Join or Renew ATA, NSSA, NSCA Memberships Through SHOT

As a reminder, any Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) athletes planning to compete in state or national SCTP events in the 2018 season must be members of the respective national governing body (NGB). Athletes in SCTP trap singles events must be members of Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA) and athletes competing in SCTP state or national skeet or sporting clays events must be members of National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) or National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA). All targets will be registered with the respective NGB for those events. Through an agreement with each organization the SCTP receives funding from each NGB to support the annual SCTP Scholarship fund. Scholarship funds are only generated when payment is made through the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation's SHOT System. Coaches wishing to join with any of the NGBs may also do so through the SHOT System. The process is simple and can be done while managing other tasks through your team login. Please complete the registrations and payments at least 30 days prior to your scheduled competition to ensure time for processing of membership credentials through the respective NGB offices.

Hancock, Rhode Win Skeet Competition at Fall Selection

Colorado Springs, CO (October 9, 2017, Courtesy USA Shooting) - The Fall Selection Match for Shotgun concluded yesterday at the Delta Resort and Spa near Tillar, Arkansas with two-time Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Georgia) and six-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode (El Monte, California, pictured) winning their respective Men’s and Women’s events in a hotly-contested Skeet competition. The Fall Selection Match was part one of a two-part qualification system to select the shotgun athletes for the 2018 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Championship August 31-September 14 in Changwon, South Korea. This selection match featured 250 Qualification targets presented over four days of competition plus one Final. The second stage of World Championship selection will take place at the 2018 Spring Selection Match, March 19-25 in Tucson, Arizona. Performance at Fall Selection will also determine athlete participants for the season-opening 2018 ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, March 2-12. Olympic qualification and country quota allocations officially get underway during next year’s World Championship.  Juniors will earn their World Championship selection during one match at next year’s Spring Selection. Hancock, the reigning National Champion in Men’s Skeet, dropped only three targets over the four days to finish first in Qualification with 247 targets. He would also go on to win the Final after defeating his two-time Olympic teammate Frank Thompson (Alliance, Nebraska) in a shootoff. Thompson finished second place overall. Phillip Jungman (U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit/Caldwell, Texas) finished in third place overall. Rhode also finished Qualification only missing three targets for 247 hits. She also won the Final by a five-target margin. During the 2017 season, Rhode won two golds and a silver at the three ISSF World Cups. Most recently Rhode finished in fourth place at the World Championship in Moscow, Russia. Finishing in second place was Rhode’s World Championship teammate Caitlin Connor(Winnfield, Louisiana). Haley Dunn (Eddyville, Iowa) tied Amber English (Colorado Springs, Colorado) in selection points after Qualification and the Final so third place was decided in a shootoff which Dunn won, 4-3. Recently-crowned World Champion Dania Vizzi (Odessa, Florida) finished in fifth place and Junior World Champion Katie Jacob (Rochester, Michigan) finished in eighth place. Complete results from the 2017 Fall Selection Match Trap competition concluded at Fall Selection on October 3 with Ashley Carroll (Solvang, California) and Grayson Davey (Anchorage, Alaska) taking top honors. TRAP RECAP NOTE: Both Hancock and Rhode are alumni of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP)

Rifle Selection for the SASP Iron Sight Division

Getting started in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program is easy and requires only basic equipment. In this YouTube video, Tom Yost explains the firearms needed for one of SASPs most popular competitive divisions - iron sight rifle. This chapter comes from a two-hour educational video geared toward coaches, parents and athletes interested in getting started in the SASP. The video covers all aspects of the program including safety, equipment selection, action shooting fundamentals, coaching new athletes, the SASP competition format, season planning, and much more! Watch this chapter on the SSSF YouTube Channel… Order the DVD from the SSSF Online Store…

Featured All-Scholastic Team Member – Allison Gentry

Name: Allison Gentry State: Ohio Program: SASP Team: Ohio Steel Stingers How the SASP has helped me as a young person: The Scholastic Action Shooting Program has helped me develop as a young person by finding solutions to problems and fixing them fast, if my firearm is broken I borrow someone else's firearm or if it gets jammed I clear the jam and keep going no matter how long it takes me to clear it. It has helped my social skills as a person and to be more outgoing. Teamwork, if you are done reloading your magazines and you see someone on your team you go and help them load and if they need anything you help them. You let your teammates borrow your firearm, you cheer for them while they shoot and you tell them good job after they come off the line. You have determination and strive, your performance is counted on the clock it is you against time it is not a sport like showing horses where it is the judges opinion you go against yourself and the time. You have confidence in yourself and the will to strive to your greatest and do a sport where you can bond with everyone around you and have fun doing what you love, that is how Scholastic Action Shooting Program has helped develop me as a young person. About the NRA/SSSF All Scholastic Team The All-Scholastic Team recognizes the top student athletes in the SSSF’s Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Action Shooting Program for their achievements in the classroom, on the range and in their communities. Through an application process, 2017 All-Scholastic Team Members have proven academic excellence by posting 3.0 or better grade point averages, shooting excellent scores in recent competition (95% in trap or skeet, 85% in sporting clays, 88% in international trap/skeet or 75 seconds or less for SASP) and by demonstrating outstanding community involvement. See profiles for the 2017 SSSF/NRA All Scholastic Team Members

