Information Packet

The V² Finale is being presented as a competition designed by competitors, for competitors. We’re taking a page from the NCAA, conducting a matchup style tournament that will ensure that each competitor competes against an opponent on a level playing field - no relay excuses. No puller excuses. No firing point excuses. Just you and your immediate opponent.

An example bracket can be found HERE. A total of 64 competitors will be invited to the V² Finale, based on their performance during the FPS season. Accumulate enough points during the season (see Finale Season notes for dates) to be within the top 32 shooters in your equipment category (F-Open or F-TR) and you’ll automatically be invited to the V² Finale match, which will be held in June of each year. Shooters are seeded into the V² Finale according to the points they’ve accumulated during the season.

The V² Finale itself is conducted over three (3) days. It’s a double elimination tournament - this means that everybody has the opportunity to shoot at least two matchups. A loss in the primary bracket will seed you into the elimination bracket, where you will have the opportunity to continue on and potentially work your way back to shoot for the overall Championship.

The V² Finale is a pair-fire, best two of three format - meaning, you and your opponent for each stage are shooting at the exact same time, in the exact same conditions, on the exact same target. The only person you are competing against is the person next to you. If you win two out of three matches in your round matchup, then you advance.

2.0 V² Finale Specifics

The V² Finale is run as a NCAA-style championship matchup bracket. An example bracket and tournament progression for a single equipment category (F-Open or FTR) can be found HERE. The official rules and course of fire can be found in the V² Finale match program.

2.1 Why pair-fire?

Pair fire offers the opportunity to guarantee that you and your opponent are shooting in

the same conditions. No relay, target service, or firing point alibis.

2.2 Why are you using the ICFRA 5V target?

The 5V target offers less of an opportunity for a one-shot catastrophic mistake. Even if you register a “miss” (0), you are only 5 points down and odds of recovery in a best of three format are much higher.

2.3 Why 3 x 15 @ 1000 for each stage of the matchup?

Hopefully, the answer to “why 1000 yards” is self-explanatory. The answer to “Why 3 x 15” is based on a few factors. First off, the FPS Board felt that 15 record shots per string (with convertible sighters) in a match stage was enough to demonstrate a clear winner, while still leaving enough record rounds that a single mistake or two would not be a disaster of enough proportion to guarantee your loss. A best of three demonstrates consistency while ensuring that a single loss doesn’t put you out of the game. At the same time, a bracket/matchup championship has a lot of rounds to shoot and so time is a factor as well.

2.4 Why a matchup tournament instead of a normal F-Class event?

In a normal F-Class event, you are competing against several factors while also competing against everyone else in the match. The conditions, your firing point, your target service - these are all things that are not under your control and yet can immensely influence the outcome. We’ve all been “relayed”. We’ve all had “that target service”. Sure, there’s an argument to be made for overcoming those things, but luck still plays a large role in the outcome.

In a bracket-style matchup tournament, you are only competing against the person laying down next to you on the firing point. You are shooting the same conditions at the same time. You both have the same target service. You both are on the same firing point, subject to whatever range conditions that creates. There are no alibis and it makes no difference how other competitors are doing. It’s just you and the person next to you. And each new round starts at zero for everyone - it’s an opportunity to shine and advance, or stumble and be eliminated. Just like the NCAA basketball tournament. You only have to worry about the here and now.

2.5 Tie Breakers

In the event of a tied matchup at the end of regulation firing, the competitors will continue

to alternate fire in a “sudden death” format until the tie is broken.

2.6 What happens if I am double-eliminated, especially on Day 1?

Unfortunately, your march to the V² Finale Championship is over. A double-elimination means you are permanently out of the running. But, all is not lost. You have options

besides going home:

Enjoy the many sights and sounds scenic Spencer, TN
Make use of the extensive shooting facilities of the Dead Zero range, with full service club house, extensive shotgun ranges, and many other shooting options.

3.0 The FPS Mission

The best indicator of skill is reliable consistency, not peak performance. The format we have designed here is intended to reward that. So the primary purpose of this match is to give shooters an opportunity to measure themselves against their competition over the course of a season, and in the end, participate in a match format that allows them the maximum opportunity for that consistency to be rewarded.

