Guide

Understanding The Tactical Games (TTG)

Source: The Tactical Games Europe, “Comprendre The Tactical Games (TTG)”, version 4. Translated from French and adapted for the Tactiscore app. In case of doubt, the official TTG rulebook and the stage briefing prevail.

TTG in 30 seconds

The Tactical Games is a modern take on the biathlon: intense physical effort, then precision shooting with a pistol and a rifle, with your heart rate at its maximum.

• The principle: you go through a series of events (“stages”) that combine fitness and shooting. The fastest athlete wins, but every missed shot costs extra time or extra effort.
• The challenge: control your breathing, steady your hands and hit a distant target after carrying heavy loads.
• The golden rule: safety comes first. A safety violation can void a stage, or even the whole competition.

I. Origins and philosophy

History

The Tactical Games were created in 2019 by a group of friends, active-duty and retired military. They started from a simple question: “Who is the best shooter when shooting is combined with fitness?”

It began as an informal “stress shoot” among enthusiasts and has become a highly structured international competition.

The DNA of the sport

It sits where cardiovascular intensity (in the style of CrossFit or Hyrox) meets the precision of sport shooting (in the style of biathlon).

• The body: pushed to its limits by extreme athletic effort under load.
• The mind: must stay focused on the target despite the stress.
• The strategic stake: finding the perfect balance between speed and precision.

The fundamental challenge: how do you control your breathing, steady your hands and hit a distant target when your heart rate is at its maximum, after carrying heavy loads?

II. Who can take part, who can watch

Taking part

You do not need a sport licence to take part in a Tactical Games competition. The requirements:

• be in good physical health;
• know the rules and how a competition runs;
• know and apply the safety rules for handling a firearm;
• know how your pistol and carbine work, to shoot and also to be comfortable with the handling required by the CLEAR procedure (see section VIII).

In short: if you are healthy and you know how to use a pistol and an AR-15, you can take part.

Watching

The Tactical Games competitions are open to spectators, and everyone is welcome. For safety reasons, every spectator must wear eye and ear protection and sign a waiver.

III. Divisions (athlete categories)

The shooting follows the same standards for everyone, with the same targets, but some distances can depend on the division. What changes with the division is mainly the difficulty of the physical work and the weights. The rankings also take sex and age into account. Besides the three divisions below, there are also Masters divisions (40+, 50+ and 60+) and a Team division.

INTERMEDIATE (the entry level)

• Who it is for: fit athletes who are still building raw strength and cardio.
• What to expect: reduced weights to carry, drag or lift, so they stay manageable.
• The goal: discover competition safely, without getting stuck on a weight you cannot move.
• Strongman bag: up to 57 kg for men and 45 kg for women.

TACTICAL (the heart of the sport)

• Who it is for: the most popular and highly competitive division. The bridge between good athletes and the pros, ideal for active-duty military and law enforcement.
• What to expect: much heavier weights. Your heart will be pounding much harder when you reach the shooting line.
• Strongman bag: up to 91 kg for men and 57 kg for women.

ELITE (the top level)

• Who it is for: professional fitness athletes and elite military and law enforcement.
• What to expect: the heaviest, fastest and hardest level. Flawless shooting is expected despite total muscular exhaustion.
• Strongman bag: up to 113 kg for men and 68 kg for women.

Beginner tip: for your first competition, Intermediate lets you live the full experience without the risk of being stopped by an effort that is too heavy.

IV. Equipment

All equipment is inspected at check-in (see section X). Basic rule: equipment must not be modified from the start to the end of the competition.

The plate carrier (weighted vest)

• Mandatory for all events.
• Official weigh-in: minimum 15 lb (6.8 kg) for men, 12 lb (5.4 kg) for women.

The rifle (AR-15)

• Minimum caliber .223 Rem.
• Iron sights or an optic of your choice, such as a red dot or an LPVO (low power variable optic). A secondary powered optic and one set of backup iron sights are allowed. Keep the same sights for the whole competition.
• The rifle has a sling and a chamber flag (an indicator inserted in the chamber that shows the rifle is empty).
• Muzzle device: the gases must go out only parallel to the barrel, not to the sides. A muzzle brake or a compensator is allowed only under a blast-forward cover.
• Prohibited: bipods, tripods, support bags and drum magazines, as well as tracer, incendiary, armor-piercing, steel-core, tungsten or penetrator, and bimetal (steel and copper) ammunition.
• Organizers may use magnets at any time to carry out checks.

