SPARC SERIES RULE BOOK

Version 1.1 - 2026

Series Intent and Purpose

The intent of this series is to test competitors' ability to engage targets with precision and speed. Stages should test a shooters ability to engage targets at various ranges, from different positions, with different mental stressors, and/or accounting for environmental factors. This is not a physical fitness event. Matches should be comprised of stages that test different aspects of marksmanship and match directors should try to test different skills on each stage where possible. Stage diversity is key to maintaining an attractive match and series while delivering an opportunity to train and test important fundamentals of practical shooting with accurized rifles.

Safety

SPARC matches operate at cold ranges – meaning ammo and magazines are not in the rifles until instructed to do so by the stage RO. Bolts are to be locked back while rifles are not in use. Rifles shall be staged in the designated areas along the firing line (generally between stage props).

Participants are responsible for muzzle discipline. Any flagging (muzzle pointed at another or oneself) will not be tolerated and will result in a match DQ. Muzzles shall be pointed up while transporting rifles from stage to stage.

While shooting a stage, muzzle discipline must be maintained. Muzzle must be either pointed down range, or straight up. When transitioning position the shooter must engage the safety. Sky loading is not permitted. (Sky loading is defined as sending the bolt forward to chamber a round before the intended target is within the field of view of the optic).

Trigger finger shall remain out of the trigger guard until the shooter is ready to fire – especially during position transitions.

Any ND/AD (Negligent and Accidental discharges) will result in a match DQ.

Warnings may be issued by ROs in the following scenarios, but if the issue persists a stage or match DQ may be issued:

Failure to engage safety during position transitions
Breaking the 180-degree shooting plane but not muzzling someone
Violation of cold range rule (ammo/magazine in gun off of clock)

Shooters are responsible for every round that leaves their rifle. Match Directors have the right to disqualify anyone performing any unsafe act.

Divisions

There are two divisions in 2026. Divisions may evolve as the needs of the series evolve. Rifles must be semi-automatic. Competitors may only use one rifle during the match with exceptions only to be approved by match director.

General Purpose Rifle (GPR) Division

To qualify for the GPR division a competitor must shoot a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16.5". (Not including muzzle device or suppressor) The optic on the rifle must not have an adjustable parallax, a base magnification of 1.5x or less, and a max magnification no greater than 10x. Most LPVO style optics fit this description. Cartridge restrictions are the same as the open division.

Open Division

Every rifle that does not fit into the GPR division falls into this division. Projectile caliber must be .308 or less with a muzzle velocity less than 3200 feet per second.

Match Guidelines

Shooters will be organized into squads. These squads will move together from stage to stage. The first shooter will randomly be selected for the first stage. The first shooter will rotate for each stage thereafter.

Matches shall have at least 5 stages to count for score toward series standings. These stages shall require no fewer than 5 impacts and no more than 15 impacts. Par times for stages shall be 90 seconds. Targets shall not be placed further than 850 yards. Targets shall be no smaller than 1.5 MOA. Stage starts will require that shooters have all gear they intend to use on the stage in hand at stage start.

Stage Start Cadence

Stage start cadence shall be as follows:

- RO will ask, "Shooter do you understand the course of fire?" (shooter will indicate yes or no)
- If yes, then RO will say, "Load and make ready" (Shooter will make ready)
- RO will then ask, "Are you ready?" (Shooter may or may not indicate ready. If a shooter is not ready, they must indicate so.)
- RO says, "Stand-by." (Timer will then start on a random start between 1-3 seconds)

Impact Calls and Coaching

RO's and squad-mates are responsible for calling impacts for the shooter. "HIT" should be called upon impact. No calls are made when there is a miss. No coaching is permitted on the clock. This is an individual sport. Shooters are responsible for understanding the stage before the start. If a shooter engages the wrong target, the RO only may say "wrong target" but may not indicate which target is correct. ROs and squad-mates cannot make elevation or windage calls to shooters while on the clock. Once the timer starts, a shooter is on their own to complete the stage. If a shooter requests confirmation on what target they need to engage, the RO may say "Re-engage" or "next target". ROs may also provide elapsed time of last shot if the shooter requests it.

Skipping Targets

If a shooter has attempted to engage a target with 3 rounds, they may elect to skip the target by audibly calling "skip" to the RO. The RO will call back "skip" to confirm, and the shooter will move to the next target. The shooter cannot go back to reengage a skipped target and will receive a failure to engage penalty for every skipped target.

Scoring Accuracy

To reduce errors in scoring there shall be at least two spotters calling impacts. Human error will always be part of the game, but every effort should be made to reduce its impact on scoring. If a spotter calls impact by mistake, that call is final. The shooter will proceed as if that round impacted the target even if it did not. RO's and spotters should not instruct a shooter to reengage after calling impact by mistake. This can cost the shooter precious time. Try to minimize these mistakes, but we understand they happen, when they do, it is better to benefit the shooter than to penalize the shooter.

Reshoots will be given and assessed by the Match Director.

Scoring and Season Standings

Upon completion of a stage, the shooter's raw time will be recorded. Penalties will be added to the raw time for the final stage time. The main penalty added to a shooter's raw time will be a "failure to impact" penalty. This is a 20 second penalty added for each impact not achieved by the stage.

The shooter with the fastest cumulative time after adding all stage times together will receive 100 points for the match. All other shooters will receive a percentage of points based on their time as a percentage of the winner. Example: first place shooter's cumulative time was 400 seconds for the match. Another shooter's cumulative time was 500 seconds. The first-place shooter receives 100 season points, while the other shooter receives 80 points. (400/500)*100 pts.

A shooter's top three matches during the regular season will count toward season standings. For match points to count toward the season standings, the match must be sanctioned (approved) by the SPARC series and have at least 20 shooters attend the match. The finale will count for double (200 points instead of 100). Season rankings will be determined by adding each shooter's points from their top three regular season matches and their finale score.