Most of the DQ’s I’ve had to give are muzzle violations for breaking the 180 rule or even sweeping their own body. This is often due to the simple fact that the shooter is crowding cover and then gets “jammed up”. Also, many cover calls are also due to the shooter crowding cover.

Crowding cover can:

• Increases the odds that you will get 3 second cover penalties because too much of you is extending around what you’re trying to hide behind.
• Increase the odds of getting DQ’d from the match because when you try move from that position, reload, etc. – you are so close to the barrier your muzzle is forced in an unsafe direction.
• Will actually slow down your shooting. I see many shooters almost grinding their wrist or arm into the barrier as they pie the corner. This can cause you to torque your body and apply undo pressures mechanically to your body while trying to shoot accurately. It also takes longer to have to back up away from cover and then move to the next position.
• Bad tactics. While you’re out there having a good time, why not practice “good tactics.” Crowding cover is just plain bad tactics.

Many shooters don’t even realize they have adopted the bad habit of crowding cover because they have always done it. I have included a couple of videos to demonstrate how NOT to crowd cover. How do you compare?  A good tool is have someone video you while shooting stages so you can assess your use of cover.

You can also practice good use of cover at home. UNLOADED WEAPON – practice approaching walls, furniture, doorways, even clear your whole house and try to observe if you’re crowing cover or not and develop good cover habits.

by Mark Kraemer