The pistol

• Allowed calibers: 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, 10mm.
• Iron sights or a red dot sight.
• Compensators are allowed on pistols.
• No factory safety may be bypassed, adjusted or disabled.
• Magazines must not be longer than 170 mm (single stack) or 140 mm (double stack).

The power factor (PF) in handgun makes sure the ammunition is powerful enough, realistic and fair. The range officer may check it with a chronograph. It prevents ammunition that is too weak, specially loaded to reduce recoil and gain an advantage. Minimum power factors for pistols: 9mm: 125 PF; .40 S&W: 165 PF; .45 ACP: 165 PF; 10mm: 165 PF.

The belt and holster

A shooting belt with a holster and magazine pouches.

The holster is a key piece of equipment: it keeps your pistol safe during all events, including the fitness parts. Losing your pistol, meaning the empty pistol touches the ground, results in a stage DQ.

• A holster with active retention is mandatory.
• The holster must cover the trigger and hold the pistol even upside down.
• At the start of each stage, the holster must be locked at its highest level of retention. Shoulder and cross-draw holsters are prohibited.
• The holster must withstand impacts and retain the pistol during falls, rope climbs or contact with an obstacle.

Ammunition and magazines

• Pistol: at least 250 rounds; 5 magazines are recommended.
• AR-15: at least 250 rounds; 5 magazines are recommended.

Mandatory protection

Ear and eye protection throughout the competition.

Equipment checklist

V. Competition formats

A competition is split into events called stages. In every format, each stage stays secret until the organizer sends the stage briefing (see section X).

The Qualifier (2 days, 8 stages)

The flagship event to qualify for the national championships, with 4 stages per day.

• 4 mixed stages (fitness and shooting): the most common format (15 min). Physical work alternates with shooting with both guns, pistol and rifle.
• 1 purely physical stage: a short, intense effort, entirely physical, with no shooting.
• 1 run stage: tests endurance. It can be done “slick” (without equipment), with a weighted backpack (ruck), or in full kit with the rifle slung on your back.
• 1 shooting stage (shooting standard): very short rapid-fire events that test speed and precision. Pistol only, carbine only, or both platforms.
• 1 2-Gun stage: a pure precision course. Fast transitions between rifle and pistol on paper or steel targets, with no fitness element.

The Skirmish (1 day, 4 stages)

A condensed format to discover the sport and test your gear:

• 2 mixed stages (fitness and shooting)
• 1 purely physical stage
• 1 technical evaluation shooting stage

VI. What a stage looks like

Two types of shooting

1. Static shooting

• Applies to mixed fitness and shooting stages.
• Shooting from a fixed position.
• Various positions: standing, prone, behind a barricade.

Barricades are obstacles used as shooting positions that make shooting harder. Positions on the barricade may be free or imposed. There are several barricades, such as the TTG1, TTG2, VTAC or tank trap.

2. Dynamic shooting

• Applies to 2-Gun / PCSL stages and TTG aggregates.
• Shooting on the move: the shooter engages targets while moving, while respecting the safety rules.

Physical exercises

Stages include a variety of exercises, for example: rope climbs, weightlifting, sandbags, calories on Concept2 machines (rower, bike, SkiErg).

If you cannot complete an exercise, what happens depends on your division. In the Masters and Intermediate divisions, burpee options are allowed. In Elite, you stay at the task until time expires. When time is up, the athlete-judge reports how far you got. If you did not reach the stage's minimum work, the stage scores zero (DNF), but you continue the competition.

The weather

Competitions take place outdoors and depend on the weather. Rain, snow, wind or strong heat do not stop the competition: athletes must adapt and finish in all conditions.

VII. Targets, shooting rules and scoring

The score is a race against the clock, penalized by a lack of precision.

Engagement distances

• TTG rulebook: targets from 3 to 600 yards.
• TTG 2026 competition standards: up to 100 yards with the pistol and up to 700 yards with the rifle (AR-15).

