Tag: Scholastic Pistol Program

Highlights of 2016 Program Changes for SPP

The Scholastic Pistol Program will have several updates to its handbook for 2016, with changes in athlete divisions, several procedures, range commands, and other areas. Here is a preview of the highlights: 3. GROUPING ATHLETES – DIVISIONS Categories To level the playing field even more, novice athletes compete in a separate competitive grouping or category from the more experienced athletes. COACHES, please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that your athletes are classified correctly. Please verify all squadding rosters at each event you attend. Incorrectly classified athletes will result in re-classification of that squad to the Open Division, if applicable, or if there is no Open Division, the disqualification of that squad. Category Classification Rules First-year athletes in the Intermediate Division will have one year to be classified in the Entry Level category. After one year in the Entry Level category, Intermediate Division athletes will be classified in the Advanced Category. First-year athletes in the Senior Division will have one year to be classified in the Junior Varsity category. After one year in the Junior Varsity category, Senior Division athletes will be classified in the Varsity category. We have adjusted our age divisions so they fall in line with the divisions that SCTP uses. All athletes will fall into the following divisions and categories. We have added some categories within the divisions as well that will give more opportunities for the athletes.
    Intermediate Division (Grades 6-8) – previously Junior Division - ages 12-16
      Entry Level - 1st year of participation in the intermediate division Advanced Level - After 1 year of participation in the intermediate division

    Senior Division (Grades 9-12) – previously ages 17-20
      Junior Varsity - 1st year of participation in the senior division Varsity - After 1 year of participation in the senior division

    College - There are no separate categories for the Collegiate division Open - Competitive squad of athletes from a single team with multiple classifications
As of January 1, 2015, once an athlete competes in the Centerfire Division at a State, Regional, National, or Virtual match, he or she cannot compete in the Rimfire Division. There is now no maximum limit on the number of years an athlete can compete in Rimfire. However, once an athlete has competed in Centerfire, they cannot go back to Rimfire. The purpose of the Open class is to allow coaches to bring athletes to a match and compete as a group of athletes that normally would not be allowed to. 4. TEAMS – DEFINITION OF TERMS: Ghost Competitors Teams may now include 2 Ghost shooters to a squad if they have the need to fill a squad. Each Ghost shooter would have match score of 120 seconds. 8. RULES GOVERNING SPP SHOOTS: Pistol Caliber and Action Type, Allowable Condition At regional or national SPP matches, equipment checks will be done to ensure all athletes are following the IDPA Stock Service Pistol (SSP) Division requirements for handguns that are permitted. This is also recommended for state matches as well. Range Commands have been updated to include: “Range is hot, eyes and ears” This is the first command given to the shooter starting the action of shooting a stage. This command signifies the start of the course of fire. The shooter will make sure that his or her eye and hearing protection is in place. It is also notification to others in the shooting bay to check their own eye and hearing protection. “Load and make ready” Before issuing this command, the Safety Officer should visually confirm that the competitor and all others on the range have eye and ear protection in place, that he/she is facing downrange, and that he/she is in all other respects prepared to handle the firearm. The competitor may then pick up the firearm and magazine from the table, load the firearm, and point at the low-ready flag down range. Once the “Load and make ready” command has been given, the competitor must not move away from the start location prior to issuance of the “Start" signal without the prior approval, and under the direct supervision, of the Safety Officer. “Are you ready?” The lack of any response from the competitor indicates that he fully understands the requirements of the course of fire and is ready to proceed. If the competitor is not ready at the “Are you ready?” command, he must state “Not ready.” “Standby” This command should be followed by the audible start signal within 1 to 2 seconds. "Start signal” The signal for the competitor to begin the attempt at the course of fire. If a competitor fails to react to a start signal, for any reason, the Safety Officer will confirm that the competitor is ready to attempt the course of fire, and will resume the range commands from “Are you ready?” “Reload if required and ... This command may be used following the 1st through 4th strings. ... Make ready for your next string” (Experienced shooters may not need this command). “Stop” Any Safety Officer assigned to a stage may issue this command at any time during the course of fire. The competitor must immediately cease firing and wait for further instructions from the Safety Officer. "Unload and show clear” This command is used following the final string. If the competitor has finished shooting, he must lower his firearm, remove the magazine, then clear the chamber and lock the slide to the rear for inspection by both himself and the Safety Officer. “Case or bench” The competitor then must place the firearm on the table (or gun bag/case) before the Safety Officer can call the range safe and clear to go down range to score/paint targets. “Range is clear” This command indicates to the shooter and anyone within the stage boundaries that the range is clear. This command begins the scoring and resetting of the stage. 9. SAFETY (REQUIRED PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT): Eye and ear protection for all shooters AND ALL SPECTATORS are required. Individuals observed without eye or ear wear will be required to leave the shooting area. 10. DRESS AND CONDUCT: Shorts must be no higher than halfway between the knee and hip. 12: SPP STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Special Circumstances Rule: “Bump up” In exceptional circumstances where a valid competitive squad cannot be constituted, athletes may be elevated or “bumped up” to a higher category within a division or to a higher division to fill a short squad. All bump-up requests must first be submitted to the State Advisor for a recommendation. State Advisors will communicate their recommendation to the SPP national staff for a final decision. If there is no State Advisor in the state, the request must be submitted directly to the SPP National Staff. Once a lower category or division athlete has been bumped up in a discipline, he or she must compete at the higher level in that discipline for the remainder of the SPP Season. In no case will a bumped-up athlete be allowed to return to a lower category or division in the discipline during that SPP season. An Open class division has been created so that coaches do not have to bump up athletes if they do not wish to.

