Tie-breaking & declarations

Shootoffs & Ties

How ties are broken, when shoot-offs happen, and the category rules that decide which trophy you're competing for.

Show up fast

10-minute reporting window

Shoot-off participants must report to the classification window within 10 minutes of the call — or forfeit.

Once you start, you're locked

No category changes after first shot

Special category declarations cannot be made or changed after you've fired your first shot. There are no exceptions.

When scores match

Shoot-Offs and Ties

  • HAA shoot-offs are 20 singles, 10 handicap, 5 pair of doubles.
  • HOA shoot-offs are 20 singles, 20 handicap, 5 pair of doubles.
  • Gold Rush HOA shoot-offs are 20 singles, 20 handicap, 5 pair of doubles.
  • Singles & Doubles ties carry over to the next Singles or Doubles event unless otherwise stated in the program.
  • All other trophy ties are shot off at the end of each day unless otherwise stated.
  • Carry-over flexibility — if necessary, ties may be carried over to the next corresponding event, shot off concurrently in succeeding events, or at a time designated by the NSTA Directors.
  • Forfeiture — anyone in a tie who leaves the grounds or doesn't answer a call will forfeit their right to a shoot-off.
  • If the shoot-off can't be concluded (time limits, weather, etc.), only shooters who have checked in are eligible for trophies. Winners are determined by long run from front; remaining ties are decided by a coin flip performed by a tournament official.
  • Money ties are divided unless otherwise stated by management.

Which trophy you're shooting for

Category Declaration Notice

  • One category only — at tournaments where All American points are awarded, shooters may declare only one category (Lady I, Lady II, Sub-Junior, Junior, Junior Gold, Sub-Veteran, Veteran, or Senior Veteran). Chair shooters are exempt.
  • Declare at classification — Lady I, Lady II, Sub-Veteran, Veteran, Sr. Veteran, Junior Gold, Junior, and Sub-Junior shooters must declare their special category at the time of classification. No declaration = not allowed to compete for the category trophy for the duration of the tournament.
  • Tied for Champion — any shooter tied for event Champion may shoot off / carry over for the Championship trophy. If they fail in the championship shoot-off and declared a category at classification, they can fall back to the declared category.
  • If your score qualifies for a category trophy , you compete for the category trophy and not for place, class, or yardage group.
  • If your score does not qualify for a category trophy, you may compete for place, class, or yardage group trophies instead.
  • Declarations are final — once made (by shooter or shoot management), a declaration cannot be changed. There is no exception to this rule.
  • Not an ATA category error — failure to declare your special category does not count as an A.T.A. category error. Confirm your category before leaving the classification desk.