Target types

Paper targets

• Square, round, triangular or circle shapes of different sizes.
• The size is always proportional to the distance, to keep the level of difficulty consistent.
• Examples: with a pistol at 14 m the target is 6 cm in diameter; with a rifle at 90 m it is 10 cm (4 MOA).
• Validation: the impact must be in the target or touch the line.

Steel targets

• Steel plates.
• Minimum safety distances: 5 yards (4.6 m) for the pistol, 40 yards (36.6 m) for the carbine.
• Validation: an audible impact, or a visual impact seen by the athlete-judge.

PCSL targets

• Official PCSL cardboard target.
• Validation: two shots in the target, or one shot in the T-zone.

Rules of engagement

• Entering the zone: the judge gives the start. After the fitness part, the athlete must enter the zone marked by red lines on the ground, or touch a red line with their foot.

Drawing your weapon before or without touching the line = immediate disqualification.

• “Virginia count”: the number of shots is strictly limited by the briefing. Any shot beyond this limit automatically results in an additional shooting penalty, whatever it hits.
• “Grease ring” rule: if the circular mark left by the bullet on the paper touches or cuts the line of the scoring zone, the hit is valid. The benefit of the doubt goes to the shooter.

Penalties

• Time penalty: each missed shot adds 10 seconds to the final time unless the stage briefing says otherwise. Running fast is useless if you miss. On PCSL targets, a miss adds 5 seconds and a hit outside the T and A zones adds 2.5 seconds. On the 2026 aggregates, a miss usually adds 5 seconds.
• Physical penalty: on some stages, missing the target imposes an extra physical exercise. Result: more fatigue, lost time and an even higher heart rate.

How the score is established

1. The athlete-judge reports to the scoring volunteers: the final time (if the athlete finished within the time cap), or the number of repetitions or calories not completed. 2. The volunteers collect the paper targets and count the valid hits. 3. Scores are published live in the Tactiscore app. 4. If a time or a score is wrong, the athlete reports it to the Match Director (MD) during an arbitration window. The windows are at the end of the first day and before the closing ceremony. At a one-day event, such as a Skirmish, there is only the window before the ceremony. The time and place are in the athlete's day plan in the app. The window before the ceremony lasts 15 minutes by default, and the MD can extend it until all cases are heard. After the last window closes, the results are final.

VIII. Safety: judging and CLEAR procedures

Safety is non-negotiable. An ambulance and a team of first aiders are on site to take care of physical injuries related to the effort.

1. Who judges?

• The Match Director (MD): responsible for the competition. Makes the final decisions and settles score disputes.
• The Range Master: overall safety manager on site. Confirms every DQ with the RO.
• The Range Officer (RO) / chief judge: runs their stage, gives the briefing, follows the course of fire and overall safety.
• The safety assistant judge (athlete-judge): an athlete who has just finished their stage and judges the next shooter.

Serving as athlete-judge is mandatory. As soon as an athlete has finished their stage, they must become the judge of the next shooter. Their roles:

• count points, physical repetitions and calories on the machines;
• make sure of safety and of the correct execution of the CLEAR procedure;
• inform the RO of any irregularity, fault or injury.

Good to know:

• Not judging the next hit = stage DQ (your stage scores zero points).
• The last hit to shoot judges first. If you are in the last hit, you judge on the stage 5 minutes after the RO's briefing.

The athlete-judge is there for judging and safety. If the shooter engages the wrong target, the athlete-judge must tell them, but gives no other shooting advice. During the physical work, they can and should tell the athlete the rep count or the time remaining.

2. The CLEAR procedure (mandatory)

This procedure certifies that the weapon is empty: magazine removed, chamber empty, firing pin or hammer forward. It is mandatory before any change of weapon and before any movement out of the shooting area.

For the AR-15:

1. Stay still: the athlete has finished shooting and stays in a fixed position. 2. Remove: they remove the magazine. Never remove your magazine and then move: that is a disqualification. 3. Check: they check visually and/or by racking several times that the chamber is empty. 4. Dry fire: they dry-fire towards the targets. 5. Safe placement: they stay still and place the rifle in the box on the ground; the muzzle must point towards the targets. The selector does not have to be on SAFE (impossible on an AR-15 with the hammer down). 6. Call: they raise their hands and shout “CLEAR”. 7. Confirmation: the athlete-judge confirms by shouting “CLEAR”.

