SCTP Junior Olympic Development Camp Is a Hit

SCTP has just completed its second Junior Olympic Development Camp of the year at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The camps are held in conjunction with USA Shooting to help USAS identify SCTP athletes who may have the potential to become USA Shooting team members. Both athletes and coaches participate in the Junior Olympic Development Camps. Athletes learn about the international shooting disciplines, engage in a little friendly competition, and enjoy rubbing elbows with Olympic athletes and coaches while living for a few days at the Olympic Training Center. Coaches gain the experience they need to train athletes in the international disciplines. Athletes, coaches, and parents have nothing but glowing reviews of the camps:
    "I can’t say enough about how great this last week was. It really did exceed my expectations from every angle. I learned a bunch about my personal coaching style, about how to motivate these kids and how to 'fill the hopper' for USA Shooting. I doubt I’d be able to even say the one thing that was best about this week." "Getting to know [the SCTP staff] only reinforced what I knew: that SCTP is a first-class organization with first-class people, and I’m proud to be associated with it. My personal confidence in being able to help these athletes has increased, and I know I’ve got a backup team to help when we hit a wall." "Just wanted to thank you and the rest of the coaches for a great experience for the kids in Colorado Springs. What a fantastic program and opportunity for the kids to get the Olympic training experience, as well as try something new. We really appreciate the work that went into setting up and running this camp. Would not change a thing. Nice to have some new drills to take home to liven up practice." "Your efforts are very much recognized and appreciated. [My son] has not stopped talking about the camp (which is unusual for him as he usually doesn't say much in general)." "Thank you so much for all the work that went into holding the SCTP camp for the kids! I know how much goes into the planning and logistics, so we just wanted to let you know how much it is appreciated. [My son] had a great time and got a lot out of his time with the athletes and coaches at Ft. Carson."
If you didn't make it to one of the Junior Olympic Development Camps this year, plan to participate in a camp next year. Dates will be May 21-25 and August 9-16, 2015. We've posted some photos from last week's camp on our Facebook page.

Sporting Clays Shoot to Benefit Habitat for Humanity

If you're in Middle America this weekend, here's something you can do that is fun and benefits a good cause. SCTP shooter Corey Spruill and his father, coach James Spruill, of the Gateway Claybusters in Missouri, are hosting their annual sporting clays shoot to benefit Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, August 23. Shooting for the 100-target event starts at 8 a.m. Team entry is $300, and individuals may shoot for $75. Click on the links below for more information and registration. Event Flyer Sponsor Information Registration Form

Order SPP Nationals T-shirt

The Scholastic Pistol Program has had numerous requests for t-shirts from the 2014 National Championships, so we will be re-ordering a supply of them soon. SPP t-shirts will be available in Small through X-Large sizes for $14 and XXL and XXXL sizes for $16, plus shipping. Click here to place your order on the SSSF online store. The deadline to submit your order is September 7. Delivery will be approximately the week of September 22.

Save the Date: College Regional Tournament, Oct. 31-Nov. 2

The Scholastic Clay Target Program will be hosting a College Regional "Spooktacular" Tournament on October 31 - November 2 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. The tournament is open to any and all colleges registered with SCTP. Plans are still coming together, but for now, save the date. You don't want to miss this! Details will follow soon. Scholastic Pistol Program teams: Do you want to be included in this fun event? If so, contact Tammy Mowry or Scott Moore to let us know.

Video: Shotgunning Advice from Skeet Legend LP Giambrone

World Champion skeet shooter, instructor, and Hall of Famer Paul "LP" Giambrone III recently took time for an interview with Dan Hathaway, SSSF Director of Development, for the next issue of Inside SSSF e-magazine. But we're giving you a preview now! At only 28 years old, Giambrone has already won 15 World Skeet Championships and has been inducted into NSSA's Skeet Shooting Hall of Fame. He continues to compete -- and win -- and operates a shooting school. He offers SCTP shooters and coaches his best tips for more shotgunning success: Thanks to Paul 'LP" Giambrone III for his time and advice. To learn about lessons or having LP to conduct a clinic in your area, visit his website at breakmoretargets.com. Special thanks also to Brent Edwards for editing this video.
SCTP t-shirt

Range Time Quiz: Dress Code

SSSF tshirt art250Congratulations to Mark Brown, winner of last week’s Range Time quiz drawing! Mark answered our question correctly and was drawn as the winner of a National Championship t-shirt from the Great Outdoors Company. Last week’s question and possible answers:
    Which of the following items of clothing IS allowed in competition, according to the SCTP-SPP dress codes?
    • Tank top
    • Shorts 5 inches above the knees
    • T-shirt with beer brand logo
    • Cut-off t-shirt
    • Low-riding shorts
    • Sleeveless shirt
The correct answer is Shorts 5 inches above the knees. SCTP and SPP dress codes were established both to ensure that participants are presenting a positive image and for safety. Remember, when you are shooting (or coaching or serving in another volunteer capacity) you are representing yourself, your family, your team, your sponsoring organization, and the entire SCTP-SPP organization. Dressing appropriately goes a long way toward creating a positive impression with others. Among the prohibited items of clothing are tank tops, short shorts (more than 6 inches above the knee), cut-off t-shirts, low-riding shorts, sleeveless shirts, sandals, halter tops, pants revealing undergarments or buttocks, or any type of clothing adorned with references to alcohol, tobacco, sexual connotations, drugs, gambling, or profanity. Watch next week’s Range Time newsletter for another quiz question and your chance to win a prize.
National Shooting Complex

