American Rimfire Association
We're excited that you want to host ARA-sanctioned club matches! ARA provides a competition format that is fair, fun, and fosters camaraderie both locally and nationwide.
Why It Matters
All clubs and Match Directors follow the same rules and match structure, ensuring consistency at every venue. Many competitors travel across the country to shoot ARA events, uniform match procedures from club to club are essential.
Every sanctioned ARA match runs by the same rulebook, so no competitor is ever at a disadvantage based on venue.
ARA events build community — locally at your range and nationally as competitors travel to shoot across the country.
Uniform match procedures mean shooters know exactly what to expect, whether they're at their home club or across the country.
Your club's scores feed into the national ARA rankings, connecting your local competitors to the bigger benchrest community.
Everything You Need
Follow the links below for more information on getting your club up and running as a sanctioned ARA venue.
What is ARA, benefits, responsibilities, supplies, scoring, getting started, and more — everything a new club needs to understand the organization.
All Match Directors must be thoroughly familiar with the ARA Rule Book. Every sanctioned match is run according to these rules without exception.
A step-by-step slideshow walking Match Directors through exactly how to run an ARA-sanctioned match from setup to score submission.
A comprehensive guide covering duties, scoring teams, match reports, record targets, match fees, and everything else a new Match Director needs to know.
Your Roadmap
This guide is designed to walk new Match Directors through every aspect of running an ARA-sanctioned event. Whether you're setting up your first match or looking to sharpen your process, it's all here.
Access the full guide and accompanying video tutorials in the Match Director Resource Portal.
Open Resource PortalReach out to the ARA Business Office — we'll walk you through the sanction process and get your club on the national schedule.