Join SPP or Start a Team — Here’s Why

As the 2016 shooting year gets underway, the Scholastic Pistol Program invites shooters and coaches to join the program. Whether you're already involved in SCTP and want to add another discipline, an existing pistol team that doesn't participate in SPP, or a coach or shooter interesting in starting a new team, SPP offers many benefits:
  • Insurance - You'll be covered by SSSF's insurance plan during practice sessions and at matches.
  • Matches - You'll be eligible to compete in state, regional, national, and virtual matches against teams all over the country.
  • Endowment Funds - Endowment money that is won at SPP matches will be deposited into the team's MidwayUSA Endowment account.
  • Camaraderie - Competing against other SPP teams provides camaraderie and allows team members to make friends throughout the program. Where else can scholastic teams shoot with student athletes from all over the country?
Register your team today, find a team to join, or contact Tammy Mowry, tmowry@sssfonline.com, 724-822-7390, for more information.

SPP / NRA Hold First Pistol Camp and Level 1 Coaches’ Class

SPP-NRA Camp Illinois State Rifle Association in Bonfield, Illinois hosted the first SPP/NRA athlete pistol camp and Level 1 coaches' certification on August 7-9. Eight athletes participated in the camp and six SPP coaches were certified as NRA Level 1 pistol coaches. Daniel Subia, NRA National Trainer, Rifle and Pistol, and Bill Perkins, SPP Regional Field Representative from Arizona, conducted the class for the coach certification. Rick Leach, Wisconsin State Advisor and head coach for the Ozaukee Scholastic Shooting team, as well as John Leach, assistant coach for the Ozaukee Scholastic Shooting team, and Tammy Mowry, Program Manager for the Scholastic Pistol Program, conducted all of the range time instruction for the campers. SPP extends its thanks to Richard Pearson of the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) for the invitation to host this year's camp and to all the ISRA range safety officers for their support during the weekend. SPP and NRA are planning a second camp in Arizona in December.
The camp was a wonderful success. Not only did the campers have a great time, they made new friends from across the country. We hope the camp continues to grow both in size and locations. The camp is a great place to spend some time learning new skills and making new friends." --Daniel Subia, NRA National Trainer, Rifle and Pistol
The SSP/NRA Pistol Camp was one of the safest, best organized, and well-run camps I have ever been involved with. The Illinois State Rifle Association is looking forward to hosting the camp again next year." --Richard A. Pearson, Executive Director, Illinois State Rifle Association
SPP/NRA Pistol Camp

SPP Teams Earn Endowment Funds in Virtual Match Series

Congratulations to Scholastic Pistol Program teams who have submitted entries into the 2015 Virtual Match Series and been drawn as winners of team endowment funds. Recent winners of $1,000 contributions to their endowment accounts are:
    Straight Shooters Tucson - April Michigan State Shooting Sports Club - May Crew 401 - June
Each month through December, SPP will hold a random drawing among teams who submit SPP Virtual Match scores that month. Winners receive a $1,000 team endowment account contribution. Don’t forget to submit your team's scores into the virtual match series. All you need to do is send your scoresheets and $1.25 per athlete (via USPS) to Tammy Mowry. Learn more.

Volunteer as an SPP Safety Officer at Nationals

The Scholastic Pistol Program has been building its roster of Range / Safety Officers to assist at its growing events, and we're looking for a few more good men and women who would like to assist at this year's largest-ever SPP Junior/Senior National Championships. If you have some time during the week of July 13-18 and can be at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois, we want to hear from you. To reward our volunteers, we'll be holding a drawing to give away three guns, and you could win one of them. Each day you work, you will get an additional chance to win. Plus, there will be additional random draw prizes from our sponsors, so you will have a chance to win some great prizes for your help! Lunch will be provided to the Safety Officers. Nationals is a week-long event, and we need a minimum of 16 volunteers per day to work the stages, with two per stage. Daily Schedule: Monday, July 13 – Friday, July 17
  • 8:30 a.m. – Shooters meeting
  • 9:00 a.m. – Match begins
  • 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (approximately) - Lunch break
  • 4:00 p.m. (approximately) - Daily match concludes
Saturday, July 18
  • 8:30 a.m. – Shooters meeting
  • 9:00 a.m. – Match begins
  • 12:00 (approximately) – Match concludes / Lunch
And here's a big bonus: You're invited to bring along your range bucket to pick up all of that great 9mm brass! Please consider coming out and helping the next generation of action shooters, and pass along this information to others who might want to help. If you're interested in working as a Safety Officer or learning more, contact Scott Moore, jsmoore@sssfonline.com, or Tammy Mowry, tmowry@sssfonline.com.