In normal F-Class matches, the main opponent for a shooter is themselves, the conditions, and the factors that may affect an outcome - whether it be relay, target puller, or other factors. In a matchup event, each shooter only faces one opponent at a time under identical conditions - same weather, same relay, same target, same services, etc…

Because we are not operating under the governance of a sanctioning body, we are able to control the match format, the rules, and the award distribution in such a way as to maximize the experience and the return to the shooters themselves.

Another important goal is to drive participation in F-Class across the country - by including as many Qualified Matches as possible using a weighting system, even smaller matches will be able to qualify and assign some points. And by driving participation to qualify for points at your match(es), we’ll drive more participation overall. More shooters and more participation equal more points for the winners on the leaderboard.

This is a series and match that was designed FOR shooters, BY shooters. The best competitors will want to test themselves against their peers.

4.0 The FPS Group

The FPS is composed of a board of 7 members, plus an advisory position. At this time, the board members are:

Jay Christopherson - Board Member/President

Tod Hendricks - Board Member/Venue Coordination

Ian Klemm - Board Member/Super Awesome

Dan Pohlabel - Board Member/Secretary

Erik Cortina - Board Member/Marketing & Promotions

John Masek - Board Member/Vendor & Sponsor Coordination

Drew Rutherford - Board Member/Treasurer

Emil Praslick - Board Advisory

The Board manages the coordination of all aspects of the FPS V² Finale and factors leading up to the V² Finale match.

5.0 The FPS Sponsors

The F-Class Championship Series works with a short list of select sponsors who are dedicated to the principals that this event was founded on. Consistent with our purpose, this is a Series and an Event that is designed by shooters, for shooters. Our sponsors help us achieve our goals in a variety of ways.

5.1 Vihtavuori Smokeless Powders

Vihtavuori is known for producing high quality propellants with reliable ballistic performance, long shelf-life and wide variety selection. All of their gun powders meet the strict requirements of both civilian and military needs. They are also the lead sponsor for the FPS and the V² Finale. With their support, we have been able to secure the venue and resources required to host the V² Finale. Additionally, they are provided prizes for competitors who are successful in advancing through the bracket rounds towards the championship. Without their generous support, the FPS and the V² Finale would not be happening.

5.2 Vortex Optics

Vortex Optics is an American manufacturer of optical equipment for hunting, bird watching, wildlife watching, outdoor recreational sports and law enforcement. They, along with Vihtavuori, are the sole primary sponsors for the FPS and the V² Finale event. As with Vihtavuori, their support in securing the venue and overhead resources required to host the V² Finale event is critical to the success of this Series. In addition, they are also providing prizes for competitors who successfully advance the bracket rounds towards the championship. Without their generous support, the FPS and the V² Finale would not be happening.

6.0 The FPS Marketing & Promotion

Promotions and marketing are an important part of the FPS. Not only for our event, but for the sponsors that make this Series and our Finale happen as well.

To that end, we are targeting and can be found via the following media and methods:

6.1 Facebook

We are hosting a Facebook page, which will describe our events, and provide a consistent stream of updates about events relevant to the series and the V² Finale. Qualifying match updates, including scores and Leaderboard points that are assigned. FPS Leaderboard updates. Video content. Notices, documentation, Q&A sessions, and other informative materials, as well as sponsor updates regarding our relationship with our sponsors.

You can find us on Facebook here: Facebook

6.2 YouTube

YouTube contains FPS produced videos documenting the series, the V² Finale, competitors, sponsors, and other useful information. We may include interviews with competitors, live streams, and updates on the V² Finale event.

We can be found on YouTube here: YouTube

6.3 Blogs, Forums, and Websites

We post content to various forums, blogs (including sponsor blogs!) and websites that contain information about the FPS, the V² Finale, and events leading up to it. Updates on Leaderboard status, Qualifying Matches, and other print form information will be available on a regular basis as we try to stay in touch with competitors throughout the season.

7.0 The FPS Series Season

The series season begins on March 1 and effectively ends at the end of every February. This means that the Southwest National, which is a key qualifying match, becomes the last match of the season before the leaderboard is finalized and invitations are sent out.

7.1 Important Dates

February 28/29: Last day to submit results for inclusion into the current season

March 1: First day of new season; Invites & Waiting list are announced; RSVP begins

April 1: Waiting list processing begins

May 1: Cancellation period with a 50% refund begins

June 1: No refund for cancellation begins

8.0 V² Finale - Limited Entry, Qualification Event

The primary purpose of this match is to reward consistency and allow shooters to measure themselves against the best in the sport. Consistency in F-Class is a measure of commitment, time, effort, and results over an extended period of time. A qualification entry format ensures that the people participating in the V² Finale have demonstrated the level of consistency over the course of a season to be invited to a match of their peers.

