Tag: SPP Gear

SPP Encourages Coaches to Start the New Year Off With a Plan

SPP logo-200 State advisors and coaches, have you had a statewide coaches meeting to plan for the coming year?  Wisconsin did last week.  Utilizing a conference call, the coaches got together to discuss the items on their agenda.  They started the call by going through the new Scholastic Pistol Program rule changes for this season.  Rick Leach, the SPP Director of Development, joined them on their call and answered questions on the rules and explained the reasons for the new rules.  They also heard about planned fundraising opportunities for the year, including a national SPP fundraising banquet which will be hosted in Wisconsin in 2016. Wisconsin Coaches picked a date and location for their Wisconsin State SPP Championship, and also discussed hosting a NRA Level 1 Pistol Coaches Class, which is now scheduled for February 6-7, 2016.  Coach assistance with recruiting new teams was also discussed. Wisconsin is currently in second place for number of participants in SPP and they are shooting to pass Tennessee to become #1. (A little friendly state competition) With that in mind, they heard about how coaches recruiting new teams should have that new team put the coach’s name that referred them on the new team registration form.  Those coaches recruiting new teams will be entered into a drawing for a great prize at nationals.  Stay tuned for the announcement of that great prize, which will be coming soon. The two hour conference call helped to keep everyone informed without coaches having to travel long distance.  If your state is interested in setting up a conference call, contact Rick Leach at 262-894-4284 or rleach@sssfonline.com to assist you.

New Scholastic Pistol Program Coaches Certified in Missouri

mo_coach_class121315The Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) hosted 19 new coach candidates from five different states through the NRA Level I Pistol Coaches class on December 12-13, 2015 in Pacific, MO.  The coach school consists of two days of sports-specific lessons and practical coaching exercises designed to teach the coach candidate the basics of coaching a pistol team and is the preferred course for new coaches looking to start or join a Scholastic Pistol Program.  Our thanks go out to Mike Seevers, head coach of the Arnold Jr. Shooters, for sponsoring the class and for the good folks at the Gemmer Muzzleoading Range for hosting the live-fire practical portion of the class.  The class was taught by Ben Berka, SSSF executive director and Michael Perkowski, Illinois SPP state advisor. For more information and a current schedule of upcoming courses, go to https://sssfonline.org/scholastic-pistol-program-spp/spp-coaches-training/.  To host a course in your area, please contact Rick Leach at 262-894-4284 or rleach@sssfonline.com  

SCTP and SPP Participant and Parent Survey – Your Input is Needed

clayTarget-logoDear Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Pistol Program Parents and Athletes, In partnership with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is conducting a survey of Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) parents and athletes.  We invite you and the SCTP/SPP athletes in your household to answer several questions regarding your and your child's / children's involvement in the SCTP / SPP. Your response to this survey is SPP logo-200very important to us, and it will greatly support the future of these programs by helping us to obtain sponsors and/or additional opportunities for participants and to provide meaningful statistics to recruit more teams.  The survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete and all eligible participants will be entered into a drawing for either at Beretta Neos pistol or a Tristar Alpha Field shotgun. With your participation in the survey we will continue to strengthen the Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Pistol Program!  To start the survey, please choose the appropriate link below:
  1. The SCTP / SPP Parents 2015 survey - http://www.nssf.org/share/surveys/SCTP_Parents_2015/
  1. The SCTP / SPP Participants 2015 survey - http://www.nssf.org/share/surveys/SCTP_Participant/
Thank you for your time and support of our programs! Sincerely, Ben Berka President and Executive Director Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc.

