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UNITED STATES HELICE ASSOCIATION
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Version 61104
Note: Subject document
was composed from a translation of the FITASC International rules for
Helice dated February 2000. USHA revisions are identified with italics and
underlined. USHA reserves the right to modify/change subject rules as deemed
appropriate.
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ARTICLE 1 |
These Rules are mandatory for USHA sanctioned competitions.
All Shooters are expected to know the Rules and abide by the
results.
Any person who is proved to have shot at a Helice in a Competition
without intending to break it may be banned from future competitions.
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ARTICLE 2 |
12 bore shot-guns are the largest gauge permitted to be used.
No advantage is given to smaller bores.
36 grams/1¼ oz is the largest shot charge permitted.
The maximum size of the lead-shot must not exceed American #7 ½ or
European #7.
The Referee may check Cartridges and contents and have the right to
disqualify any Shooter breaking these rules.
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ARTICLE 3 |
The Shooter must stand within the marked space on the Shooting Stand at
the designated distance. The gun can be held in any position judged to
be safe by the Referee, from Gun down to fully mounted.
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ARTICLE 4 |
The Shooter may only load the Gun on the Shooting Stand, pointing
towards the Helice Machines and only when the Ring is clear and staff
has returned to their places.
The Gun must be unloaded before the Shooter turns to walk
off the stand.
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ARTICLE 5 |
If the Shooter is disturbed by a spectator or other competitor a “baulk”
can be claimed, and if upheld by the Referee another Helice shall be
allowed.
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ARTICLE 6 |
Shooters must follow each other promptly onto the stand. If a Shooter
fails to arrive after being called by name three times, they will be
given a “Zero” which will be noted down only when the next Shooter walks
onto the Shooting Stand.
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ARTICLE 7 |
If the Shooter shoots out of turn without the Referee’s permission
and breaks the Helice it will be scored “No Bird”. Provided that
the cause for shooting out of turn was an honest mistake, the Referee
has the option to allow the shooter to resume his correct position in
the shooting order.
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ARTICLE 8 |
As soon as the Shooter is at the designated mark and
loads the Gun, the operator will start the Machines. The Shooter must
say “Ready” and the Operator must reply “Ready”. The Shooter may then
call for the Helice using the call of “Pull” on which command the Helice
must be released instantly. If the Shooter fires unintentionally
before giving the command of “Pull” a “No Bird” will be called and a
further Helice allowed which the Shooter must pay for.
If the Helice is released before the call of “Pull” the Shooter may
either refuse it or shoot it and the result will stand. If it is
refused another Helice is given.
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ARTICLE 9 |
To be scored “Good”, the White Centre Cap of the Helice must
completely separate from the
Orange
Wing at
the first or second shot and fall inside the Shooting Ring. If
any piece of the
Orange
Wing is still attached to the White Centre Cap, the target shall be
scored “Zero”.
If the White Centre Cap bounces inside the Ring and then over the Fence,
the target shall be scored “Good”.
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ARTICLE 10 |
Both shots must be fired during the acceleration phase of the flights of
the Helice.
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ARTICLE 11 |
The Shooter has the right to another Helice if the gun miss-fires due to
faulty percussion of the Cartridge or Gun mechanical malfunction.
After three such misfires subsequent Helice shall be recorded as
“Zero”. If the miss-fire was caused by the barrel being un-loaded or
due to Safety Catch position, a “Zero” shall be recorded. Upon
occurrence of a misfire, the shooter is required to immediately point
the barrel upward and request inspection by the Referee. Shooter failure
to allow proper inspection of the gun by the Referee shall result in the
target being scored “Zero”.
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ARTICLE 12 |
The Shooter will not have to pay for another Helice if it is called a
“No Bird” due to a Machine malfunction or fault in the Helice.
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ARTICLE 13 |
If both barrels discharge at the same time and the Helice is missed, a
“Zero” is scored.
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ARTICLE 14 |
If the first shot is a misfire and the Shooter fires the 2nd
barrel and the Helice is missed, a “Zero” is scored.
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ARTICLE 15 |
If after having shot at and missed the Helice with the first shot and
the Shooter has a misfire on the 2nd shot, the Shooter shall
be allowed another Helice. After the release of this repeat Helice the
Shooter must fire the first shot safely at the ground or in the
air and attempt to shoot the Helice only with the second shot.
If the target is broken with the first shot, the target shall be
scored “Zero”.
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ARTICLE 16 |
Incorporated into
Article 9 above.
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ARTICLE 17 |
If the Helice falls inside the Ring after the first shot with the White
Centre Cap still attached the Referee must decide if the Shooter had
enough time to shoot the 2nd shot. If the Referee decides
there was enough time the Helice is declared “Zero”. If the decision
is that there was not enough time then another Helice shall be allowed
and the shooter shall be required to load and shoot only ONE shell
at the target.
