Regulation update
In recent days the ISSF, following the ISSF Rifle Workshop, has published a document containing new proposals for updating the rifle technical regulations for the three-year period 2026 – 2028 in order to find solutions to the alleged technical advantages offered by clothing manufacturers for this discipline.
Three macro areas
The main problems can be summarized in three macro areas:
a. Performance. Athletes are now at the peak of their performance in terms of scores. These high scores are endangering the discipline, and it's not technically possible to increase target tolerances. Therefore, the only solution is to reduce the impact of clothing on athlete performance.
b. Costs. Clothing costs are a major concern for athletes and their leaders at all levels. The costs are prohibitive for both national teams and novice shooters aspiring to become elite athletes. This threatens the growth and well-being of the discipline. This situation is unsustainable and risks damaging the reputation of the ISSF.
c. Image of the sport. The image of the discipline has been compromised, and this has been highlighted at the highest levels of the IOC and ISSF leadership. Currently, athletes can't even walk normally in their shooting gear, and the image of athletes clad in "armor" risks seriously damaging the sport's reputation.
Rifle jackets
After testing all jackets, the following changes were agreed upon and proposed:
a. Stiffness: The double-layer canvas material will be maintained in the shoulder area up to the lower base of the shoulder, to provide protection and reduce risk, ensuring grip and support of the rifle while aiming. The sleeves also remain unchanged; no further modifications or new rules are required. The rest of the jacket must be composed only of single-layer canvas. The following tolerance levels have been agreed upon for the stiffness test:
– Double-layer areas: 3,0 mm in 30 seconds
– Single layer areas: 3,0 mm in 15 seconds
b. Overlapping buttons: to make the jacket less tight to the athlete's body,
especially in the chest area, the button overlap tolerance will be increased from 70 mm to 80 mm.
Rifle trousers
After testing, the following was agreed upon: The double-layer canvas material will be used in the lumbar area and lower back, extending to just below the crotch. The exact measurement for each athlete will be calculated by folding each pant leg in half and dividing the fold in half again. If the fold passes through the knee protector, the demarcation line must be above it. This measurement will provide protection to the lower back and hips, areas crucial to the athlete's health. The rest of the pant legs, from the crotch to the shoe, must be single-layered. Stiffness tolerances:
– Double thickness: 3,0 mm in 30 seconds
– Single thickness: 3,0 mm in 15 seconds
Shooting shoes
Regular sports shoes that pass the flexibility test required by equipment inspection may be used. In the future, all rifle shoes must allow for an open-ankle configuration. High-top rifle shoes, i.e., shoes that cover the ankle and extend up the calf, will no longer be permitted in any of the three shooting positions (prone, knee, or standing). If athletes wish to continue using specialized shoes, only factory-produced "pistol" shoes will be permitted for the prone, knee, and standing positions. Current rifle shoes may continue to be used, provided the ankle portion is cut away to expose it, thus effectively creating a "pistol" shoe. The current rules on shoe stiffness testing remain unchanged.
Shoe soles
If a rifle or pistol shoe fails the sole stiffness test, it will need to be modified so that it can flex naturally and pass the test. An additional benefit is that the athlete will be able to walk normally, ensuring proper foot function and locomotion, thus avoiding the so-called "penguin walk."
Kneeling Cushions
To compensate for the removal of the upper part of the rifle boot, a kneeling pad may be used without any circumference limit. However, any pad used must ensure that the front of the
The shoe, therefore the toe, touches the ground. Additionally, a pad, of a size to be determined, may be used to place between the heel of the shoe and the athlete's butt to increase stability and reduce pain.
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