SSSF Completes 2017 Scholarship Cycle

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) recently completed its 2017 scholarship program awarding $99,600 to deserving athletes involved in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). Scholarships benefited 109 SCTP athletes and 7 SASP athletes from 24 different states who are heading for higher education. Athletes graduating from high school and enrolling in college  were eligible to apply for this year’s scholarships. Awards are based on SCTP/SASP participation, academics, need, essays and other factors. Scholarships were funded by generous shooting industry sponsors and partners including the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA), National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA)/National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) as well as supporters and donors who provide support to national SCTP fundraising banquets. Additional scholarships for the SCTP were awarded thanks to special support from Browning and the National Rifle Association (NRA). From 2013 through its 2017 distributions, SSSF has awarded over $300,000 in scholarship funds benefiting over 300 student athletes from 39 different states in the Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Action Shooting programs. Watch for details on the 2018 scholarship program on www.sssfonline.org in early March, 2018.  

State Leaders Gather for 3rd Annual SSSF Advisor Academy

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) hosted its third annual Advisor Academy September 23-24, 2017, in Milwaukee, WI.  Fifty-one key leaders from 19 states attended the two-day meeting focused on developing state and local level leadership, sharing best practices, and providing “grass roots” input to the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). "It was inspiring to see how dedicated SSSF is to youth shooting and I’m proud to be involved in this year’s academy, said Steve McClure, Shooting Sports Coordinator with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "I left with some great take aways about our SCTP program and look forward to what comes next." “State advisors are the key leaders with our volunteer coaches all across the country,” said Ben Berka, president and executive director of the SSSF.  “Advisor Academy is a perennial opportunity for our state and national leaders to gather in order to evaluate our progress and continue setting our course to put more youth into organized and safe shooting sports programs across the country.” In addition to SSSF, SCTP and SASP national staff and state leaders, this year's Advisor Academy featured guest presentations from Friends of the NRA, MidwayUSA Foundation, the National Rifle Association (NRA), Positive Coaching Alliance and Sportsman's Insurance Agency during the general session.

Register Now for 2017 SCTP College Nationals

Register now for the 2017 SCTP National College Championship to be held Oct. 27-29,  at the Cardinal Center Campground and Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio. See all of the event details here. So, make your plans to attend today. Online registration is now available through the SSSF’s SHOT system. Log into your team account in SHOT system then select competitions tab on the bottom left of your screen. Click on the “Register for Shoots” link, then the National Shoots link to find the event and register your team. Participating teams must be currently registered with the SSSF/SCTP for the 2017/2018 shooting season prior to attending. The event is shaping up to be one of the best in SCTP history and the organization is expecting an impressive turnout. Participants are sure to have a blast, and as a bonus, the SCTP will award over $75,000 to Team Endowment Accounts at the MidwayUSA Foundation. To celebrate the Halloween weekend, the facilities will be decked out in “spooktacular” Halloween décor and participants can take part in a Saturday night costume contest. May the best ghoul win! Considered Ohio’s premier public shooting sports facility, the Cardinal Center offers impressive trapshooting and sporting clays ranges, as well as an indoor heated pool, lake for fishing, lots of outdoor activities, and great facilities for family camping, including 400 camp sites, with nine standard cabins and 20 deluxe cabins available to rent. Wifi service is available on the grounds as well. The center is located at I-71 (exit 140) and St. Rt. 61, just 30 miles north of Columbus. For those not keen on camping, there are a number of additional lodging options located within 15 minutes of the Cardinal Center.