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ARTICLE 18
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Each time a Helice is shot and broken within the Ring the White Centre
Cap may, at the Referee’s discretion, be
retrieved by authorized staff only.
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ARTICLE 19
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If more than one Helice is released the Shooter can decline to shoot by
raising the gun. However, if one of the Helice is shot at and breaks it
will be declared “Good” and if missed “Zero”.
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ARTICLE 20 |
Any Helice shot outside the boundary flag markers is declared “Zero” and
the Shooter shall be subject to a fine or other appropriate
disciplinary action.
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ARTICLE 21 |
Any Shooter who shoots a Helice from a lesser distance than the fixed or
handicapped distance must shoot another Helice from the correct
distance.
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ARTICLE 22 |
The Shooting Director or a designated Committee must
adjust the speed of the Machines before the beginning of the event and
certainly not alter the speed of the machine until the end
of each rotation (crank) . All competitors should
be informed immediately following a speed adjustment.
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ARTICLE 23 |
The Helice Shooting Ring should be located on a
level shooting field.
The general direction of the shooting should
be North or North East with the axis going through the Shooting Stand
and the Middle machine.
5 Machines shall be positioned 4.50 meters minimum and 5 meters maximum
apart.
7 Machines shall be positioned 3.3 meters apart, evenly spaced.
The Ring has to be enclosed by a rigid Barrier measuring 0.60 meters to
0.80 meters maximum.
The mesh size of the fence must not allow the White Centre Cap of the
Helice to pass through.
The distance from the Helice Machines to the Barrier must be a maximum
of 21 meters.
When a Pigeon Shooting Ring is being used the distance between the
Machines and the Barrier Fence can be slightly less than 21 meters.
For all new Helice installations the distance between the Machines and
the Barrier Fence must not be less than 21 meters.
The Shooting walk way must be marked from 24 to 30 meters minimum.
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ARTICLE 24 |
The dimensions of the Helice must be the following:
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Size: |
The overall size of
the Helice is 28cms.
The diameter of the White Centre Cap is 10.4cms. |
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Weight:
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Total weight of the Helice is 70 grams maximum
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Material:
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The wings are to be made of a material fragile to impact
(Polystyrene).
The White Centre Cap to be a material not fragile to impact (minimum of
50% Polyethylene).
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Fastening System:
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The White Centre Cap must attach to the wings.
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Color:
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The wings are to be
Orange
or Red, the White Centre Cap must be White, or as decided by the Helice
Commission.
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Machines:
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There should be a beak on the end of a Rotor Shaft. The speed of the
main motor should be adjustable from 0 to 10.000 RPM.
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ARTICLE 25 |
All shooters shall
begin shooting from 27 meters and slide back 1 meter each time that 5
(for 7 box rings) or 3 (for 5 box rings) consecutive targets are scored
“good”. Maximum slide shall be to the 30 meter mark.
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ARTICLE 26 |
During competitions or championships organized with five Machines the
Shooter will have to shoot 3 Helice on the Stand.
During competitions or championships organized with seven Machines the
Shooter will have to shoot 5 Helice on the Stand.
There must be an electronic system to allow for random selection of
Machines.
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ARTICLE 27 |
All Referee declared
“No Birds” shall be reloaded upon occurrence.
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ARTICLE 28 |
“Veterans” shall be
age 65 or older and “Juniors” shall be age 20 or younger at the time of
the event.
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ARTICLE 29 |
Only official USHA designated Referees shall be entitled
to judge at USHA sanctioned events.
The Shooting Director or Judge appointed by USHA
shall be responsible for the correct application of USHA
Rules.
Complaints from Shooters must be presented in writing to the USHA
whereby
USHA Directors shall tender official response and final ruling as
deemed appropriate by USHA.
USHA reserves the right to change or modify the present
Rules as deemed necessary.
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ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION TO ASSIST REFEREES
This section has been
provided to assist Referees and Shoot Directors giving clarification and
advice on some of the more vague rules of Helice Shooting and the way in
which these rules have been interpreted at Home and Abroad over the past 10
years.
It is important to
remember the “ROOTS” of Helice Shooting, it was designed to replace and
replicate as closely as possible shooting of Box Pigeons. It is not a Clay
Shooting discipline and this point needs to be made clearly to all new
comers to the sport and to inexperienced Referees.