Team GLOCK Captain Shane Coley to Appear at SPP Nationals

Team GLOCK Captain and former U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit shooter Shane Coley will be hosting a pistol shooting clinic during the 2015 SPP Junior/Senior National Championships at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex.
Shane Coley, former member of the USAMU and current captain of Team GLOCK
Shane Coley, former member of the USAMU and current captain of Team GLOCK
Coley has achieved numerous titles as a junior competitor, including USPSA Junior World Champion, and also as a member of the famed U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. His departure in May from the unit marked the completion of six years of dedicated service to his country. The clinics are scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 at 11:30 and 3:30 at the WSRC pistol berms. Be sure to add this very special event to your Nationals calendar!

New Updates to the SPP Virtual E-Postal Match Series

The Scholastic Pistol Program has made updates to its Virtual Match Series, which is designed to allow teams to compete without having to travel to other ranges. Beginning June 1, 2015, there will be a special monthly random draw with a prize of a $1,000 donation to a team’s MidwayUSA Foundation endowment account. This special event will run through December 2015 and is open to any team or squad that participates in the Virtual E-Postal Match Series in that month. To be eligible for the random draw prize, a team only has to submit one (1) score for that month. National Virtual Championships In addition to the monthly random drawing, these scores are also entered into the SPP Virtual Match Championships. We will be offering endowment donations as placement awards. To be eligible for Virtual Match Series Championships, a team or squad must register at least four (4) squad scores during the season. To compete in this series, the team or squad must shoot the entire course of fire and submit their scores for registration. Just like any live match, a team/squad must have four individuals competing. The current Virtual E-Postal Series season began September 1, 2014 and has been extended to run through December 15, 2015. This year we will be using the Lewis Class system during the Virtual Match Series Championships. There will be two (2) Lewis classes in each division, and endowment money will be given to first, second, and third places in each class. In Class A, the donations will be $1,250 for first, $1,000 for second, and $750 for third. In Class B, the donations for first through third will be $1,000, $750, and $500, respectively. Eligibility for SPP Virtual E-Postal Match Series Any team or squad that is fully registered in the Scholastic Pistol Program, which includes being registered in the SHOT system, is eligible and encouraged to compete in this series. Teams must also have an endowment account with the MidwayUSA Foundation. If you don’t have an endowment account, it’s easy to start an account here. Submitting Scores Score sheets can be downloaded from the website. Coaches must register each score by submitting a scanned copy of the completed SPP score sheets to tmowry@sssfonline.com. The cost of registration is $5 per squad (of four) per match score. Checks and score sheets can be sent to: SPP, 288 Crisswell Road, Butler, PA 16002.

Registration Now Open for SPP Junior/Senior Nationals

Ready, set -- GO!  You've been making plans all year to compete in the SPP Junior/Senior National Championships at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois, and it's time for you to take the all-important step of registering for the event. Registration is now open. For this year, registration will again be manual rather than through the SHOT system. You can download the form and submit it to Tammy Mowry, tmowry@sssfonline.com. Pre-registration is required. Squadding will be offered on Monday, July 13 through Saturday, July 18. All competitors will receive a National Championship t-shirt, but they must be pre-ordered. Deadline for orders is June 10.

Download the SPP National Championship Registration Form


Crow Shooting Supply

Crow Shooting Supply Offers Special SPP Discounts

Crow Shooting SupplyCrow Shooting Supply, a new corporate sponsor of Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP), is offering specially discounted pricing on 9mm ammunition and some accessories for participants in the SPP program. To receive the specially discounted pricing, all orders must be placed by using a special order form and must be approved by Scott Moore or Tammy Mowry. Orders may be placed by SPP team coaches or parents/guardians to order Crow Shooting Supply items for SPP participants.

Download the Crow Shooting Supply order form

SPP Teams: Earn Endowment Funds with Virtual E-Postal Matches

SPP teams, don’t forget about the opportunities to win a random-draw prize every month just for participating in the Virtual E-Postal Match Series! Starting in April, SPP teams participating in the Virtual E-Postal Match Series will be part of a special monthly random draw prize of a $1,000 donation to a team’s MidwayUSA Foundation Endowment account. This special event will run from April – December 2015 and is open to any team or squad that participates in the Virtual E-Postal Match Series. To be eligible, a team or squad must register three (3) scores -- but remember, the more times you enter, the more chances you have to win! In addition, we will be offering endowment donations as placement awards. This year we will be using a Lewis Class system during the Virtual Match Series. There will be two (2) Lewis classes, and endowment money will be given to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in all divisions. In Class A, the donations will be 1st - $1,250, 2nd - 1,000 and 3rd - $750. In Class B, the donations will be 1st - $1,000, 2nd - $750, and 3rd - $500. Virtual E-Postal Matches are a great way for teams to compete and earn endowment funds while saving the time and expense of traveling. Don’t miss out on this additional way to come and play!

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The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to providing shooting-sports education and opportunities to school-age youths around the United States to encourage young athlete personal growth and development.
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