Do you have to be a member of IDPA/USPSA to compete?

[marinakorp]

For IDPA, your first local match is OK.

For a sanctioned / regional / State / National event, yes - it is required that you be a member. In many cases, you need to have shot a qualifier in the last 12 months (nationals) need to have shot a 2 Major (sanctioned, state) matches in the last 12 months.

For the local... first one is Gratis... many clubs will let slide the second... but if they see you a third or more... they will ask that you join... but will not turn you away.

If going to join, do it via a local club. They get to keep a few $$ of hte registration ... otherwise it all goes to the IDPA headquarters.

It is not expensive. It is a lot of fun. Shot the Smith and Wesson Indoor Nationals last month and had a BLAST of a time. It was expensive, but the stages were well designed and the people were GREAT.

Now that I showed the wife about the other countries that IDPA has active clubs in.... she is pining to go to Italy for one of their matches... i can live with that. I get to shoot... she watches the child... eat great food and see the coutryside for a week... what could go wrong?