Request for Proposals: Shooting Coach Education Curriculum Development

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc. (SSSF) is receiving multi-state grant funding from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to address National Conservation Need #8 Outdoor Heritage — Participation, recruitment, retention and reactivation in hunting, fishing, boating, and conservation-related recreational activities; enhanced relations among state fish and wildlife agencies and related industries. This project will address NCN 8 by providing new methods and tools that state agencies can use to recruit and retain youth shooting sports coaches to help grow and sustain participation in the shooting sports, thus driving revenue through excise taxes and creating a new audience for hunter recruitment. This project will also create industry/agency partnerships as state fish and wildlife agencies implement these tools with the help of the SSSF and other partners. This project will result in a modernized, and scalable introductory shooting coach education program in shotgun, rifle and pistol for use by all 50 state agencies. Agencies can use the course to enhance their recruitment efforts by creating a large audience of shooting sports participants. Agencies may choose to customize additional content in addition to the core curriculum specific to state shooting sports programming needs. This project will focus on volunteer coach education in shotgun, rifle and handgun shooting applicable, but not limited to the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP). The project includes development of learning tools and coursework using both online and range training. Much like popular hunter education courses, the project consists of online training for volunteers to complete at their convenience followed by a local range session where coaches can network amongst area teams. This approach will result in coach education available to volunteers at a lower cost, higher quality and better convenience than conventional training. The SSSF would like to invite requests for proposals (RFP) to assist in developing curricula for this project. More than one proposal may be selected, as necessary to satisfy the requirement of the various shooting disciplines. Responses must be received by March 1, 2019 by 5:00PM CST. Download complete information here...

Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation 2020 Scholarship Program

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), is once again offering our scholarship program to reward deserving, graduating seniors in the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) with needed college assistance. The main objective is to award as many scholarships as possible to qualifying SCTP / SASP graduating seniors.

Since 2013, the SSSF has awarded over $450,000 in scholarship funds benefiting over 450 student athletes, from nearly all 50 states in the Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Action Shooting programs. We are pleased to announce that last year’s Scholarship Program awarded over $100,000 to qualifying applicants.

The SSSF is establishing minimal guidelines for the selection procedure, thus allowing the final selection to be as simple as possible.

*NOTE – You must be a current and paid member of the SCTP or SASP national organization at the time of application submission! See details on how to complete your team registration here.

General Procedures: Each applicant must be a graduating senior within the year of the awarded scholarship and must be registered for college before the scholarship is awarded in that same year.• Applicant must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative Grade Point Average through the most recent grading period ending on or before April 1, 2020.

• Each prospective recipient must be registered as a full-time college student before the scholarship is awarded and must provide the name of the post-secondary college or community/ junior college to receive the scholarship proceeds. Each scholarship check will be mailed to the appropriate college in the student’s name by October 1, 2020. The scholarship funds are to be used for tuition.  This is a one-time, non-renewable scholarship.

• Applicants may not be in receipt of any “full” scholarship funds in order to qualify (i.e., athletics, military academy, academic, etc.).

• Applicants must have participated during 2019-2020 in one of their SCTP / SASP State Championships, National Championships, or regional events in Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, Olympic Bunker, Olympic Skeet Championships; Pistol or Rifle.

• Applicants must be able to complete all parts of the application packet:

Application / Personal Information Page:
•One Page Student Resume or School and Non-School Activities and Honors
•One Page Essay (see Essay Guidelines)
•Must attach current high school transcript or home school transcript!
•Application Deadline (for the entire application packet): Midnight, April 19th, 2020
•All Materials Must Be Received together as one packet by Deadline.  No exceptions!

SSSF Scholarship Program Application Download

Apply Now for 2019 SCTP Junior Olympic Development Camp

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Scholastic Clay Target Program coaches and athletes are invited to apply for a very special camp this spring focused on learning the fun and challenging clay target disciplines of international (i.e. “bunker”) trap and international skeet. The 2019 Junior Olympic Development Camp (JODC) will take place in Colorado Springs, CO at the Olympic Training Center and USA Shooting’s International Shotgun Range at Fort Carson– training grounds for USA’s Olympic shooting athletes! The purpose of the JODC camp is twofold: 1. To assist USA Shooting in its pursuit of identifying SCTP Athletes who have the potential to become USA Shooting Team members and, ultimately, Olympic champions; and 2. To provide SCTP Coaches and State Advisors with increased knowledge and skills in order to become more effective in working with SCTP Athletes. The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation will host the JODC, which is specifically for SCTP Athletes, Head and Assistant Coaches, and State Advisors registered with the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. Coaches, State Advisors, and all registered, active SCTP Athletes who are 14 years of age or older in the Intermediate Advanced through Varsity Division, are eligible to apply. The National Coach Training Staff will conduct introductory training for SCTP Athletes in the Olympic disciplines of Bunker Trap and International Skeet. The U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Shooting have confirmed May 22-27, 2019 for the camp with coaches attending all days and athletes attending May 23-27. Interested coaches and athletes must apply and be selected for the camp. The 2019 Junior Olympic Development Camp has room for up to twenty four (24) qualified SCTP Athletes. (That doesn’t mean all slots must be filled). For active registered Coaches and State Advisors, there are up to ten (10) slots for coach training For complete details, please review the information sheet and application forms below or on the SCTP Forms and Handbook section of our website. The deadline for receiving all completed application packages is Midnight, Saturday, April 6th, 2019……NO EXCEPTIONS! 2019 JODC Information 2019 Athlete Application 2019 Coach Application

