Everybody knows what “on deck” means. If you haven’t played baseball or softball, you’ve at least heard it in A League of Their Own, Field of Dreams, The Sandlot, or Bull Durham. If not, we might need to schedule an A Girl & A Gun movie night. But where did those words come from? And more importantly for shooting matches, what exactly are you supposed to be doing when someone says you’re on deck? Those simple phrases are part of a system that keeps competitions moving safely and efficiently. Understanding that system is one of the first lessons in shooting match etiquette, and it helps every competitor contribute to the flow of the squad.

Everyone likes to pride themselves on the manners their mama taught them. However, competitive shooting requires more than just a “yes sir/no sir” attitude. This article addresses the basics of match etiquette and the manners that matter on the range when you’re a competitor.