For those shooting in the Scholastic Pistol Program Nationals this week, program sponsor and firearms maker Glock brought in one of its big guns – Shane Coley. Fresh from a six-year stint in the U.S. Army where he served with the famed U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Shane joined Team Glock earlier this summer taking on the role of team captain. This week the 24 year old Mississippi native is working the pistol match helping the young shooters and along the way hopefully shedding some light on the secret ways of going fast for those looking to post personal records on the pistol ranges of the World Shooting & Recreational Complex here in Sparta, Illinois. One secret Shane shared was on the subject of math, which probably wasn’t what most of the young shooters expected, or wanted now that school is out. But it is understanding the timing on each individual component of a shooting run and how they add up that he stressed. As well as the importance of working with an electronic shot timer. For the parents watching Team Glock’s new top gun the questions during his morning seminar focused on reloading ammunition and whether or not an up and coming young shooter can make a living in the sport. For Shane Coley the answer to that question is most definitely ‘Yes.’
Lacey Lane of McKenzie, Tennessee, just might be the most important woman in youth pistol shooting sports today. The 24 year old works for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation, the non-profit arms of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, where she oversees the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) in the Volunteer State. So, why is this young lady so important to youth shooting sports? Well, with somewhere around 135 SPP shooters hailing from Tennessee, her kids make up 11.7% of the 1,150 participating nationwide, and at this year’s SPP Nationals, taking place at the World Shooting & Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois, her squads account for 31.6% of those competing for the national titles. Working with young shooters comes naturally to Lacey since she grew up in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) when it was first founded by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Today it’s the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation which serves as the national governing body of both SCTP and SPP, and is running the National Team Championships this week in Sparta. With several years background competing in the programs, and armed with a degree in Natural Resources Management and Wildlife Fisheries from the University of Tennessee, she signed on with TWRF after they created the position of Tennessee State Director for SPP last November, putting the responsibility for promoting the state’s youth handgun shooting sports participation squarely on her shoulders. Considering the prominent role her home state plays in SSSF’s youth shooting sports, and the ease with which she interacts with the staff and volunteers tasked with overseeing the national match, most of which are male and in many cases significantly older, it’s pretty clear that Lacey’s shoulders can handle the burden.
The Main Events Building is where you'll find Registration and the answers to your questions. If you're going to Sparta, Illinois for your first SCTP-SPP National Team Championships, your head may be spinning with questions. While we can't offer you a secret for taking home a medal, we can offer you some tips to enhance your enjoyment of Nationals.
Read the program. Almost anything you need to know can be found in the Nationals program. You will be able to pick up a printed copy when you arrive at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex, but you can also view it online anytime.
Do it all! Participate in as many activities as possible, including the side games. Cover the grounds to see what's going on, see the exhibition shooting events, and watch anything you aren't actively engaged in.
Stay for the after-hours activities. If you shoot your event and leave every day, you'll be missing out on fun activities like Last Competitor Standing events, opening ceremonies, the pizza party, an ice cream social, and more.
Sign up for text messaging. We'll pass along information about activities, schedule changes, and other things you need to know to those who opt in. Sign up here.
Visit the vendor mall. You'll have the unique opportunity to visit with many manufacturers of shooting equipment in their own stores at the WSRC. Even if you aren't buying, it's the perfect opportunity to work on your wish list.
Take photos. Shoot as many photos as you can to help you remember this wonderful experience. Share them in social media with hashtag #SSSF2015, and when you get back home, share them with any sponsors, businesses, or civic groups who support you or have interest in your team.
Meet new people. While you will be there with your own team, don't miss the opportunity to make new friends from all over the country. Be bold and introduce yourself.
If you have questions or don't understand something, just ask. We won't remember to tell you everything you need to know, but we're happy for you to ask us. Catch a staff member anytime you see us, and if we aren't convenient, just head to the Main Events Building. You can get an answer or help there for anything going on at Nationals.
Remember that many others are also new. It's easy to feel intimidated when we enter a new event this large, and we all tend to think we're the only ones who don't know how something works. But that isn't the case at Nationals. You'll see hundreds of new people all over the place, figuring things out for the first time. You aren't alone!