SCTP National Team Kicks off the New Year in Gainesville, Florida

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

Gator Skeet & Trap Club once again played host to the SCTP National Team for their first training camp of the year, January 3rd – 5th.  The emphasis of this camp was technical training, i.e. pulling the trigger and breaking targets, in preparation for USA Shooting’s Spring Selection Match, February 25th – March 9th in Tucson, AZ. Athletes were on site for three days with coaches Terri DeWitt and Joe Buffa who put them through drills, finals practices, and a few pressure scenarios. With reference to the athletes, Coach Dewitt remarked, “They came to work and that’s what we did. Not only did they break a lot of targets, but they started to incorporate the mental training techniques they learned at last month’s camp with Dr. Jason Selk.”

Shirts and Logos.com Announces 2019 Donations to the SCTP Scholarship Program

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

SCTP Official Sublimated Team Shirt Sponsor Shirts and Logos.com, a long time supplier of high quality Team shirts to SCTP Teams across the country has announced a new program for 2019 to directly benefit the SCTP Scholarship Program. Beginning with the first team shirts ordered on January 1, 2019, Shirts and Logos.com will be donating 10% of each order it receives from SCTP teams to the SCTP Scholarship Program. Tom Wondrash, SCTP National Director said “we are delighted to have our long time and trusted team shirt supplier Shirts and Logos.com step up and commit this level of support to the SCTP Scholarship Program. Shirts and Logo’s.com has been providing creative team graphics on high quality shirts since their first order for my high school team years ago.” Shirts & Logo’s currently provide the SCTP with the JODC sublimated dye shirts as well as the “All State Team” shirts. They will help your team design a shirt specifically for you! Let their team of highly talented designers go to work for you and turn out some shirts your team will be proud to wear. All while a portion of those proceeds help build the Scholarship fund for our graduating seniors! For more information, check out the Shirts and Logo’s.com website, www.shirtsandlogos.com or call 414.727.0415 and ask for Joe James.

SCTP National Team Members Sharpen Their Mental Game

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

In the pause between finishing their finals and finishing their Christmas shopping, members of the 2018/2019 SCTP National Team gathered at Fairfield Sportsmen’s Association in Cincinnati, Ohio to take advantage of an extraordinary opportunity to work with sport psychologist, Dr. Jason Selk. These International Trap and Skeet athletes alternated classroom time with live-fire training; in other words, learning, then applying, the fundamentals of Dr. Selk’s mental workout.
Dr. Jason Selk shares his mental workout with SCTP National Team members
“Our intent was to give these athletes the tools to develop a strong mental game before next year’s competition season begins. For most of them, that will be USA Shooting’s Spring Selection Match at the end of February,” shared Coach Terri DeWitt. “Jason Selk is a dynamic speaker and his mental workout program is rock solid. We’re extremely grateful that we were able to have him here. I’m really excited for these kids next year,” she smiled. Assistant Coach Joe Buffa adds, “I really think Dr. Selk brings a different outlook on how to attain mental strength. He makes his students understand that they can train themselves to be mentally strong. I feel that if our shooting athletes implement his techniques, we will see their level of competition rise!”
Mental training camp – December 14/15, Cincinnati, OH
A little over 3000 trap and skeet targets were thrown over two days in spite of a persistent, bone-chilling rain on Saturday. But the weather was not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of these athletes. Skeet team member AJ Nomina was pragmatic, saying, “Training your shooting mechanically is always a must before the next match. Everyone needs practice. However, this was the first time I learned what I can do to prepare myself mentally before a match. The mental preparation aspect of this camp was what I’ve been looking for.” Peter Meola, Trap team member, seemed to give voice to what everyone was feeling as the camp drew to a close on Saturday afternoon. “It was a great experience and I was happy to have the opportunity to participate in it,” he said.
Jay Bible, Josh Corbin, and AJ Nomina (left to right) training on the skeet range at Fairfield Sportsmen’s Association
The SCTP National Team will meet again in just two short weeks, this time in Gainesville, Florida in preparation for USA Shooting’s Spring Selection Match in Tucson, Arizona.  