One important
difference concerns safety, a Helice Shooter is out on his or her own on the
graduated 24 to 30 meter walkway and there is very often no Referee within
20 feet on the Shooter, shooting is not in a Safety Cage so the Shooter must
be ultra conscious of loading and unloading the gun down range, turning
around only with an empty gun. Also, unlike modern Clay Shooting
Competitions, there can be Shooting Range Staff moving in front of the
Shooter, loading Helice Machines or picking up White Centres, and therefore
the Shooter must keep the gun empty until all Staff is back in safe
locations. Many of the Articles are self explanatory but the following
points hopefully clarify those which are not and also cover the question of
charging for extra targets.
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ARTICLE 5 |
The baulk rule
The Shooter should not be charged for the repeat Helice
if the baulk is upheld. The Referee shall make the judgment call
if whether or not a baulk is to be declared. Not the shooter.
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ARTICLE 7 |
Shooting out of turn
The Shooter must pay for one or both Targets shot out of
turn unless of course it was a management fault. Targets shot out
of turn shall be scored “Zero” unless the event was approved by the
Referee or determined to be an honest mistake. If the Referee declares
the event to be an honest mistake, the targets shot out of turn shall
not be scored and the shooter shall assume his proper position in the
rotation and be allowed to re-shoot subject target(s).
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ARTICLE 8 |
Shooting before the
call of pull
This result in a “No Bird” decision, the Shooter must pay
for a new Helice.
The Helice thrown before the call of “Pull” and the Shooter declines to
shoot should not be charged for the repeat Helice.
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ARTICLE 9 |
Target scored “Good”
If the Helice hits the top of the perimeter fence and drops outside, it
is a “Zero”. To be scored” Good”, the target must fall inside the
ring and separate completely from the
Orange
Wing. The Referee shall have the option of retrieving targets for
inspection and shall score “Zero” for any White Centre Cap that has a
piece of the
Orange
Wing still attached. If the target detaches and hits inside the ring and
then bounces out of the ring, the target shall be scored “Good”.
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ARTICLE 11 |
General gun malfunction
The Shooter must pay for repeat Helice released because of Gun or
Cartridge malfunction. If the Gun malfunctions the shooter must remain
on the Stand facing down range and hold up the gun, being careful not to
touch the safety catch and not to touch the opening mechanism until a
Referee comes to confirm the malfunction.
The Shooter may change gun or ammunition because of misfires at anytime
with the Referees permission. If a test fire is required the Referee
must give permission. Test Firing is not permitted at the start of are
during competition without Referee permission.
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ARTICLE 15 |
Gun malfunction on
second shot
If the Shooter
experiences a Referee determined Gun Malfunction on the second shot
(bang-click), the Shooter shall reload TWO shells and be required
to shoot the first shot safely into the ground or air once the Helice is
released and attempt to break the target with the second shot
only. If the target is broke with the first shot, it shall be scored
“Zero”.
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ARTICLE 16 |
See Article 9.
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ARTICLE 17 |
Target comes in
contact with the ground
(This Article can be and is often abused)
The amount of time that a Shooter has to fire two shots
at a low Helice before it strikes the ground is solely the Referees
decision which can be made more difficult by a Shooter who having missed
with the first shot commits a “Professional Foul” by hesitating with the
2nd shot hoping the Helice will hit the ground or fence and
be allowed a repeat.
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Another situation that can occur, the Helice when
released flies low and brushes the ground and flies on. If the Helice
touches the ground on release but has enough energy to fly at a
reasonable speed and distance for the Shooter to have taken two shots at
it, the Referee has the sole discretion to declare the Helice “Fair”.
He may also if not satisfied call “No Bird”. The decision however, is
not for the Shooter to make - the Shooter must attempt to shoot the
Helice and wait for the Referee’s decision.
If the Shooter holds firing on a Helice in these circumstances which the
Referee considers “Fair”, the target shall be scored a “Zero”. If
the Referee declares a “No Bird”, the shooter shall reload and shot only
ONE shell at the repeat target.
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ARTICLE 20 |
Shooting a helice
outside of the limits of the side marker flags
A difficult rule to interpret as a very strong wind blowing at the
machines can put a Helice from One or Five machines over the boundary as
the Shooter fires.
Benefit of the doubt should apply but only once.
The Shooter must pay for the repeat.
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ARTICLE 21 |
Shooting from incorrect distance
Shooters shall be
responsible to make sure they are shooting from the correct handicap
distance. Referees shall make every effort to insure that the shooter is
shooting from the correct distance as noted on shooter’s scorecard
however, the Shooter shall be ultimately responsible. Targets shot from
the incorrect distance shall not be scored and shall be re-shot from the
correct distance.
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ARTICLE 22 |
Machine speed adjustment
Machines may only be
adjusted by the Event Director/Judge or designated Committee.
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ARTICLE 27 |
Reloading of “No Birds”
All Referee declared
“No Birds” shall be re-loaded upon occurrence.
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