Fast! We all want to go fast! Unfortunately, not everyone is ready to be a speed demon. As mentioned here a couple years ago, there is a natural progression of training priorities that shooters & instructors should follow. But what do you do when a group of shooters — whether students or shooting buddies — are at wildly different skill levels? You don’t want the newbie shooter to get run over, and you don’t want the best shooter to get bored.
In large groups, like teaching a class, shooters need to be encouraged to work at their own pace. The student who is struggling to hit a target at seven yards needs to go slow and work on marksmanship fundamentals. Standing right next to him might be an expert shooter who needs to be pushed to increase his speed either by finishing the drill faster or getting more hits within a time limit. Too often, instructors slow a class down to meet the needs of the lowest common denominator. But one key to being a good instructor is being able to switch gears from student to student, giving each of them diagnosis and advice appropriate to his individual skill level.
In small groups, don’t be afraid to have each person shoot a different drill. For example, last night I was at the range with two other shooters from the M4Carbine.net Northern Virginia Training Group. There was a very wide range of skill levels. Nonetheless, we managed to practice for about two hours together.
For some drills, we adjusted the time limit — or eliminated it altogether — depending on the shooter’s skill. For example, one person would fire two shots in one second, one person would do it in two seconds, and one person would do it in four seconds. For other drills, we’d adjust the complexity of the drill. One shooter would draw and fire 2-3 shots, one shooter would fire 2-3 shots from the ready position, and the last shooter would simply fire one shot from the ready … all in the same two second time limit.
The benefit of this approach is that all of the shooters are doing the same basic drill. No one feels left behind. No one feels kept behind. Everyone stays engaged and gets pushed to improve.
Train hard & stay safe! ToddG
(photo courtesy of Justin Dyal)
Mr. Green is too kind. For my part, I was the newbie last night. The gap between my skill level and that of the other attendee was vast. Having never had any formal pistol instruction, and knowing my lack of skill, I was hesitant to even be involved. I didn’t want to detract from what their time at the range.
Fortunately for me, Todd encouraged me to step up and give it a try. He went so far as to let me shoot the P30 mentioned elsewhere on this site.
It was a humbling but very educational evening. Mr. Green is an amazingly patient and talented instructor. Somehow, despite being pushed far out of my comfort zone, he also made sure we could have a good time. As mentioned above, the three different skill levels represented made for a challenge. It was impressive to see how Todd kept up the pace, knowing when to move on and when to stop and correct. Or when to take me off the line entirely.
While I obviously won’t be shooting the F.A.S.T. any time soon, I feel like I can at least see dry land on the horizon. Thanks again for your time, sir.
For the record, “Good Bad & Newbie” was not a reference to our group last night. 8)
HiggsBoson – For being a newbie you couldn’t of had a better instructor than Todd!
This was an excellent post and gave me a lot to think about. I don’t get the opportunity to train with someone very often. I finally gave up on IDPA after my frustration level just grew out of proportion with the benefit I received from the local group. Don’t get me wrong — they’re generally a great bunch of folks, but there were a few who were not and I really didn’t like standing around for six hours for 200 rounds.
Although I’m not really an instructor, I help folks I shoot with. I watch them shoot and use opportunities to correct their basic technique (there are a few things that everyone should do). The differences in skill levels is “interesting” to say the least.
Thanks for the post.
To me that has always been the hallmark of a good instructor and the differenc between real trainers and those who just offer training. To work with a mixed skills group, keep them motivated, and have all of them come away at the end of it feeling as if they had had a quality training session is something many instructors never can pull off. Good job, Todd!
Good to hear that Todd convinced you to participate. I remember feeling the same way about joining in with a group of more experienced shooters many years ago, and I’m glad I did decide to join them. Far too often new shooters are worried about their skill set and ability to keep up, but with a good instructor, it’s a non-issue, and you’ll always learn more than you would on your own. It’s the same in IPSC, you always hear new shooters saying they don’t want to go to a Nationals, or a Worlds, because it will be too hard for them. It’s just a match, if you can afford to go, go!