Register Now For 2019 SASP College Nationals

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

The 2019 SASP College National Championships will be held March 8-10 at the CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park in Talladega, Alabama! Registration is now open through the SHOT System. Date:  Friday, March 8, 2019 – Sunday, March 10, 2019
Match Time:  Friday at 1 p.m. Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Location:  CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park 4387 Turner Mill Rd Talladega, AL 35160 http://thecmp.org/
General Information  Match Fee: $50 Times:
FRIDAY - 12:00 p.m. check in begins 12:30 p.m. safety briefing 1:00 p.m. match begins SATURDAY - 8:00 a.m. check in begins 8:30 a.m and 12:30 p.m. safety briefings 9:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. match begins SUNDAY - 8:00 a.m. check in begins 8:30 a.m. safety briefing 9:00 a.m. match begins
Match will include 1911 and PCC
REGISTRATION:  Log into your team in SHOT system, select Competitions bottom left.  Click on the “Click to View Shoots” tab.  Then click on Regional Shoots tab.  Then select the shoot you want to participate to the right.  Then from there click on an open slot name your squad and enter the athletes. (If athletes do not appear in the drop-down menu, check to be sure you have their SASP Classification entered in the team SHOT registration.  You may also pay online by clicking on the VOUCHER tab next to the Squad tab. Download the match flyer here... ALSO: We are seeking volunteers for safety officers and scorers for the match as well. Click here to visit our Signup Genius page for more information or to signup for one ore more volunteer slots!
For additional information contact Kelvin Walton at 262-693-7374 or kwalton@sssfonline.com.

Gene Overstreet and Phil Murray join the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation Board of Directors

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

  12th SGT Major of the United States Marine Corps, Gene Overstreet and White Flyer National Sales Manager Phil Murray have recently  joined the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) Board of Directors. “We are pleased to have SGT Major Overstreet and Phil Murray on the SSSF Board of Directors” stated SSSF Board Chair Louise Terry. “Both bring an industry and personal perspective to the importance of continued growth and development of responsible youth shooting sports across the country”. SGT Major Overstreet spent 29 years in the United States Marine Corps, his last four years from 1991-1995 as the 12th SGT Major of the Marine Corps. Since retirement, SGT, Major Overstreet has served on several military and civilian boards. Phil Murray is currently the National Sales Manager of White Flyer Targets, Inc, the nation’s largest manufacturer of clay targets. Phil currently is also a member of the Kid & Clays Board of Directors. Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive Director added, “both SGT Major Overstreet and Phil Murray are currently involved in the growth of youth shooting sports. They have experienced first hand the responsible, high quality life skills youth shooting competitors learn and utilize throughout their entire lives”.
Murray Photo Credit J. Michael Whitacre via Facebook

2018 Vision 20/20 Final Results

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

A big thanks goes out to all of the teams and donors who participated in the 2018 Vision 20/20 campaign! With your help we have raised $259,588!! Total impact for the campaign amounts to almost $130,000 in cash grants going to Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Action Shooting Program teams along with over $350,000 in MidwayUSA Foundation team endowment account benefit! Congratulations to the teams that worked hard to compete in our team endowment bonus fund competitions. There were two team competitions with $30,000 each in MidwayUSA Foundation team endowment funding up for grabs as follows:
  1. Teams with the most dollars raised.
  2. Teams with the most unique donors making donations via the SSSF website or print and mail form.
Top team in each category receives $10,000, 2nd gets $8,000, 3rd gets $5,000, 4th gets, $3,000, 5th gets $2,500 and 6th receives $1,500.
Here are the final team standings for each competition: Most Dollars Raised
Team NameStateTeam IDTotal Donations
Buckeye Chippewa Trapshooting ClubOhio614$54,321.00
Rio Salado Target TerminatorsArizona1070$31,843.00
Ankeny Centennial Jaguars Trap TeamIowa54$22,500.00
Waterford Wolverine Shooting TeamWisconsin1254$22,305.00
Ballard Clay BombersIowa172$16,505.00
North Scott Trap TeamIowa119$16,104.00
Most Unique Donors
Team NameStateTeam IDUnique Donors
Waterford Wolverine Shooting TeamWisconsin1254142
Central Arizona Target ShootersArizona64688
Rio Salado Target TerminatorsArizona107087
Ballard Clay BombersIowa17277
Williams County Target BustersOhio127660
Ankeny Centennial Jaguars Trap TeamIowa5455
Thanks again to all of the teams who participated and to the generous donors who supported them! If you did not participate in 2018, make plans to participate in the 2019 campaign starting in October.

Deadline Approaching for Colonel D.D. Behrens Athlete Endowment Grant Applications

Written by SSSF Staff on . Posted in SCTP Blog, SPP Blog, SSSF News and Information, Uncategorized.

2019 Athlete Endowment Deadline - January 31, 2019 In 2005 the Athlete Endowment Fund was established by Colonel D.D. Behrens with the intention of awarding grants to shooting sport athletes to help offset the cost of competitions, equipment, ammunition, travel and training in hopes of maintaining USA Shooting’s competitive excellence well into the future. The goal of the endowment is to build a strong foundation of USA Shooting athletes by assisting with development of their shooting skills needed to become high-level competitors and Olympians. Learn more and view applications materials at the USA Shooting website...

© 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.