How does a shotgun shooter protest a decision?
A · Advanced · Penalties, safety and equipment · 3 of 6To dispute a call on a target, the athlete raises an arm and says "PROTEST" at once, before the next athlete fires. The referee hears the assistant referees and decides. Other matters can go to the jury in writing within 20 minutes of the end of the round, with a fee of 50 euros.
How it works
On a single target:
- Who: only the athlete concerned.
- When: immediately, before the next athlete fires. No protest is accepted after that.
- What happens: the referee interrupts the shooting, hears the opinions of the assistant referees and decides.
On other matters:
- Verbal protest: any athlete or team official may protest at once to a jury member, the chief range officer, the chief referee or a referee, that the rules or programme were not followed, that an official's decision was wrong or that an athlete was impeded or disturbed.
- Written protest: to a jury member within 20 minutes after the end of the round in which the incident happened, with a fee of 50 euros, returned if the protest is upheld.
- Appeal: in writing to the Jury of Appeal not later than 30 minutes after the jury's decision is announced, with a fee of 100 euros.
- Final: the decision of the Jury of Appeal is final.
- Shooting under protest: a team official who is not satisfied must not delay the shooting. The referee notes on the scorecard that the athlete is continuing under protest.
Tricky cases
The athlete shoots two more targets and then protests an earlier one. Is that heard?
No. The protest must be made before the next athlete fires.
Can a team official protest that a target was wrongly called lost?
No. Only the athlete concerned may question a decision on a hit, lost, no target or irregular target.
Can the jury's decision on a hit or lost target in a final be appealed?
No. Decisions of a Finals Protest Jury may not be appealed, and no protest fee applies in finals.
Does the athlete have to protest verbally before writing?
No. A written protest may be submitted without a verbal one first.
Why the rule exists
A hit or a miss is seen once and cannot be replayed in qualification, so a challenge has to come while the referee and assistants still have the picture in mind. Fees and short deadlines keep written protests to the cases worth arguing.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ISSF rules | As above | ISSF 9.16 |
| Finals | A three-member Finals Protest Jury decides at once. A lost protest on anything but a target call costs two points | ISSF 9.17.7 |
| Finals with video | The athlete may ask for a VAR review of a lost or no target call | ISSF 9.17.8 |
From the rule book
ISSF Official Statutes, Rules and Regulations, Edition 2025 (second print 07/2026), Shotgun Rules, rules 9.16 and 9.17.7. Effective 1 July 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: ISSF Rule Book (PDF).