NRA Youth Education Summit Expands To Two Sessions In 2018

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030

NRA Youth Education Summit Expands To Two Sessions In 2018 Now Accepting Applications For 2018 Sessions FAIRFAX, VA. – The NRA Youth Education Summit (Y.E.S.) is thrilled to announce that it is adding a second session of Y.E.S. in summer 2018! This means that double the number of students will be able to experience this life-changing program and develop into strong leaders in their communities. The 2018 Y.E.S. sessions will be held July 9-15 and July 23-29. Attendees will compete for $55,000 in college scholarships through participation in the program's events. Applications are now being accepted, and must be received by Jan. 12, 2018. The NRA Youth Education Summit encourages young adults to become active citizens and leaders of tomorrow by learning about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the federal government and the importance of engaging in civic affairs. Competitive team debates and casual current events discussions highlight the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of participants while fostering fellowship and respect. The program's nonstop agenda also includes exciting activities and opportunities from meeting with members of Congress and visiting NRA Headquarters to touring historic sites and monuments in the D.C. area and reflecting on the military's defense of American freedoms. "I would recommend this program to anyone," said former Y.E.S. participant Anna Sommers from Burlington, Wis. "It's an unforgettable experience that can't fully be summed up in words. The friends I made and the knowledge I gained on this trip can be found nowhere else. This trip made me incredibly proud to be an American." Students who excel in the week's activities through demonstrating strong leadership, public speaking and debate skills will be awarded up to $15,000 in college scholarships at the summit's closing ceremony. Following the summit, students are empowered to return home and share their Y.E.S. experiences with their communities. By creating a portfolio detailing the impact of those efforts, participants can then apply for the Y.E.S. Grand Scholarship—an additional $25,000 in available scholarships. Thanks to Friends of NRA fundraising and grants provided by The NRA Foundation, more than $540,000 in scholarships have been awarded since the creation of Y.E.S. in 1996. Any high school sophomore or junior in the United States is welcome to apply to Y.E.S. The application process includes a written essay on the Second Amendment, personal statement, transcript affirming a minimum 3.00 grade point average, and three letters of recommendation. The National Rifle Association launched the Youth Education Summit in 1996 to encourage America's youth to become active citizens at both the national and local levels. More than $540,000 in scholarships has been awarded throughout the program's 21-year history. Funding for Y.E.S. is provided through The NRA Foundation from monies raised by Friends of NRA, a grassroots fundraising program in support of the shooting sports. To begin the application process or learn more about Y.E.S., visit https://yes.nra.org. About the National Rifle Association Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America's oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Five million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and is the leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit http://nra.org. About The NRA Foundation Established in 1990, The NRA Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that raises tax-deductible contributions in support of the National Rifle Association and other organizations. These activities promote firearms and hunting safety, enhance shooting sports, and educate the general public about firearms in their historic, technological and artistic context. For more information, visit the NRA Foundation website at www.nrafoundation.org or call 800-672-4521 for more information. ### Contact: yes@nrahq.org; (703) 267-1351

Ammunition Selection for the SASP

Would you like to learn more about how to select ammunition to use in the Scholastic Action Shooting Program? Watch the chapter outlining how to choose your ammo for use in the SASP on our YouTube channel as SSSF board member, Tom Yost talks bullets.  This chapter comes from a two-hour educational video geared toward coaches, parents and athletes interested in getting started in the SASP. The video covers all aspects of the program including safety, equipment selection, action shooting fundamentals, coaching new athletes, the SASP competition format, season planning, and much more! Watch this chapter on the SSSF YouTube Channel… Order the DVD from the SSSF Online Store…

2017 SCTP College Virtual Match is Underway

Registration for the College Virtual Match starting on September 11th, 2017 is now open. College teams that are currently practicing and forming can take part in our newest competition! See how you stack up against College teams from around the country in Trap & Skeet! It’s easy and fun! Once your team is registered with the SCTP you can sign in to your account and go to competitions. Once there, click on “national” competitions and then on “2017 College Virtual Match”. After that, click on the discipline you are competing in, Trap or Skeet. Then, pick a squad slot, enter your athletes and write down your squad numbers. You will need them for entering scores each week! Keep in mind, you must enter your athlete’s scores each week and prior to midnight of each Sunday. Scores for the week will be posted every Monday morning! The system will use the top 5 Trap scores and top 5 Skeet scores from each team as your team’s weekly competitive score. Some tips for the virtual match... Designate a score sheet pad as “Weekly Competition”. When an athlete signs up on that pad/score sheet, they are acknowledging that they will be using that score as their competition score for the week. You can do this at any practice you choose but only 1 time per week. Please have the competition score sheets initialed by the score puller and the coach overseeing that “competition” round. After that practice session, log back into the competition interface and click on the tab that says “scoring” and then go to your squad’s and input the scores. This will also help you create a “competition” type of atmosphere for your athletes and get them better prepared for upcoming face to face competitions! If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact anyone of us at the SCTP!

© 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.