Amazon isn't just a seller of books and music any more; it's the world's largest online retailer and a source to purchase an endless array of items. Now, when you're making a purchase from Amazon, you can support the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation as well. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase price on eligible purchases to SSSF when you designate us as your charitable organization of choice and access the site through a special URL, smile.amazon.com. The donation costs you nothing; Amazon makes the contribution through its AmazonSmile program. If you are an Amazon Prime member, don't worry; logging in through smile.amazon.com will not affect your benefits or your access to Prime links. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you are accustomed to. The first time you use AmazonSmile, you'll have the opportunity to choose the charity you wish to support. If SSSF doesn't appear in the list of choices offered, just type in "SSSF" and the name comes up for you to click on. To help you remember to use the AmazonSmile link, Amazon offers an optional toolbar button, as well as a Chrome extension called Smile Always that automatically routes you to the right place. Or, just enter it when you wish. Even if you are making a small purchase, remember that many small purchases from our supporters add up! Every amount supports the SSSF mission and is appreciated.
SCTP joined with Jacksonville University (FL) and the Jacksonville Skeet & Trap Club on October 18-19 to host the 7th annual Southeast Collegiate Invitational Regional Championship Shoot. With 131 athletes from nine universities participating, this has become one of the largest collegiate regional shoots in the country. The teams competed in American Skeet, American Trap, International Wobble Trap, and Sporting Clays. Emmanuel College was the High Over All (HOA) team by four targets over runner-up Jacksonville University. The University of Kentucky, Clemson University, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University took third, fourth, and fifth places, respectively. Other colleges participating included Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Florida State University, University of North Florida, and Stetson University. $40,000 in endowment funding was provided by SCTP for the event and will be deposited into the teams' endowment accounts at MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc. HOA Trap, Skeet, International Wobble Team Results:
Fort Hays State University and Scholastic Clay Target Program hosted the 3rd SCTP Central Region Collegiate Championship event at the Heartland Shooting Park in Grand Island, Nebraska on October 17-19. The 500-target event included 100 targets each in trap singles, wobble, skeet, skeet doubles, and sporting clays. A total of 95 student athletes from 11 colleges participated in the event. The top five placing colleges were:
HOA Champion
Fort Hays State University
Runner-up
Lindenwood University
3rd place
Midland University
4th place
Trinidad Junior College
5th place
Hastings College
Other participating colleges included the University of Central Missouri, Colorado State University, Concordia University, Kansas State University, Pratt Community College, and Wichita State University. SCTP provided $26,000 in endowment funds for the event and will deposit the funds into the schools' endowment accounts at MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation offers three important tips for shotgunners that can help you shoot better, hit more targets, and enjoy your day on the course more. NSSF Video
The U.S. isn't the only place where clay target shooting is enjoying growth among student athletes. In Jamaica, the shotgun sports are experiencing an upward trend, and youth are responsible for much of that growth. In 2011, Jamaica's national coach initiated a junior shooting program with only five participants. Now, 65 to 75 youth shooters regularly participate in events. At a recent inter-school competition, 12 school teams competed, and there is a movement in place to gain representation in skeet shooting at the Olympic Games. With the growth of interest in shooting among high school students, the Jamaican program has sought guidance from none other than the largest youth shooting program in the U.S. -- the Scholastic Clay Target Program. Among other areas of development, the Jamaican program is hoping to open doors that will lead to the availability of shooting scholarships for its students at U.S. universities. Who knows, you may someday meet your Jamaican counterparts at an SCTP event or even have them as teammates on college teams! Stay tuned.
When you need to contact the SSSF staff, we want to give you the help you need as efficiently as possible. We know that no one likes being passed from person to person in search of a simple answer. To help you get to the right person the first time, please follow these guidelines:
Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP)
For any program-related issues regarding SCTP, such as:
Registration
SHOT System assistance
Team, coach, or athlete registration
Username / password help
Contact Amanda Wondrash, awondrash@sssfonline.com, 262-206-4634. For payments, background checks, and all other issues, contact SSSF national headquarters at 210-448-8946.
Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP)
For any program-related issues regarding SPP, such as:
The Fort Hays (NE) State Shooting Sports Club and Scholastic Clay Target Program are hosting a Collegiate Division Central Region Open Championship, October 17-19. The tournament will be at Heartland Public Shooting Park in Grand Island, Nebraska. Preregistration is required, and fees can be paid at check-in. Competitive shooting starts each day at 9:00 a.m. Entries will be limited to 200 participants. Each participating school must provide at least one five-person squad that shoots all events for a cumulative team score. Each participating school can enter as many squads (and individuals) as they choose. Team and individual awards will be presented. All SCTP participating schools will have $1,000 in endowment funds deposited to their MidwayUSA Foundation account. Winners will also earn endowment funds. See Event Flyer / Registration Form
Shotgun coaches have a new option for becoming certified as SCTP coaches with a new program from the National Sporting Clays Association's Certified Instructor Program. NSCA now offers a Scholastic Instructor category developed to qualify instructors to work with youth and beginning shooters in a safe and recreational manner. SSSF will be accepting the new course for SCTP coach certification. The course is the same as that offered for NSCA Level I instructors but has fewer prerequisites, such as registered target requirements. Scholastic Instructor courses will be offered around the country; the first class is scheduled for January 17-18, 2015, at Old Hudson Plantation in Sparta, Georgia. Other classes will be added regularly. NSCA instructor courses can always be found on the NSCA Instructor Certification Class Schedule. To learn more about the Scholastic Instructor program, see the course criteria on MyNSCA.com. For information about planning an instructor course in your area, contact NSCA Chief Instructor, Don Currie, at 407-697-6236 or NSCA@doncurrie.com.
Online registration is now open for the SCTP College Regional "Spooktacular" Tournament planned for Halloween weekend at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois. The 400-target tournament is open to any college team registered with the Scholastic Clay Target Program. The shoot will open on Friday, October 31 with sporting clays and 5-stand competition, as well as a Last Competitor Standing event and Halloween costume contest. Saturday will feature skeet, wobble trap, and 5-stand events. Trap and an awards ceremony will fill Sunday morning, November 2, before teams' departure in early afternoon. More than $80,000 in endowment funding will be available for contribution to participating and winning teams' MidwayUSA Foundation endowment accounts.
Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation made contributions of over $1 million this week to the MidwayUSA Foundation, Inc. accounts of 182 SCTP and SPP teams from 36 different states. The teams earned the endowment funds at recent national, regional, and state events. This week's total donation was $1,045,125. SCTP team accounts received $905,000 of that, which includes team earnings at the National Team Championships, regional events, and state shoots during the second and third quarters of 2014. SPP teams received $133,100, which included earnings from its National Junior/Senior Championships and recent state matches. “Through our broad membership base, we are fortunate to be able to support so many teams across the country," commented Ben Berka, SSSF President and Executive Director. "These donations will help provide a perpetual funding source for local Scholastic Clay Target and Scholastic Pistol Programs. The funding we provide to team endowment accounts is another way for us to thank all of the teams, coaches, and athletes for their participation and excellent performance in SCTP and SPP events!” In addition, $7,025 was donated via internally generated endowment money through SSSF and SCTP fundraisers. These funds will be matched by Larry and Brenda Potterfield of MidwayUSA. “By providing teams with fundraising tools at the local level, we are able to help contribute to team endowment accounts. At the same time, teams have the ability to raise operating money and awareness about their programs in the local community. The SSSF looks forward to providing more of these opportunities in the future to our SCTP and SPP member teams,” said Berka. The donations bring SSSF's contributions to $1,461,175 to date in 2014. SSSF expects its annual contributions to total more than $1.7 million by the end of 2014. SCTP and SPP teams are awarded endowment funds through participation in sanctioned shoots. SSSF contributes the funding to the MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Account Program on behalf of the teams. The purpose of the endowment program is to provide sustained financial support for youth shooting teams. Teams with an endowment account are able to draw a grant each year to use for team expenses.
Amazon isn't just a seller of books and music any more; it's the world's largest online retailer and a source to purchase an endless array of items. Now, when you're making a purchase from Amazon, you can support the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation as well. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase price on eligible purchases to SSSF when you designate us as your charitable organization of choice and access the site through a special URL, smile.amazon.com. The donation costs you nothing; Amazon makes the contribution through its AmazonSmile program. If you are an Amazon Prime member, don't worry; logging in through smile.amazon.com will not affect your benefits or your access to Prime links. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you are accustomed to. The first time you use AmazonSmile, you'll have the opportunity to choose the charity you wish to support. If SSSF doesn't appear in the list of choices offered, just type in "SSSF" and the name comes up for you to click on. To help you remember to use the AmazonSmile link, Amazon offers an optional toolbar button, as well as a Chrome extension called Smile Always that automatically routes you to the right place. Or, just enter it when you wish. Even if you are making a small purchase, remember that many small purchases from our supporters add up! Every amount supports the SSSF mission and is appreciated.