SSSF Home Office Has Moved to San Antonio

National Shooting ComplexIt's moving day! Effective immediately, Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is relocating home-office administration and financial operations from the current Maumee, Ohio office to the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas. Plans for the move were originally announced in March, with a long time-frame for the move to allow for new staff to be hired and trained and to ensure there was no interruption of services to our program participants. "As the Headquarters of the National Skeet Shooting Association and National Sporting Clays Association, the National Shooting Complex is a natural choice to house the SSSF’s operations,” said Louise Terry, Chairperson of the SSSF Board of Directors. "Since we are the largest feeder program for youth shooters to NSSA-NSCA, we envision this as a win-win relationship." Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive Director, added, "We are pleased to call the National Shooting Complex home for our headquarters operations. Housing our key administrative and financial operations alongside an established and mature shooting sports organization such as the NSSA-NSCA will help us grow and give our home office perpetuity into the future." For most of your contacts with SCTP and SPP, nothing has changed. For program-specific requests, continue to contact the program staff as in the past. Contact for all of those staff members remains unchanged. Only for those reasons you might have contacted the Maumee, Ohio home office in the past will you now need to contact us in San Antonio. You can find contact information for our home office and each program on every page of our website. Just scroll down the page, and you'll find those contacts on the lower right side. Our new home office contact information is:

SSSF 5931 Roft Road San Antonio, TX 78253 210-448-8946

Want to Host an SPP Coach’s Class?

Want to host a Level 1 SPP coaching class in your area? Training is provided by the SPP / NRA / USA Shooting National Coach Development Staff (NCDS). The course covers all required coaching fundamentals for pistol coaches in the Scholastic Pistol Program, in addition to other disciplines of pistol competition. The class fee would include all printed materials, 3-year coaching credentials with the NRA, lunch, and refreshments each day. Here are the requirements: at least 15-20 people wanting to take the class, a facility where the class can be taught indoors with access to electricity, and a range for field work. If you're interested in hosting a class, contact Tammy Mowry, tmowry@sssfonline.com or 724-822-7390 for more information and to make arrangements.

Level 1 Pistol Course in Michigan for SPP Coaches

The Scholastic Pistol Program, along with National Rifle Association and USA Shooting, will host a Level 1 Pistol Coach's course next month in Michigan. The course covers all required coaching fundamentals for pistol coaches in the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP), in addition to other disciplines of pistol competition. The training is provided by the SPP/NRA/USAS National Coach Development Staff (NCDS). Caledonia Sportsman's Club (10721 Coldwater Avenue SE, Alto, MI 49302) will host the class on September 13-14, 2014.

Click here for full information and registration form


The school is two days of sports-specific lessons and practical coaching exercises designed to teach the coach candidate the basics of coaching. The following general subjects are taught:
  • Introduction to the Coaching Program
  • Safety and Risk Management
  • Competition Events
  • Rule Book Use
  • Equipment and Facilities
  • Fundamentals of Shooting
  • Coaching Ethics
  • Coaching Methodology
  • Sports Psychology
  • Training Planning
  • Running Quality Programs
  • How to Conduct a Tournament
The two-day course runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day. Candidates should bring eye and ear protection and note-taking materials, along with either a 9mm or .22 LR handgun and 50 rounds of ammunition for their handgun. Cost of the course is $140, which includes all printed materials, 3-year coaching credentials with the NRA, a binder for your materials, and lunch/refreshments each day.

Click here for more details and registration form.

Art Ashbrook, Ben Berka

SSSF Extends Agreement with WSRC to Host Nationals Through 2017

Art Ashbrook, Ben Berka
Art Ashbrook, left, and Ben Berka
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation has contracted with the World Shooting and Recreational Complex (WSRC) to hold its National Team Championships at the Sparta, Illinois facility through 2017. Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive Director, and Art Ashbrook, WSRC Executive Director, signed the agreement recently to formalize the three-year extension of the foundation's relationship with the complex. "We are pleased to call Sparta 'Home of the SSSF National Championships' and look forward to meeting our SSSF extended family there each year during the second full week of July," said Berka. "The Illinois Department of Natural Resources staff at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex are great to work with and are committed to working together with the SSSF to accommodate our growth, both in numbers of participants and in the diversity of events we are offering." WSRA's Ashbrook echoed those sentiments. "The World Shooting and Recreational Complex and the IDNR are extremely pleased by the commitment of the SSSF to hold its National Championships here for the next three years, and hopefully for the next 100," said Ashbrook. "We think we work very well together, serving the community and young shooters alike." More than 10,000 people came to Sparta for the 2014 SCTP National Team Championship and SPP Junior/Senior National Championship at the WSRC in July, including approximately 2500 shooters plus coaches, family members, and other supporters.

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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.
Tax-ID number 20-8484121.