layout using the "Stage Template" and the "base graphic" (a .bmp file). The Stage Template can be edited to include the all the stage information. Using "copy and paste", the stage writer can create the target and prop layout for the stage using any graphics editor.

The Stage Writer can submit the stage document to the Match Director in Word Perfect, MS Word, or html format (Word Perfect is preferred). Graphics can be in any common format (.jpg, .bmp, .wmf) but .wmf is preferred.

Each stage should be a single document file plus a graphic file. The files should have a unique title and ensure the graphic and document have the same title.

The Stage Writer should consider the resources required for each stage. For example, if one stage uses 15 targets, it probably wont get used because there aren't enough targets to set up four more stages!

The Match Director will select the stages and sequence of stages to be used at each monthly match.

We typically shoot 5 stages each month and we use 1 or 2 shooting bays for each stage. The 5 stages are selected to give an overall balance of time and shooting. For example, if we have a long stage (such as loading on the clock), it will be balanced with a couple of quick stages (such as pistol only) to ensure the match is complete by mid afternoon. If we have a stage with lots of shotgun rounds, we'll back it up with a stage with no shotgun to speed things up and avoid bruised shoulders.

The selection of stages for a match will also consider the use of resources. Small props (like the stick horse) can be moves but large props (like the bar) can only be used in one location.

After the stages are written and collected into suitable sequence for a match, there is still a lot of work to be done to complete a successful Cowboy Action match:

- the range must be setup (usually the day before the match) and reviewed for safety
- the Match Director must ensure all the operational requirements are in place throughout the day of the match
- the Range Officer(s), Scorekeeper, Spotters, and posse members must assure the smooth operation of each stage
- the Match Director and Scorekeeper compute the match standings
- the posse help clean up the range

For a detailed description of match operation, refer to our Match Operations page.

Links to other sites with good information:

Stage Writing For SASS Matches by Doc Shapiro & Chuckaroo
A collection of stage writing advice
Extract from the Texas Rangers site