Have fun! After being safe, the most important thing for you to do at Nationals is enjoy yourself. Shooting is fun, being there with your friends is fun, making new friends is fun -- everything at Nationals is fun! Go for it!
The National Rifle Association and Scholastic Pistol Program announce the inaugural Scholastic Pistol Program Pistol Camp. The camp will take place August 7 - 9, 2015 at the Illinois State Rifle Association Range at Bonfield located in Kankakee, Illinois. Registration deadline is July 31. The unique camp, sponsored by the NRA, will be limited to 32 athletes and will feature both range and classroom training aimed to take an athlete to the next level. The camp will be using .22 LR ammo, which is included in the cost of the camp, and pistols will be available for those who do not have a suitable gun. If an athlete prefers to use his or her 9mm pistol, they will be required to furnish their own ammo (650 rounds). Please complete the Registration Form and Health History Form and return it to Tammy Mowry. Registration fee for the pistol camp would normally be $300 per camper, but due to a special grant by the NRA Foundation, the cost per camper will only be $150! In addition to the athletes' pistol camp, a Level 1 Pistol Coaches Certification Class is being offered at the same time. The coach certification is offered to adults and is a separate program, not part of the curriculum for the athletes; however, anyone over 15 can attend the coach class. Individuals 15-17 can be certified as a Junior Pistol Trainer, and those 18 and up can be certified as Coach. The coach school is the heart of the coach education program. The instructors use up-to-date materials and PowerPoint presentations for the discipline-specific coach course. Registration fee includes a copy of the discipline-specific coach student study guide and other materials to help you with the details of coaching. Participants complete an open-book test as homework during the first evening of the course. Cost is $160 for SPP coaches/adult volunteers and $190 for non-SPP individuals. Please complete the Level 1 Pistol Coach Registration form and return to Tammy Mowry. If you are in need of a hotel, we have made arrangements with the Hampton Inn Bradley/Kankakee: 60 Ken Hayes Drive
Bourbonnais, Illinois 60914
815-932-8369; Ask for Kyrstin Stephens
Rate is $99 per night (plus tax)
The Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) was recently invited to host a demonstration during the prestigious 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships in Grand Island, Nebraska. The event was held at the Heartland Public Shooting Park on June 25, with 4-H coaches and competitors spending the afternoon testing their skills on the SPP GO FAST stage. Joining SSSF staffers Ben Berka and Scott Moore were industry partners Ed Fitzgerald of GLOCK and Tom Yost of Smith & Wesson, who supplied the firearms. Also on hand from Vista Outdoor was Ryan Bronson, who supplied CCI rimfire ammo for the demo. The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation would like to thank Conrad Arnold, Program Coordinator, 4-H National Shooting Sports, for the invitation. Thanks also to Bill Starkey and Jacob Schwan of Heartland Public Shooting Park for supplying a great range and staff to make the event a success. For those in Nebraska (4-H or not) who are interested in starting an SPP team, Bill and Jacob have offered Heartland's support. If you are interested in starting an SPP team in Nebraska, please contact Scott Moore, jsmoore@sssfonline.com or Tammy Mowry, tmowry@sssfonline.com.
For a $50 donation that supports youth shooting sports, you can have a 1-in-500 chance of winning a Browning Citori 725 Sporting Grade V shotgun. The MidwayUSA Foundation is sponsoring a raffle for the shotgun, donated by Browning, and will sell only 500 tickets. Each ticket purchase will support the MidwayUSA Foundation, which supports SSSF teams. Donations will not be designated for a particular team but will go to the general fund. There is no limit to the number of $50 tickets you can buy to increase your chances of winning. The winner will be announced once all 500 tickets are sold. Just head to midwayusafoundation.org/citori.
