Should we maintain silence in our ranges so athletes can concentrate?

February 24, 2026

Civilian Marksmanship Program▸Youth 3 PAR▸Should we maintain silence in our ranges so athletes can concentrate?

NO, match officials and coaches that try to keep their ranges silent are doing their athletes a big disservice. Furthermore, silent ranges are not modern sports venues where parents and spectators can enjoy themselves. 3PAR rules explicitly say “spectators and media must be allowed to speak in normal tones” and that spectators should even “be allowed to cheer” (7.18). Normal conversation on the range is always OK as long as someone does not start shouting or deliberately disturb an athlete. The coach’s responsibility is to prepare athletes for conversations and noise that will take place on competition ranges by allowing this in practice. Athletes who are taught that spectator enthusiasm is part of sports will soon get used to this. Besides, if an athlete advances to higher competitions they will have to perform in lots of noise. Anyone who ever witnessed an Olympic shooting final knows that the noise there can be deafening.