Shane Coley

Coley Holding Court

Shane Coley 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

Tennessee’s Real Pistol Powerhouse

Lacey Lane 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.
WSRC Main Events Building

First Time at Nationals? Keep These 10 Tips in Mind

WSRC Main Events Building
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!

Requirements for Personal Golf Cars and Clays Vehicles at Nationals

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.
2015 Nationals Program

Plan Your Trip to Nationals with the 2015 National Team Championships Program

2015 Nationals ProgramYou can learn about everything that's happening at the 2015 National Team Championships with the event program, and it's ready for your perusal. Use it to plan your schedule, learn about side events, or just stoke your excitement for the biggest event of the year! The program also includes information on the SCTP International-Style National Championships in Colorado Springs.

View Nationals Program


The SCTP and SPP National Team Championships will be July 13-18 at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. Based on opening-week registrations that were almost double 2014 numbers, staff are expecting to have a record-breaking event. If your team hasn't yet registered, do it today!
Vincent Hancock

Meet Olympic Gold Medalist Vincent Hancock at the National Championships in Sparta

Vincent Hancock
U.S. Army photo
SSSF is pleased to announce that two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Vincent Hancock will be attending the SCTP National Championships to meet YOU! Vincent won Gold Medals in Men's Skeet at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and is the first Olympic skeet shooter to win Gold Medals in the same event in consecutive Olympic games. He will be attending Nationals on Wednesday, July 15 through Friday, July 17 and will be available for autographs, photos, and some special events to be announced later. Watch our website and Range Time newsletter for announcements about when and where you can meet Vincent. Vincent is sponsored by Zanders Sporting Goods and NobelSport Italia.

SCTP National Championship Registration Is Now Open

It's time to register for the 2015 SCTP National Championships at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. Registration opened on June 1 at sssfonline.org for the July 13-18 event. To ensure your registration goes smoothly, please follow these policies and tips:
  • Do NOT hold time slots until you are sure of the number of athletes you will be bringing. Squads must pay within 10 days, or your time slots may be released to other teams. We anticipate another record year and want to ensure that everyone has an equal and fair opportunity to squad their athletes. There are plenty of squad times, and we also added another flight to ensure enough room for all.

  • When squadding your athletes, consider squadding them in consecutive time slots rather than at the same time. This will keep your group of athletes and parents together instead of spread out across 6-10 fields at the same time. For example, placing one squad on field 11A at 8 a.m. and your next squad on 11A at 8:45 will keep everyone from your team together, as well as simplifying the job of coaches.

  • ALL head coaches must sign in at the registration counter in the Main Events Center. At that time, you will go through your teams’ line-up and sign off on them, stating that each athlete is properly squadded and in the appropriate division. Once you do that, they are set, and no changes can be made. Please take the time to ensure that everything is correct.

  • At the time of registration, you will receive a goodie bag for the head coach and each athlete. If you do not want one of these bags, please tell the registration personnel at that time. Each athlete and coach participating will also receive an event t-shirt. Coaches: Please make sure the shirt size is filled in on your athletes' and coaches' profiles.

  • Please make sure your athletes are in the correct division on the athletes' profile page for the High School Division, as well as for the SCTP American Division. Having them categorized differently in the two areas may prevent you from squadding them properly.

Skeet Referees Needed for National Championships

In an effort to keep the costs down at our National Championships in Sparta, Illinois this year, we are looking for help with our skeet refereeing. Coaches: If you have any athletes who have graduated from your programs, assistant coaches with some extra time, or parents with skeet experience, they may be just who we are looking for. While we would like to have certified referees, we are also looking for 20 to 30 people with skeet shooting or scoring experience. We will pay $45 for a half day or $100 for a full day. Schedules will be set for Monday, July 13 through Thursday, July 16. Half days would be either 7:30 a.m. to – 12:00 noon OR 12:00 noon to 4:30 p.m. We are also looking for a handful of interested people for Friday’s Skeet Doubles. If you know qualified persons who can help, please email SCTP National Director Tom Wondrash, twondrash@sssfonline.com.
Briley

Briley Offering Pre-ordering for SCTP Nationals Purchases

BrileyBriley Mfg. is making plans for the SCTP National Championships in Sparta, and to help the company be well prepared to serve the participating athletes, they are offering pre-ordering of chokes and selected accessories to be picked up at the event. The “Buy One Choke, Get One Free” is a popular Briley offer each year, and with limited inventory at the event, they want to make sure to have the products you need when you shop in their store. "The 'Buy One, Get One' is a once-a-year sale we love to do for the kids," commented Briley's Hannah Price. "We feel very strongly that youth are the future of shooting sports and hunting, and we are committed to helping in any way we can." Please note that the offer is for SCTP members only. All orders must be placed no later than Wednesday, July 8. To order chokes, wrenches, and accessories, you should send the following information by email, mail, fax, or phone:
    Name Address Phone number Make, model, and gauge of the gun(s) Products information
Please be specific regarding the style of chokes you want, i.e., silver extended, black extended, spectrum (color bands), ported, titanium, etc. Then list the constrictions (sizes) you want, i.e., SK, IC, LMOD, etc. Helix chokes are $50 each and are not included in the Buy One, Get One offer. If you need help selecting your chokes, contact Briley; any sales rep will be able to help you. You should also include any wrenches, grease, choke cleaning brushes, snap caps, or other accessories you wish to purchase. All orders must be paid for and picked up in Sparta. Shipping is not available for pre-orders. "All the kids and their families have always been top notch, polite, grateful, and truly a pleasure to do business with," said Price. "Briley would also like to thank all the parents, coaches, and chaperons for their hard work and commitment to the kids and this sport. Without you, this week of shooting would not happen." If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Briley's sales team in Houston at 713-932-6995 or smp@briley.com.

© Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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.