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The PITA Executive Committee came to a comprehensive decision on the need for the PITA to update its All Star requirements. That decision was formulated over a time frame of not weeks, or months but years of input from our members. This Executive Committee is made up of elected volunteers that serve for the good of the association. We are loyal members who have been entrusted with the custody of the organization. We all participate in this sport and have the greatest respect for our future and history. Decisions made by the Executive Committee do not come lightly, and feedback from our members is always appreciated and considered.
After publishing the new PITA 2021 ALL Star requirements we received feedback from a few of our members that requires a response. After reviewing each letter and email, the Executive Committee is offering an explanation as to the reasoning behind the changes.
Below please find an explanation for the changes and also some of the history of the All Star Teams.
The Board desires to recognize and reward all those who support the PITA. This means all those who shoot targets at multiple clubs, shoot major tournaments, participate at clubs with less than positive conditions, and shoot during inclement times of each year. These same shooters may not be as competitive against others who shoot the minimum amount of targets, during good weather, at clubs that have optimal conditions for good scores, in order to preserve their averages.
The 5-club/2-major requirement was put into effect because some members were registering all their targets at only one or two clubs. The new 6-club/3-major requirement indicates that the Executive Committee has a desire to expand required target registration at multiple diverse clubs, which include many of the smaller clubs. We feel that expanding the format to six individual clubs and three major shoots will help all clubs financially and may encourage some smaller clubs to join the PITA and start registering targets. In addition, it will require more potential All Stars to visit and shoot at those same clubs.
The decision to disallow multiple 50-target events to satisfy the 100 singles/100 handicap/100 doubles per club requirement is in keeping with what we believe to be the intent of the original 5-club requirement. The thought and hope being that a shooter will go to a weekend shoot and shoot the entire program, rather than just 50 targets here and 50 targets there.
The All Star requirements have changed very little over the years. Starting in 1958, men were required to shoot 3200 total targets and ladies were required to shoot 1800 targets (with no doubles). Those requirements stayed in place until 1980 when the men’s target requirement was increased to 4500 and the ladies requirement was increased to 2000, with 500 doubles.
The two (2) major shoot requirement was added in 1996; the five (5) club requirement was added in 1999. Since then, there have been very few changes to the overall requirements. We did add more individual category teams: Seniors, Elders and Sub-Juniors.
The only changes between 1999 and 2016 were to add more teams and increase the target requirements for the Top 5 and the Men by 500. The reasoning at that time was that these people were already shooting these new minimum requirements. Similar to our reasoning now.
No changes have been made to the Ladies, Veterans, Seniors, Elders, Juniors and Sub-juniors for 20 years. In reviewing the All Star teams over the past several years, we have found again, that many of the current All Star members are already meeting and exceeding the new 2021 minimum requirements.
With society’s enlightened equality it was decided that there should be no difference in target requirements between the Men’s and Women’s teams. That the Veterans and Seniors are some of the most proficient target consumers in the PITA and that the Elders are not far behind.
The majority of recent All Stars have actually met the new target requirements. Very few would need more than 500 additional targets at one individual club and participation in a third Major Shoot, which now could be the Fall Classic. Its multiple locations will help limit travel somewhat, or a shooter can add another State/Provincial Championship. In 2018-2019, a ten-month shortened target year, the following current All Star members meet the new 2021 minimum requirements:
· 4 of the Top Five team
· 7 of the 10 on the Men’s Team
· 5 of the 10 on the Ladies Team
· 5 of the 5 on the Veterans Team
· 5 of the 5 on the Seniors Team
· 3 of the 5 on the Elders Team
· 8 of the 8 on the Juniors Team
· 3 of the 5 on the Sub-Juniors Team
The Executive Board’s definition of “All Star” is not simply identifying the individual who has managed their way to the highest averages, using the existing qualification minimums to their best advantage. We feel that All Stars must be leaders, sportsmen, and individuals who have exceeded PITA expectations and deserve the admiration and respect of all the members of the association.
The conclusion to which the Board has arrived is this: Based on all the information at our disposal, countless hours of research and discussion, and our own experiences, we recognize the reality that all shooters face when they choose to compete for the All Star positions, a few of which are life, family, time, distance, effort, dedication and money.
Reaching All Star status is not an easy path for anyone, and the EC Board does not feel that it should be. After twenty years of virtual standstill it is time to “Raise the Bar” in our expectation of qualifying for All Star positions.