Volunteer coaches are the backbone of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation’s programs!

Our programs have opportunities for Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Adult Volunteers.

Head Coaches

Like most teams, the head coach is responsible for the overall success and harmony of the team. For many teams, the head coach spends very little time on the range but rather manages the assistant coaches and other team volunteers as well as the team schedule and other logistical details. All head coaches must successfully complete this coach’s course, or another course approved by the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) or Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). All head coaches must successfully complete a background check administered by the SSSF every two years.

Assistant Coaches

Assistant coaches typically spend the bulk of their time with athletes teaching the various technical, tactical, and mental skills required of the sport. Assistant coaches may be assigned to a specific group of athletes based on age, skill level or other factors. Assistant coaches may also specialize in one specific shooting discipline to give athletes a deeper understanding of a specific sport. All assistant coaches must successfully complete this coach’s course, or another course approved by the SSSF. All assistant coaches must successfully complete a background check administered by the SSSF every two years.

Adult Volunteers

Adult volunteers do not work with athletes on the range but serve a variety of critical support roles for the team. These roles may include but are not limited to fundraising, photography, communications, team chef or dietitian, registrar, competition and statistics manager, range operations helper or range safety officer. Make use of your team parents to get them involved in one of these roles as may become the next leaders for your program. Adult volunteers are not required to take a coach’s course but must not be working on the range in a live fire situation unless they have taken a coaching course recognized by the SSSF. All registered adult volunteers must successfully complete a background check administered by the SSSF every two years.

We recommend ALL volunteers involved in your team register with the SCTP/SASP in order to be covered by SSSF’s insurance policy and to ensure all adults working with your team have passed a background check.

The SSSF offers a Basic Coach Certification Program designed for prospective coaches wishing to start or join a youth clay target or action shooting sports team as a coach or an adult volunteer. The intuitive, primarily online-based curriculum certifies coaches to work with beginning and novice athletes involved in the shooting sports. The SSSF currently offers courses for Shotgun Coaches and Action Shooting (rifle and pistol) Coaches.