2014-2015 SPP Virtual Match Series

SPP logo-200The 2014-2015 SPP Virtual match Series entries have been entered and reviewed.  We want to say thank you to all the teams that participated. This year we wanted to be able to offer more teams the opportunity to receive endowment money for participating so we had the results calculated based on the Lewis class system of dividing the divisions into two groups. The following teams will be receiving endowment money into their team accounts:
TeamTotals
University of Florida$        3,250.00
Ozaukee Scholastic Shooting Sports$        4,000.00
Michigan State University$        2,750.00
VMI Pistol Team$        1,000.00
Lake Country Action Shooters$        3,750.00
McKenzie Scholastic Shooting Team$        1,750.00
Central Florida Rifle & Pistol Club$        2,750.00
WWCCA Straight Shooters$        1,000.00
Central Arizona Target Shooters$        1,000.00
Team Gotta$        1,250.00
SST of Traer$        1,000.00
Blue Grass Sportsmen's League$           750.00
YSSA Steel Smashers $        3,000.00
Venture Crew 401$           500.00
Colfax Sportsman's Club$        1,000.00
  We had 173 team entries and over 430 individuals compete in the series this year. For a look at the scores, please visit our website www.sssfonline.org. If your team did not send in scores last year, please consider participating in the virtual match series this year.  With the Lewis classing anyone can potentially win; you don’t have to be the fastest time. The new target year began September 1 so that means we are in a new Virtual Match Series and we are receiving scores for this year’s match. Don’t forget that we will be selecting a random drawing of $1,000 for those teams that submit their score sheets for matches they shoot in December. Congratulations everyone.

Amanda Wondrash And April Carr Assume Scholastic Pistol Program Admin Duties

Amanda Wondrash
Amanda Wondrash
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is pleased to announce, effective immediately, all Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) administrative duties will be assumed by Amanda Wondrash and April Carr. Wondrash and Carr are familiar faces with the SSSF and have been serving the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) in an administrative role since 2013.
April Carr and family
April Carr and family
“With the changes that have taken place in SPP, we are looking forward to having Amanda and April join the SPP team and assisting us with the administrative duties," Tammy Mowry, SPP National Program director, said. "With their knowledge of the SCTP and SPP as well as the SHOT system, we know they are a tremendous addition and the coaches are in more than capable and friendly hands." Coaches needing assistance with tasks, such as registering their teams, completing paperwork, and navigating the SHOT system may contact Wondrash and Carr for help.  All SPP team, coach and athlete registration paperwork previously sent to the SPP office in Pennsylvania must now be directed to the SCTP/SPP Administrative Office in Burlington, WI.   165 Bay Ridge Lane Burlington, WI  53105   Amanda Wondrash, Administrative Coordinator Phone: 262-206-4634 Email: awondrash@sssfonline.com   April Carr, Administrative Assistant Phone: 262-716-9452 Email: acarr@sssfonline.com

Two Ways to Support the Scholastic Clay Target Program and Scholastic Pistol Program This Holiday Season

SSSF-Logo-(Revised)If the holiday season is bringing out your generous side, then please consider one of two ways to support the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP) this season. #GivingTuesday The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) has joined many other nonprofit organizations in the fundraising campaign #GivingTuesday. #GivingTuesday is held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to jump start the holiday season and as a way to encourage people to give back to their communities and to the organizations and causes they believe in. “This is the first year the SSSF has participated in #GivingTuesday,” Ben Berka, SSSF president and executive director, said. “We encourage those of you who want to show support for our youth shooting sports programs to donate to the SCTP and the SPP on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. Your donations help fund our programs, which enhance the growth and personal development of student athletes throughout the nation.” Those interested in donating to the SSSF may go to https://sssfonline.org/donate/ to view giving options and make a secure, online donation. The SSSF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. Contributions are tax-deductible. AmazonSmile With the holiday shopping season upon us, many of you will no doubt be shopping on Amazon.com, the website where you can buy everything from books and music, to electronics, to automobile tires. Without spending another cent, you can support the SCTP and SPP with your Amazon purchases. When you log onto Amazon through a special link, smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate a percentage of your purchase price to the SSSF -- at no extra cost to you.  Use this special link to shop and support the SSSF!