For the pistol:

1. Stay still: the athlete stays in a fixed position. 2. Remove: they remove the magazine. 3. Check: they check visually and/or by racking several times that the chamber is empty. 4. Dry fire: they dry-fire towards the targets. 5. Holster: they stay still and holster the pistol. Do not take a step back while holstering the empty pistol. 6. Call: they raise their hands and shout “CLEAR”. 7. Confirmation: the athlete-judge confirms by shouting “CLEAR”.

3. The CLEAR procedure in 2-Gun or PCSL stages (CLEAR target)

In a dynamic stage (PCSL or aggregate), you may holster your pistol or sling your carbine during the stage. The weapon must be empty. There is a specific procedure for this:

1. A CLEAR target is identified in the paper briefing and during the briefing with the RO. 2. The shooter first removes the magazine from the weapon. Only then may they engage the CLEAR target. 3. They fire one shot at the CLEAR target. If it is hit, the RO shouts and confirms “CLEAR”: the weapon is considered empty. 4. The pistol can then be holstered, or the AR-15 slung. 5. The shooter moves to another position, transitions to the other weapon, engages the other targets and finishes the stage. 6. At the end of the stage, the RO checks both weapons again with the usual CLEAR procedure.

If the CLEAR target is missed: the shooter puts the magazine back in, chambers a round, removes the magazine and engages the CLEAR target again.

4. Weapon transition in 2-Gun / PCSL stages (box)

In 2-Gun / PCSL stages, you may have to place your weapon in a box provided for this purpose, identified in the paper briefing and during the briefing with the RO. When the athlete has finished engaging targets with one platform (pistol or AR-15), they place the weapon in the box without asking the judge for permission, then make their transition.

The weapon placed in the box stays loaded, with the safety on if it has one:

• Glock: nothing to do, place the loaded pistol in the box.
• 2011 pistol: engage the safety, then place the loaded pistol in the box.
• AR-15: put the selector on SAFE, then place the rifle in the box.

The box faces a direction where nobody passes in front of it. The weapon stays loaded and nobody touches it until the judge says so.

At the end of the stage:

1. The judge and the shooter go back to the box; nobody stands in front of it. 2. Under the judge's supervision, the shooter takes the weapon and performs the CLEAR procedure. 3. The pistol goes back into the holster. For the carbine, the chamber flag is inserted and the rifle is held muzzle up or down.

5. Collecting your weapons after a mixed stage

After a mixed shooting and fitness stage, the athlete collects their weapons immediately, to free the stage for the next hit.

They may not touch their AR-15 placed in the box without the judge's permission. On the judge's command and under their supervision, the athlete takes the AR-15, performs the CLEAR procedure again, inserts the chamber flag and holds the rifle muzzle up or down.

Athlete-judges may also perform this procedure on the judge's command, so that the hit leaves the stage faster.

IX. Disqualifications (DQ)

There are two levels of disqualification: the stage DQ and the match DQ. The Match Director (MD) has the last word on every DQ.

Stage DQ

• Sanctions the less serious errors that still prevent the competition from running properly.
• The stage scores zero points.
• The athlete may continue shooting the rest of the match.
• Two stage DQs in the same competition = a match DQ.

Match DQ

• The heaviest sanction, for serious errors.
• Immediate cease fire: listen to the RO and wait for the Match Director (MD).
• The athlete can no longer continue the competition.
• All points for the competition are zero.

Safety faults

Stage DQ:

• Loading or aiming your weapon before the RO's “Make Ready” command.
• Dropping an empty weapon.
• Shooting at a wooden barricade or a wooden prop on the shooting line.

Match DQ:

• A dangerous or accidental shot (AD/ND: accidental or negligent discharge).
• A shot after the “Cease Fire” command.
• Firing one weapon while holding the other.
• Dropping a weapon after “Make Ready” or “Go” and before “Range Is Clear” or “Cease Fire”.
• Shooting at a steel barricade or a steel prop.
• Shooting at a steel target from closer than the minimum distance: 5 yards (4.6 m) with the pistol, 40 yards (36.6 m) with the carbine.
• Not clearing your weapon properly, or unloading it in an unsafe way.
• Pointing a weapon, loaded or not, at a person or in any direction the officials consider unsafe.
• Sweeping: pointing the muzzle of a weapon at any part of your body or another person's body. Exception: below the belt while drawing the pistol, with your finger clearly outside the trigger guard.
• Breaking the 180-degree safety plane.
• Leaving a weapon during a stage anywhere other than a designated place (for example a dump barrel for the rifle, a dump bucket or the holster for the pistol).
• Using or possessing prohibited ammunition (see section IV).