We limit qualifying slots to 64 participants (32 F-Open, 32 F-TR) for a variety of reasons. Some of those are because of the logistical constraints of running a NCAA style championship matchup bracket. Some are because of the need to create competition for seeding by demonstrating consistency across multiple matches. There are many other reasons as well and anyone on the Board can talk to you about them.

In the event that the field of competitors does not reach the 64 person limit for the current year, (due to potentially varying circumstances) we may aggregate the current year FPS Leaderboard with the previous year (or years) in order to produce a qualified field of competitors.

9.0 The FPS Leaderboard

The Leaderboard is a continuously updated points ranking system. Every qualifying match will offer some amount of points to the top shooters - the amount and number of points placed will vary depending on the match and it’s qualifying criteria (see “What is a Qualifying Match?”). As you accumulate points through the season by performing well at qualifying matches, you’ll ascend the leaderboard. This is important because the V² Finale seeding is NCAA-style. The higher your seeding, the better your seeding placement into the V² Finale bracket.

Here is the FPS Leaderboard for 2020. More matches equal more points to include, and so submitting your qualified results will benefit everyone who is participating with stronger matchups.

9.1 Why A Points System?

As said before, the best indicator of skill is reliable consistency, not peak performance. Points are a way to track and reward success and reliable consistency over an extended period of time. The person who wins a given match may be the best shooter at that particular point in time, but not necessarily over a range of time, like the course of a season. And the nature of the sport means that we naturally only look at one or two specific events in evaluating shooters. Some of the top shooters in the nation may not be able to attend those events for one reason or another. Even if they end up not shooting in the V² Finale, they’ll still be recognized for their success and consistency via the Leaderboard, if their matches are included as qualifying matches. And they’ll become a variable in the weighted evaluation system.

10.0 FPS Season Qualifying Matches

A qualifying match is a match that adheres to the basic requirements described below and seeds points for individuals into the FPS Leaderboard.

11.0 FPS Qualifying Match Criteria

Any match that fulfills the following requirements is eligible as a qualifying match:

Must be a LR format with at least 85 rounds for record

Must have at least 5 shooters who begin the match and fire at least one shot for record in an equipment category for that category to be assigned points; however shooters who do not complete the full record match will not qualify for points.
Must provide results in a text-parsable format (NO PICTURES/IMAGE FILES)
Must conform to NRA or ICFRA standards for F-Class equipment

That’s it! Anyone can submit the scores from a match for consideration, though it would be ideal for shooters to coordinate with their match director. Match Directors who wish to advertise their match as a FPS Qualifying Match may coordinate with the FPS board for information and potentially promotion, though this is not a requirement.

If you would like the FPS to consider your match for inclusion and you believe it meets the qualifying criteria, simply send your results to fclass.points.series@gmail.com. Results must be submitted in a text parsable, non-image format.

11.1 What is the Qualifying Match Points Cap?

The points cap is the maximum number of points that may be placed for a given equipment category at a match. The maximum is the top-10 places receiving points. Weighted matches will receive a corresponding lower number of points placements, as explained below.

The points for each place in a maximum top-10 placement are:

1st Place: 25 points

2nd Place: 18 points

3rd Place: 15 points

4th Place: 12 points

5th Place: 10 points

6th Place: 8 points

7th Place: 6 points

8th Place: 4 points

9th Place: 2 points

10th Place: 1 point

In addition, when you are awarded points for a match, your X-Count is calculated as percentage and added to your score. For example, if you are awarded ‘8’ points for a match and you shot 50 X’s out of 100 record rounds, an additional .5 would be added to your score for that match (8.5). Your TOTAL is the sum total of all points awarded to you during a FPS season.

Points are assigned to weight matches from the bottom up - for example, a weighted match that places points to the top 5, would assign 1 point to 5th place, and then in order upwards from there. Examples from 2019 Qualifying Matches are below.