Mowry And Leach Take On New Positions With The Scholastic Pistol Program

Tammy Mowry
Tammy Mowry
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) welcome Tammy Mowry and Rick Leach to their new positions with the Scholastic Pistol Program (SPP). Mowry is being promoted to the role of national director for the SPP and Leach is joining the SPP program staff as director of development. Ben Berka, SSSF president and executive director, said, “The passion and working knowledge Tammy and Rick bring to the Scholastic Pistol Program and our extended family of state advisers, volunteer coaches, athletes and partners will be a tremendous asset.” Mowry has served as SPP program manager since the program started in 2012 and has been instrumental in the creation and development of the program.  Prior to joining SSSF, Mowry worked as sponsor coordinator with the Steel Challenge Shooting Association and held several leadership positions with the National Wild Turkey Federation. Mowry said, “Having been with the Scholastic Pistol Program since its inception in 2012, I’m looking forward to the opportunity and challenges that will be presented in continuing to grow the SPP and believe we have a great team in place to do this.”
Rick Leach
Rick Leach
The new SPP director of development, Leach, is no stranger to the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and SPP as he has been involved as a volunteer and coach with the SCTP since 2011 before starting a SPP program in 2012.  Leach has been serving as the SPP volunteer state advisor in Wisconsin and has served a key role in growing Wisconsin into one of the largest SPP member-states in the country.  Professionally, Leach comes from a 29-year law enforcement career, most recently as a sergeant with the Cedarburg Police Department since 2000. “I am truly honored for this opportunity to help the SSSF continue their great work and help grow their programs,” Leach said.  “Our volunteer coaches and parent volunteers are making positive changes in the lives of the athletes they work with.  I look forward to working with the athletes and coaches in the future.”  

Changes To 2015-2016 SPP And SCTP Handbooks

As well all well know, with growth and development often comes change...and the SSSF is not exempt from that process. So along with the new year of competition, there are several new items to review in both the official SPP and the SCTP handbooks. changes-ahead-exit-signTammy Mowry, program director of the SPP, mentions that there are some "big" changes to make note of in the updated 2015-2016 SPP document.  Some of the highlights include updates in the section on "Grouping Athletes -Divisions" (look for the details about categories) as well as in "Team Definitions" (don't miss the updated range commands). To read more and get caught up on all the new items, be sure to check out the update SPP handbook, here. Tom Wondrash, national director of the SCTP, shares that there are too many changes to post each and every one. And he encourages everyone to dig in and and read the updated 2015-2016 handbook, paying special attention to the red text, which shows where recent changes have been made. To read more and get caught up on all the new SCTP items, be sure to check out the updated SCTP Handbook here.

Highlights of 2016 Program Changes for SPP

The Scholastic Pistol Program will have several updates to its handbook for 2016, with changes in athlete divisions, several procedures, range commands, and other areas. Here is a preview of the highlights: 3. GROUPING ATHLETES – DIVISIONS Categories To level the playing field even more, novice athletes compete in a separate competitive grouping or category from the more experienced athletes. COACHES, please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that your athletes are classified correctly. Please verify all squadding rosters at each event you attend. Incorrectly classified athletes will result in re-classification of that squad to the Open Division, if applicable, or if there is no Open Division, the disqualification of that squad. Category Classification Rules First-year athletes in the Intermediate Division will have one year to be classified in the Entry Level category. After one year in the Entry Level category, Intermediate Division athletes will be classified in the Advanced Category. First-year athletes in the Senior Division will have one year to be classified in the Junior Varsity category. After one year in the Junior Varsity category, Senior Division athletes will be classified in the Varsity category. We have adjusted our age divisions so they fall in line with the divisions that SCTP uses. All athletes will fall into the following divisions and categories. We have added some categories within the divisions as well that will give more opportunities for the athletes.
    Intermediate Division (Grades 6-8) – previously Junior Division - ages 12-16
      Entry Level - 1st year of participation in the intermediate division Advanced Level - After 1 year of participation in the intermediate division

    Senior Division (Grades 9-12) – previously ages 17-20
      Junior Varsity - 1st year of participation in the senior division Varsity - After 1 year of participation in the senior division