We’ve all been there, you have to start somewhere.
have you given any consideration to offering a lower or moderate skill level class for those who are still a bit new? someone has to teach the beginners at some point and their money is just as good as the advanced class money.
i’d be willing to bet there are more moderately skilled shooters out there willing to pay for instruction than there are advanced shooters. also those “newbs” you help will eventually need your advanced class.
gtmtnbiker — Yes we have! I’ve been tempted to write an article for the site about how I got from never shooting a gun to now over the past fifteen years.
David — I’m actually working on a syllabus for a basic/intro program now. But there are so many instructors teaching that stuff that I’m not sure it’s going to be popular enough to justify the cost.
Ok, so I am officially Todd’s biggest fan! I do feel like Charles Barkly in the Haney project, but I am making progress.
Some drills are easier than others, but progress no less.
Thanks for the time tonight. I took your advice and worked on my press out, and insuring my wrist lock position is consistent.
Suffice to say, I will not need to invest in a shoot clock any time soon.
Honestly, I have been doing the drills, and must say as a result I have become much greater respect and appreciation for the importance of the fundamentals. At this rate, I’ll have my coin by hum the 31st of Nebruary!
Thanks
RobE: “Far too often new shooters are worried about their skill set and ability to keep up, but with a good instructor, it’s a non-issue, and you’ll always learn more than you would on your own.”
I hate to say it but there are a lot of not particularly good instructors out there charging way too much money considering what you get (or dont) out of their course. I’ve was in a course titled “skill drills for the competive shooter” which turned into a 101 course because there was 2 “newbies” in class. It was a waste of my time and money.
“It’s the same in IPSC, you always hear new shooters saying they don’t want to go to a Nationals, or a Worlds, because it will be too hard for them. It’s just a match, if you can afford to go, go!” With IDPA it is a problem–they dont take qualified novices in many state, and regional championships, as well as nationals. I think IDPA needs to come up with an advanced novice category and let advanced novices compete if they cant make marksman in the qualifier. Unfortunately IDPA is worrying about a “grand master” category instead of trying to bring more people into the fold to compete at a “higher” level. Another annoying thing is holding championships in gun unfriendly states. Sounds good until you realize many people arent going to come. For instance the P30 was not legal to compete with at the New England Regionals this year. Why not hold it in northern new england where it would be legal in any of those states.
ToddG: Glad to see you raising this issue of mixed skill in classes and how to address it. I like the points you make but unfortunately I dont think enough instructors read your site–because they really need to. Almost all of them run their classes like some mass karate class for 10 year old boys. I get frustrated at the lack of evaluating where you are and then try to make you better–not just pushing rote 1 size drills to meet the classes round count.
There is no substitute for hard work.
The difference between average, good, and great are huge if you look at the amount of time spent practicing. The act of shooting in and of its self, or hitting a target is not difficult, but great operators have shoot a lot. The difference between average, good, and great shooters often boil down to trigger time on and off the range.
Proper instruction makes more efficient use of the time behind the trigger; however the operator is still tasked with the work. It is the attention to the details that instruction should provide, an objective view focused on the improving the conditioning of the operator. It balls down to the ability to effectively convey the information to the operator.
Since I have been reading PT I have found the site provides a great deal of information for operators of all levels. I have read through the archives back to 07’ and found the press-out article and I felt like I was back on the range with Todd. Now perhaps he’s a great instructor, not sure. What I do know is he is good at what he does!
As an educator a post like this catches my attention. Todd, you really grasp differentiated instruction! The ideal teacher keeps every student engaged at their proximal level of development as much as possible. Don’t you want to come do a course in sunny California again soon? I’d be there!
For the record, AFHF is not a good example of an “all skill levels welcome” kind of class. There are prerequisites. Folks who cannot meet them generally struggle to keep up during class. The few times I’ve had true “newbie” students in an AFHF class, they simply aren’t babied along. In a limited 2-day format, my responsibility is to meet the expectations of the prepared students. Among other things, that means the “newbie” can’t dominate the instructor’s time and attention.
Adam – I’ve got a class scheduled for March in the Sacrameto area. The announcement will go up later this month. Last year’s attendees are getting the chance to reserve slots first, and we’re changing to a maximum of 12 (instead of 16) students for most classes next year. But I’m sure there will still be at least some of the slots left open by the time the public announcement is made. Hope you can make it!