11.2 2019 Example Qualifying Matches

Here are some examples of matches and points that would be handed out, that would have qualified in 2019:

Texas State Long Range Championship

F-O: 1st: 10, 2nd:8, 3rd: 6, 4th: 4, 5th: 2, 6th: 1
F-TR: 1st: 6, 2nd:4, 3rd: 2, 4th: 1

IN/KY Long Range State Championship

F-O: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2, 3rd: 1
F-TR: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2, 3rd: 1

CIHPRS Long Range Regional

F-O: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2, 3rd: 1
F-TR: 1st: 8, 2nd: 6, 3rd: 4, 4th: 2, 5th: 1

Midwest Palma Championship

F-O: 1st: 8, 2nd:6, 3rd: 4, 4th: 2, 5th: 1
F-TR: 1st: 1

Northern Rockies Long Range F-Class Regional

F-O: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2, 3rd: 1
F-TR: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2, 3rd: 1

Arizona State Long Range Championship

F-O: 1st: 10, 2nd:8, 3rd: 6, 4th: 4, 5th: 2, 6th: 1
F-TR: 1st: 4, 2nd: 2, 3rd: 1

Southwest National (reference match)

F-O: 1st: 25, 2nd: 18, 3rd: 15, 4th: 12, 5th: 10, 6th: 8, 7th: 6, 8th: 4, 9th: 2, 10th: 1
F-TR: 1st: 25, 2nd: 18, 3rd: 15, 4th: 12, 5th: 10, 6th: 8, 7th: 6, 8th: 4, 9th: 2, 10th: 1

F-Class National Championship (LR, reference match)

F-O: 1st: 25, 2nd: 18, 3rd: 15, 4th: 12, 5th: 10, 6th: 8, 7th: 6, 8th: 4, 9th: 2, 10th: 1
F-TR: 1st: 25, 2nd: 18, 3rd: 15, 4th: 12, 5th: 10, 6th: 8, 7th: 6, 8th: 4, 9th: 2, 10th: 1

12.0 FPS Qualifying Points Weighting System

We use a weighting system to evaluate matches for point distribution. All qualifying matches are not equal. The SWN and FCNC are reference matches that qualify for full points distribution.

12.1 Qualifying Match Variables

The weighting system for a match breaks down like this:

Degree of Difficulty:

Ratio of competitors in a given equipment category vs. the # of competitors ranked in the FPS Leaderboard for that category. For example, if you have 20 F-Open shooters and 5 of them are ranked in the top 100 of the FPS Leaderboard over the past 3 years, then the weight score would be .25.

Category Weight:

Number of competitors in your equipment category vs. a “perfect” baseline of at least 100 competitors. Again, the SWN or FCNC would be examples of “perfect” category weight scores.

Calculated Weight:

A simple calculation on Degree of Difficulty vs Category Weight results in a Calculated Weight score that assigns points. A score of 1.0 or above represents the cap (10 places) for assigned points. For example, a Calculated Weight of .36 would assign 4 points placements (1st - 4th), where 1st = 6 points, 2nd = 4 points, 3rd = 2 points, and 4th = 1 point.

12.2 Why do some matches give more points to F-Open (or F-TR)?

Again, weighting. Since equipment categories are often unequally distributed in matches, or the degree of difficulty described above is unevenly distributed, the number of points places assigned will often be biased, but relative to the equipment category. If more top shooters show up or you have more shooters in a category, the weight will be higher and more points will be assigned. Part of the goal, as mentioned earlier, is to drive participation so participation is part of the weighting system. Get out there and get people to your matches!

13.0 FPS Leaderboard Rankings

The current FPS Leaderboard is published and maintained here: Current Year Leaderboard.

14.0 V² Finale Awards

One of the main goals of the V² Finale is to reward shooters. If you put your time and money into something, you should realize the rewards of performing well at it. To that end, nearly all of the money from match entry fees go back into cash awards for the match. The prize amount for winning the match is intended to be compelling - but we also want to recognize that advancing through a bracket of your peers is hard. And so we intend to distribute compelling prizes as far down the list as we can. In addition to the cash prizes that come out of the match fees, we expect there to also be sponsor or vendor awards as well. The exact awarded prize amounts and additional prizes for each Finale can be found in the V² Finale Match Program.

We do not intend to support a prize table - our award system is intended to reward performance, not random chance.

15.0 I have more questions, who do I contact?

You may contact us at fclass.points.series@gmail.com and we will respond to your questions as soon as possible. Check back to this information packet often as it is constantly updated.