    College - There are no separate categories for the Collegiate division Open - Competitive squad of athletes from a single team with multiple classifications
As of January 1, 2015, once an athlete competes in the Centerfire Division at a State, Regional, National, or Virtual match, he or she cannot compete in the Rimfire Division. There is now no maximum limit on the number of years an athlete can compete in Rimfire. However, once an athlete has competed in Centerfire, they cannot go back to Rimfire. The purpose of the Open class is to allow coaches to bring athletes to a match and compete as a group of athletes that normally would not be allowed to. 4. TEAMS – DEFINITION OF TERMS: Ghost Competitors Teams may now include 2 Ghost shooters to a squad if they have the need to fill a squad. Each Ghost shooter would have match score of 120 seconds. 8. RULES GOVERNING SPP SHOOTS: Pistol Caliber and Action Type, Allowable Condition At regional or national SPP matches, equipment checks will be done to ensure all athletes are following the IDPA Stock Service Pistol (SSP) Division requirements for handguns that are permitted. This is also recommended for state matches as well. Range Commands have been updated to include: “Range is hot, eyes and ears” This is the first command given to the shooter starting the action of shooting a stage. This command signifies the start of the course of fire. The shooter will make sure that his or her eye and hearing protection is in place. It is also notification to others in the shooting bay to check their own eye and hearing protection. “Load and make ready” Before issuing this command, the Safety Officer should visually confirm that the competitor and all others on the range have eye and ear protection in place, that he/she is facing downrange, and that he/she is in all other respects prepared to handle the firearm. The competitor may then pick up the firearm and magazine from the table, load the firearm, and point at the low-ready flag down range. Once the “Load and make ready” command has been given, the competitor must not move away from the start location prior to issuance of the “Start" signal without the prior approval, and under the direct supervision, of the Safety Officer. “Are you ready?” The lack of any response from the competitor indicates that he fully understands the requirements of the course of fire and is ready to proceed. If the competitor is not ready at the “Are you ready?” command, he must state “Not ready.” “Standby” This command should be followed by the audible start signal within 1 to 2 seconds. "Start signal” The signal for the competitor to begin the attempt at the course of fire. If a competitor fails to react to a start signal, for any reason, the Safety Officer will confirm that the competitor is ready to attempt the course of fire, and will resume the range commands from “Are you ready?” “Reload if required and ... This command may be used following the 1st through 4th strings. ... Make ready for your next string” (Experienced shooters may not need this command). “Stop” Any Safety Officer assigned to a stage may issue this command at any time during the course of fire. The competitor must immediately cease firing and wait for further instructions from the Safety Officer. "Unload and show clear” This command is used following the final string. If the competitor has finished shooting, he must lower his firearm, remove the magazine, then clear the chamber and lock the slide to the rear for inspection by both himself and the Safety Officer. “Case or bench” The competitor then must place the firearm on the table (or gun bag/case) before the Safety Officer can call the range safe and clear to go down range to score/paint targets. “Range is clear” This command indicates to the shooter and anyone within the stage boundaries that the range is clear. This command begins the scoring and resetting of the stage. 9. SAFETY (REQUIRED PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT): Eye and ear protection for all shooters AND ALL SPECTATORS are required. Individuals observed without eye or ear wear will be required to leave the shooting area. 10. DRESS AND CONDUCT: Shorts must be no higher than halfway between the knee and hip. 12: SPP STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS: Special Circumstances Rule: “Bump up” In exceptional circumstances where a valid competitive squad cannot be constituted, athletes may be elevated or “bumped up” to a higher category within a division or to a higher division to fill a short squad. All bump-up requests must first be submitted to the State Advisor for a recommendation. State Advisors will communicate their recommendation to the SPP national staff for a final decision. If there is no State Advisor in the state, the request must be submitted directly to the SPP National Staff. Once a lower category or division athlete has been bumped up in a discipline, he or she must compete at the higher level in that discipline for the remainder of the SPP Season. In no case will a bumped-up athlete be allowed to return to a lower category or division in the discipline during that SPP season. An Open class division has been created so that coaches do not have to bump up athletes if they do not wish to.

Join SPP or Start a Team — Here’s Why

As the 2016 shooting year gets underway, the Scholastic Pistol Program invites shooters and coaches to join the program. Whether you're already involved in SCTP and want to add another discipline, an existing pistol team that doesn't participate in SPP, or a coach or shooter interesting in starting a new team, SPP offers many benefits:
  • Insurance - You'll be covered by SSSF's insurance plan during practice sessions and at matches.
  • Matches - You'll be eligible to compete in state, regional, national, and virtual matches against teams all over the country.
  • Endowment Funds - Endowment money that is won at SPP matches will be deposited into the team's MidwayUSA Endowment account.
  • Camaraderie - Competing against other SPP teams provides camaraderie and allows team members to make friends throughout the program. Where else can scholastic teams shoot with student athletes from all over the country?
Register your team today, find a team to join, or contact Tammy Mowry, tmowry@sssfonline.com, 724-822-7390, for more information.

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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.