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THE BLACK BADGE COURSE
Successful completion of the IPSC “Black Badge” Course is a mandatory prerequisite for ALL new IPSC shooters.
The IPSC Black Badge Course is a two day course combining written exams, classroom lectures followed by dry and live firing exercises. The course is designed to teach the new IPSC shooter how to SAFELY draw a loaded firearm from a holster, reload on the move, proper IPSC range commands and much, much more. Ostensively, the course is about SAFE gun handling in the dynamic, fast paced IPSC match environment.
This is NOT "just another holster course".
The new shooter will graduate from this course with a heightened sense of SAFE gun handling and a new respect for practical shooting skills. In addition, they will have a rudimentary understanding of how an IPSC match is run.
Black Badge Courses are taught on a floating schedule. Sometimes instructors wait until they have a small group organized and/or they can sometimes accommodate a one on one course. Courses are typically run with between 6 – 10 candidates depending on the course instructor. Check out the "Black Badge Courses" section of the website forums. Individual instructors will list their upcoming course dates, location and availability. Then, contact the instructor directly.
Once a new shooter has successfully completed the Black Badge Course they will be allowed to join IPSC Alberta and compete in sanctioned IPSC matches/qualifiers.
BASIC COURSE OUTLINE
This two day course is a comprehensive course which covers the history, rules, techniques and the practical application of those fundamentals in order for you to participate in IPSC competitions and to safely complete IPSC courses of fire.
With Safety ALWAYS being the primary focus of the Black Badge course (and the sport of IPSC), you will learn how to safely:
Grip your handgun properly
Draw from your holster
Reload
Move from various positions
Navigate (with your firearm) up, down and across the range
Start and shoot from various positions: kneeling, prone, turning, table starts and unloaded starts
Learn how to shoot one-handed: strong hand and support hand
Shoot leaning around barricades and through large and small ports
The Black Badge Course can sometimes (depending on the instructor) culminate in a small “mini match”. Typically a handful of experienced IPSC shooters from the local area will attend this 3-4 stage “mini match” scheduled for the afternoon of the last day of the course. Your course instructor will run the “mini match” just like a regular IPSC match so that you will become familiar with how a match is conducted (only on a smaller scale), and what you should do. The experienced shooters will be your examples to follow, and they will also assist, coach and mentor you through the mini-match. The objectives of the mini match are to apply what you just learned on the course, continue to learn and to have fun SAFELY.
EQUIPMENT
To take the course you will need a firearm with a caliber of 9mm x 19 or larger, at least 4 magazines (5 preferred), an appropriate holster (in accordance with IPSC Rule 5.2), mag pouches, a belt (for the holster and mag pouches), safety glasses, ear protection and approximately 500 rounds of ammunition. The firearm that you choose and plan to attend the course with must conform to the rules of the IPSC DIVISION in which you wish to compete. Your course instructor will advise you on the specific requirements and you can also read more on the EQUIPMENT and DIVISIONS section of this website.
The cost of the Black Badge Course includes the cost of the course itself (2 full days of instruction) and books for both days of the course. Cost varies from instructor to instructor. Each day of the course will be a full day (8 hours or more) on the range. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather appropriately.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding Black Badge Training feel free to contact our PROVINCIAL TRAINING OFFICER, your respective ZONE DIRECTOR, or the SECTION COORDINATOR. The Provincial Training Officer will have a list of qualified Black Badge instructors in your zone and the possible dates of upcoming courses. There are, on average, about 4 Black Badge Instructors in each of the 4 IPSC ALBERTA ZONES.
Courses are typically announced on the IPSC ALBERTA WEBSITE FORUMS as well as on the IPSC ALBERTA FACEBOOK PAGE (as events) with contact details for the respective course instructor. Furthermore, you can contact the PROVINCIAL TRAINING OFFICER directly for information on upcoming Black Badge Courses in your zone.