Common Classification Questions
What is a temporary classification and can I have one?
Full members are entitled to a temporary classification which will be issued once they have shot a minimum of 300 registered targets in any given discipline. This temporary classification will then be replaced automatically by a classification from the normal classification procedure.
When are classifications issued and which scores are they based on?
Classifications are calculated / re-calculated every three months and each of these classification periods is given an issue number. New issues come into effect on the 1st March, 1st June, 1st September and 1st December each year and during these periods the classifications for each member in that issue are used while shooting registered events.
These classifications are calculated using scores submitted from the previous 12 month rolling shooting periods that end on 31st January, 30th April, 31st July and 31st October respectively, as shown below.
How are my classification average(s) calculated?
Your classification averages are calculated based on the relevant 12 months of registered scores as shown above. These scores for each discipline are recorded by each ground and submitted to HQ using our Shoot 08 software program which enables collection of all the submitted scores against member’s shooting record in our central database with minimal intervention.
Once all of the scores are confirmed as received, each member’s classification average is calculated. The first calculation is a ‘raw’ average of all of the registered scores within the shooting period. Taking English Sporting as an example now; any scores below 10% (5% for DTL & ESK) of the average are now discarded and another average calculated on the remaining scores to give an ‘adjusted’ average.
For example, a member having shot the following English Sporting scores in a 12 month period would have a ‘raw’ and ‘adjusted’ average as shown below:
| Scores | Member's 'raw' average | Member's 'adjusted' average |
| 75 | 75 / 100 | 75 / 100 |
| 65 | 65 / 100 | *Dropped (under 10% of 'raw') |
| 89 | 89 / 100 | 89 / 100 |
| 76 | 76 / 100 | 76 / 100 |
| 83 | 83 / 100 | 83 / 100 |
| 388 / 500 (77.60%) | 323 / 400 (80.75%)** |
*10% (5% DTL, ESK) below the raw average is 77.60% - 7.76% which equals 69.84%, meaning that any score(s) of 69 or below is discarded.
**Calculated averages are rounded to 2 decimal places, such as this case which is 80.75%.
This process and ‘adjusted’ average provides for a truer reflection of ability of each members shooting.
How are the cut-off points for the classifications calculated?
It is the ‘adjusted’ average then which is used to determine the cut-off points for each issue based on a minimum number of targets for each discipline which is 500 targets counting towards the ‘adjusted’ average for the major disciplines such as Down The Line, English Skeet and English Sporting.
The cut-off points are then determined based on the total number of shooters with ‘adjusted’ averages meeting the above criteria. Separating English Sporting for example into the top 5% (AAA), next 10% (AA), next 30% (A), next 30% (B), and last 25% (C).
How is my class determined?
Each member’s class is determined using their ‘adjusted’ average(s) compared to the cut-off points for the classification issue in each discipline.
Members can only gain a classification once they have registered a minimum of 300 targets or move up in classification once they have registered a minimum or 300 targets during the scores period and must have registered a minimum of 600 targets to move down a class (which is further restricted to one class per 24 month period).
Why is there a one month gap between the end of a 12 month shooting period and the issue of new classifications?
The one month gap gives the grounds 10 days from the end of month to submit outstanding scores and then allows time for validation of the scores for the 12 month period.
The averages for all members over all disciplines for the 12 months are then calculated and the cut-off points for the new classification issue determined after which the new classifications for all members are determined and checked in detail.
The process then moves to publication of new classification for all the grounds, regions and counties and an automatic update to our website for all members to view the new classifications.
Although this gap could conceivably be only be a few days should all the scores be in at the end of the month etc... This buffer allows for everyone to transition to the new classifications at the same time and ensure equity of competition.