The USO of Wisconsin launched a first-of-its-kind program in 2015 with its USO shooting scholarships awarded to 13 SCTP / military youth athletes. The USO partnered with SCTP to provide clay target shooting gear and ammunition for athletes whose parents serve in the military. The bar was set high for the selection criteria with emphasis on scholastic performance, community volunteerism, and leadership potential. As the USO noted, both organizations share similar values and a vision to provide positive opportunities for youth through shooting sports. For 2016, the USO of Wisconsin is expanding that program by awarding $2,500 in college scholarships for next year’s high school seniors who are involved in SCTP. The scholarships will be available to athletes from Wisconsin whose parents are serving on active duty, in the National Guard, or Reserve Military. The USO-Wisconsin Board of Directors noted, "We understand that when our military members serve, it often comes at the sacrifice of their families. We take great pride in serving the whole military family." We commend the USO-Wisconsin for this innovative program and their support of SCTP athletes, and we look forward to seeing other organizations follow their lead!
If you're planning to bring your own golf car or utility vehicle to the National Team Championships at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex, you must meet some requirements and follow rules for safety and the consideration of other attendees at Nationals. Every person using their personal clays vehicle must get a permit for the vehicle at the registration desk. At that time, you must provide your driver's license -- a learner's permit is not sufficient -- and proof of insurance. Only persons 18 years of age or older can register a clays vehicle, and you must be a licensed driver 16 years of age or older to operate it. Here are the complete rules for operating a personal clays vehicle at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex.
CBS 5 - KPHO Shooters at the Arizona State SPP Match caught the attention of viewers of the CBS affiliate in one of the country's largest TV markets, Phoenix, as they prepare for the upcoming SPP Junior/Senior National Championships in Sparta.
Whether you're planning to compete with a shotgun and/or pistol at Nationals in July, this year you will have one more option -- rimfire rifle -- in a side match sponsored by HiViz Shooting Systems. Many of our SPP teams have enjoyed shooting this popular side match at some of the SPP state and regional matches this spring. The HiViz Rimfire Side Match will consist of two stages but will otherwise be basically the same as the Scholastic Pistol Program with a .22 LR semiauto box-fed rifle. Rules will be the same as with SPP, including five strings per stage and low ready. The rimfire rifle match will take place at the pistol berms. For the HiViz Rimfire Side Match only, scoring will be on an individual basis and not count toward a team score.
The top three (3) athlete scores will win a Mossberg Blaze .22LR rifle! Also, just for participating, you’ll be entered to win one of five (5) HiViz $100 gift certificates through a random draw.
Coaches and adults can also join in the fun. The top three (3) adults will win a donation to their teams' MidwayUSA Foundation endowment accounts: 1st place - $750, 2nd place - $500, and 3rd place - $250.
The entry fee for the HiViz Rimfire Side Match is only $10! So bring your semiauto rifle with a detachable box magazine chambered in .22 LR, plus some extra magazines and ammo, and we'll see who is the fastest rifle shooter at Nationals!
The HiViz Rimfire Rifle Side Match will be open Monday, July 13 through Thursday, July 16 with 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. slots. A limited number of slots will be available, so sign up now!
For sign-up information or to lock in your time slot, contact Tammy Mowry at tmowry@sssfonline.com.
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.
For those shooting in the Scholastic Pistol Program Nationals this week, program sponsor and firearms maker Glock brought in one of its big guns – Shane Coley. Fresh from a six-year stint in the U.S. Army where he served with the famed U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Shane joined Team Glock earlier this summer taking on the role of team captain. This week the 24 year old Mississippi native is working the pistol match helping the young shooters and along the way hopefully shedding some light on the secret ways of going fast for those looking to post personal records on the pistol ranges of the World Shooting & Recreational Complex here in Sparta, Illinois. One secret Shane shared was on the subject of math, which probably wasn’t what most of the young shooters expected, or wanted now that school is out. But it is understanding the timing on each individual component of a shooting run and how they add up that he stressed. As well as the importance of working with an electronic shot timer. For the parents watching Team Glock’s new top gun the questions during his morning seminar focused on reloading ammunition and whether or not an up and coming young shooter can make a living in the sport. For Shane Coley the answer to that question is most definitely ‘Yes.’