Conduct faults

Stage DQ:

• Not judging the next hit.
• Removing attached equipment after check-in, such as the sling from your carbine.
• Delaying the start of a stage.

Match DQ:

• Missing the safety briefing.
• Consuming alcohol or drugs.
• Changing your equipment during the competition to gain an advantage.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct or cheating.
• Altering a target before it is scored.
• Shooting at match targets outside the competition.

Other safety rules

• Leave the shooting line only after the staff has checked that your weapon is clear. Away from the shooting line, your AR-15 always has its chamber flag.
• Wear eye protection everywhere on the event site, and ear protection on or near a stage during live fire.
• Start each stage with the gear the stage briefing requires, such as your plate carrier.
• Do not use hand chalk unless the match staff provides it.
• Keep your finger outside the trigger guard when you reload, and when you move without engaging a target.

X. Step by step

Before the event

The organizer sends you emails before the event; the athlete brief usually arrives about a week before. You receive:

• Gear check: a form to fill in with details of your equipment.
• Stage briefing (PDF): the document that explains each stage: exercises, distances, number of rounds to load, number of magazines needed.
• Stage videos: every stage is tested beforehand to ensure safety and flow. A video helps you picture the PDF.

In the Tactiscore app you will find:

• Your start number: your identifier for the whole competition. Example: 24-1 means hit 24, lane 1.
• Your day plan: for each day, it shows the safety briefing you must attend, the stage briefings, your start times, when you judge the next hit, and the arbitration window. Tip: set alarms and arrive 15 minutes early.

Check-in (the day before or very early in the morning)

Before approaching the table, all your weapons must be “cleared” (empty).

Registration: contact details, division, adjustments if needed.

1. Media package: if you bought it, you receive a wristband to attach to the right shoulder strap of your plate carrier. 2. Plate carrier weigh-in: check of the 15 lb (6.8 kg) / 12 lb (5.4 kg). 3. Rifle inspection: sling, chamber flag and muzzle device. 4. Pistol inspection: factory safeties.

Once you are validated, you can visit the site or go to the Zero Bay (available on Friday) to confirm your optic settings.

Each competition day (day 1 and day 2)

The competition runs on a precise schedule, managed by hit: a wave of 5 shooters on line on mixed stages, or one shooter at a time on aggregates and PCSL stages.

This schedule only works if every athlete respects it. The start of a stage is not moved for an athlete who is late. They may still do the stage, but without extra time: rounds not fired and physical work not done are penalized as usual.

On “fast” stages, such as fitness events, your start time may be brought forward. Stay close to the stage and listen to the RO's messages.

A typical day:

1. Morning briefing: welcome by the staff, reminder of the safety rules, the CLEAR procedure and site information. 2. Stage briefing: 10 minutes on site with the RO to ask all your questions. After that, it is too late. 3. Your run, at your start time. 4. You judge the next shooter. 5. You repeat this cycle for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th stages.

End of day 1: arbitration window with the MD (see section VII), then rest, food, sleep.

End of the competition (day 2)

1. Same flow as day 1, with the next 4 stages. 2. The last arbitration window opens: 15 minutes by default to report a wrong score to the MD (see section VII). 3. Final results in the Tactiscore app. 4. Closing ceremony and podium.

XI. Glossary

XII. Range commands at TTG competitions

Range Officer (judge) commands

Course structure

Results and scores

Safety

It is very important to know these English terms to avoid any confusion during a Tactical Games competition. A competition runs fast, and it would be a shame to lose seconds, or even minutes, because of a misunderstanding. Not understanding a rule reminder or a correction from a judge could also lead to time or physical penalties and put you at the bottom of the ranking.

In case of doubt, the official TTG rulebook and the stage briefing prevail.

More about The Tactical Games Europe: https://thetacticalgames.eu/