The Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) is introducing two new stages that can be substituted for Focus and Speed Trap at matches starting this 2018 competition season. “Over the past couple years, athletes and coaches have expressed an interest in adding new stages to continue to challenge youth athletes,” stated Rick Leach, SASP Interim National Director. “SASP staff listened to these requests and two new stages have been designed and tested.” The first new stage the “M” was trialed at the National Championships at the Cardinal Center in Ohio in July on a side match.  Following Nationals, SASP staff members Dave Richman and Bill Perkins fine-tuned the stages and finalized the design. “Our original plan was to only introduce one stage a year for each of the next four years, but with urging from coaches the substitute stage for Speed Trap is being released a year early,” Leach said. Speed trap is currently the longest stage at 75 feet to the furthest target. Coaches requested a shorter version since some of their practice ranges are not deep enough to shoot that distance.  So, the “Exclamation.,” like the “M" was designed using the same targets and stop plate location as the stage they are a substitute for, but the furthest target is now only 48 feet instead of 75. An added challenge to the new stages is that all past stages have had all the targets at the same height.  Both new stages challenge the athletes to learn a new skill set by transitioning between targets of different heights. SASP Founding Partner Action Target will soon have an SASP upgrade package available that will include the three new uprights and bases to be able to shoot the new stages, for teams who have previously purchased the Action Target SASP target set. SASP thanks their Founding Partners GLOCK, Smith & Wesson, Action Target and the NRA as well as all SASP’s other sponsors for their continued support of their youth development program.  SASP teaches athletes life lessons through safe firearms handling and competitive shooting.  If you would like more information about starting a SASP team in your area contact Leach at rleach@sssfonline.com .