Florida’s tactical fitness and shooting sports calendar doesn’t ease into 2026—it hits the gas immediately. The first quarter of the year is packed with events that demand fitness, marksmanship, and mental resilience, making January through March one of the most important stretches of the season. For athletes serious about progression, Q1 isn’t just about competing; it’s about setting baselines, exposing weaknesses, and building momentum that carries through the rest of the year.
January opens with zero margin for error. The Tactical Games Skirmish in Palm Bay is in-progress today, forcing competitors to confront their offseason preparation head-on. Skirmishes are shorter and more accessible than regionals, but they’re no less revealing—poor conditioning, rushed shooting, and inefficient movement show up fast. A week from today, The Proving Grounds 2-Gun match in Vero Beach shifts the emphasis toward weapon handling, transitions, and stage planning. With rifle-to-pistol work under time pressure, this event rewards athletes who can think clearly while their heart rate is elevated. DefCon’s Monthly TacFit in Ruskin rounds out the month, offering a low-cost, high-frequency training environment that allows athletes to test new strategies and stay sharp. January closes with The Patriot Games in Miami, a full-scale tactical fitness competition that immediately raises the bar in both physical output and shooting difficulty.
February is about refinement and discipline. DefCon TacFit returns early in the month, continuing its role as the backbone of Florida’s tactical fitness community. February also marks the launch of a new training and competition format with DefCon Tactical 2-Gun events, expanding opportunities for athletes who want to sharpen weapon handling and movement under stress in a more shooting-focused environment. These events are designed to complement TacFit training by emphasizing transitions, positional shooting, and decision-making at elevated heart rates. Dates and full details are coming soon, but their introduction adds another valuable layer to Florida’s growing ecosystem. Later in the month, Apex hosts a Tactical Fitness Shootout in Manatee County, followed the next day by a Precision Rifle Series match at the same venue. This pairing highlights the value of versatility, rewarding competitors who can recover quickly and shift from high-output movement to deliberate long-range shooting.
March is where the first quarter truly peaks. DefCon TacFit once again anchors the month, reinforcing consistency as competitive pressure rises. The centerpiece is The Tactical Games Florida Regional in Holt, a major step up in volume, standards, and depth of competition. For many athletes, this event serves as a true readiness check for national-level performance. Later in the month, competitors face a choice of disciplines. USPSA shooters converge in Clearwater for the Doc Welt Memorial Match, while endurance-focused athletes tackle Red Clover Concepts’ Appocalypse Run and Gun in Middleburg. March demands commitment and clarity—forcing athletes to either double down on strengths or deliberately confront weaknesses.
What makes the first quarter in Florida so valuable is its density and variety. In just three months, athletes can experience tactical fitness skirmishes, large-scale regionals, 2-Gun matches, precision rifle competitions, USPSA stages, and endurance-based run-and-gun formats. The addition of DefCon Tactical 2-Gun further strengthens this progression, giving competitors more chances to train and compete locally without sacrificing quality or challenge. Athletes who fully engage in Q1 don’t just collect match results—they build a clear understanding of where they stand and what needs work before the heavier summer and fall schedule arrives.
| Date | Host | Event Name | Event Type | Location | Cost | Registration Link |
| 1/3/2026 | The Tactical Games | Florida Skirmish | Tactical Fitness Competition | Palm Bay, FL | $155 | https://practiscore.com/january-ttg-skirmish-palm-bay-fl/register |
| 1/10/2026 | The Proving Grounds | 2-Gun | Tactical 2-gun Match | Vero Beach, FL | $166 | https://practiscore.com/the-proving-grounds-florida/register |
| 1/24/2026 | DefCon Tactical Fitness | Monthly TacFit | Monthly Tactical Fitness Training | Ruskin, FL | $50 | https://practiscore.com/defcon-tacfit-01-2026/register |
| 1/31/2026 | The Patriots Games | Miami | Tactical Fitness Competition | Miami, FL | $225 | https://practiscore.com/patriot-games-miami-1-31-2026/register |
| 2/7/2026 | DefCon Tactical Fitness | Monthly TacFit | Monthly Tactical Fitness Training | Ruskin, FL | $50 | https://practiscore.com/defcon-tacfit-02-2026/register |
| 2/?/2026 | DefCon Tactical Fitness | 2-Gun | Tactical 2-gun Match | Ruskin, FL | $30 | Coming Soon! |
| 2/21/2026 | Apex Shootout | Apex Shootout | Tactical Fitness Competition | Manatee, FL. | $150 | https://practiscore.com/apex-shootout-february-2026/register |
| 2/22/2026 | Apex Shootout | Apex PRS | Precision Rifle | Manatee, FL. | $81 | https://practiscore.com/apex-precision-rifle-shootout-february-2026/register |
| 3/14/2026 | The Tactical Games | TTG – Florida Regional | Tactical Fitness Competition | Holt, FL | $400 | https://practiscore.com/the-tactical-games-regional-event-element-training-center-holt-florida/register |
| 3/7/2026 | DefCon Tactical Fitness | Monthly TacFit | Monthly Tactical Fitness Training | Ruskin, FL | $50 | https://practiscore.com/defcon-tacfit-03-2026/register |
| 3/27/2026 | WAC | Doc Welt | USPSA | Clearwater, FL. | $115 | https://practiscore.com/wac-14th-annual-gary-doc-welt-memorial-match/register |
| 3/27/2026 | Red Clover Concepts | 2026 Appocalypse | Run and Gun | Middleburg, FL. | $350 | https://practiscore.com/apocalypse-2024/register |