Tag: youth development

Apply Now for 2019 SSSF All Scholastic Team

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

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation is proud to invite all qualified 2019 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) athletes to apply for the SSSF All Scholastic Team. The All Scholastic Team recognizes achievements of student athletes in the shooting sports for their accomplishments in the classroom, in their communities and on the range. Eligible athletes of all ages are invited to apply. See the profiles of the 2018 All Scholastic Team members. Requirements for the 2019 application are as follows:
  • Must be 2019 registered athletes in good standing with SCTP or SASP. This requires athlete payment and consent/waiver form is on file with the national program administrative office. See complete information on how to register with the SCTP and SASP.
  • Must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Applications must include transcript through the last grading period ending on or before April 1, 2019. Transcript for 9thgrade and above must include cumulative GPA for academic career.
  • Must meet one of the following shooting qualifications and supply proof of official match record. Match record must be from official shoot bulletin, SCTP or ATA/NSSA/NSCA/USAS/SASP leaderboard or equivalent. Copies of scoresheets or statements of scores from coaches will not be accepted. Clay target scores must be from a whole event, for example one 200 target event, two 100 target events or four 50 target events. Picking and choosing rounds from different events is not acceptable. Applicants must submit 200 targets for American disciplines.
1. SCTP (skeet or trap) – achieved 190/200 targets (or equivalent in lesser target format) in a competition between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019 OR 2. SCTP (sporting clays) – achieved 170/200 targets (or equivalent in lesser target format) in a competition between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019 OR 3. SCTP (bunker trap, international skeet, or international doubles trap) – achieved 110/125 targets in a competition between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019 OR 4. SASP – achieved a total match score of 75 seconds or less in an SASP match between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019
  • Must supply two letters of recommendation from a coach, teacher, or adult third party
  • Must supply a photograph suitable for publication
Deadline for application is May 10, 2019, 5:00PM central time, no exceptions. Application Instructions All applicants must go online to the survey collector to complete the application.  You will need to provide your SSSF athlete ID (ask your coach to lookup in the SHOT system), name, email address, phone number, school attending, state of residence, grade level, which program(s) you are qualified for, GPA and information on the shoots/matches attended to qualify the applicant. Supporting materials for the application must include official transcripts from the last grading period ending on or before April 1, 2019, proof of shooting record, two letters of recommendation from a coach, teacher, or other adult 3rd party and a photograph suitable for publication. All materials must be electronic and uploaded to the survey collector as part of the application. Two letters of recommendation, proof of shooting record and transcript must be uploaded as ONE file (.pdf file is preferred) to the survey collector. Mailed or emailed applications will not be accepted. All applications must be submitted to the survey collector no later than May 10, 2019, at 5 p.m. central time. Those athletes qualified and selected for the team will receive a printed certificate for their achievements and be recognized during the 2019 SSSF/SCTP/SASP National Championships on July 17 in Marengo, Ohio. Go to the online application 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

Help us identify and promote the fact that SASP is so much more than shooting!

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

We need your help! We are frequently asked by individuals, small and large companies, non-profit organizations, local, state and national government representatives, and many others what the Scholastic Action Shooting Program is all about. The easy answer is that it is about competitive action shooting in a team environment that promotes collaboration, teamwork, and the development of shooting skills in pistol and rifle shooting. The lesser given, but equally important or more significant answer is that our program promotes friendship, respect for others, advanced listening skills, increased focus, analytical skills development and many, many more non-shooting related life skills. We know this experience is different for every youth competitor and their family. We would like our Athletes, Coaches, Parents and Adult Volunteers to take a few minutes and really think about how you/your child’s or children’s participation in SASP has positively affected their lives outside of the shooting range. Have they: Become a better student? Become more responsible? Made better life decisions? Become a better friend/brother/sister/member of your family? Started noticing the world around them? Donated their time to charitable activities? These are only a few examples of the changes we have heard from our coaches, parents, and competitors. We want to know what has changed in your child/children. THIS IS WORTH TAKING THE TIME TO REALLY THINK AND SHARE YOUR STORY WITH US! THE TOP THREE SUBMISSIONS WILL WIN SOME SPECIAL PRIZES. Here is what you must do: Prepare a typed 300-400-word story addressed to SASP program management explaining in detail how you/your child/athlete has grown as an individual since joining SASP other than their shooting skills. Be sure to include what changed, why it changed, it’s impact to them and your family, and how that change will positively impact their life in the future. Also include at least five high resolution pictures of the athlete competing at an SASP event, practice or with other SASP athletes. Download complete information for athletes here... Download complete information for coaches, parents and adult volunteers here... Submit these before 5:00 PM on January 31st, 2019 by email to rleach@sssfonline.com . All submissions will be reviewed by the SASP Staff and a review committee. The top three stories with the most significant and clearly explained personal impacts will win one of the following prizes including guns from GLOCK, Taurus, and Mossberg plus Walker hearing protection! First prize is guaranteed to be given away in each category, adult or athlete.  If 20 or more entries are received, the second-place prize will be awarded, and if 30 or more entries are received, all three prizes will be awarded. So, start thinking first. Make notes of your key thoughts on this topic and then sit down and do your best to tell us how you feel the SASP program has and is changing you /your child’s/athlete’s life. I cannot wait to start reading and sharing these stories! Respectfully, Rick Leach National Director, SASP

2018 SSSF/NRA All-Scholastic Team Announced

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

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation(SSSF) and National Rifle Association (NRA) Competitive Shooting Sports division are proud to announce members of the 2018 All-Scholastic Team! Over 230 student athletes from 25 states have been named to the team this year and will be recognized at the opening ceremonies of the SSSF/SCTP/SASP Team Championship event on July 18 in Marengo, Ohio. 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, 2018 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 the state-by-state athlete profiles for the 2018 All Scholastic Team members and learn more about how the SCTP and SASP are working to improve the lives of young people across the country. Congratulations to all qualifying team members!

Pheasants Forever to Host Iowa Shooting Sports Clinic

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

High School and Collegiate shotgun coaches & athletes are invited to this special 1 day clinic hosted by Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever. If you want to learn how to shoot better, or understand why you miss, you wont want to miss this opportunity.  Each clinic is open to shooters of varying skill levels and is customized to the needs of coaches and athletes. Attendees will learn from former Team USA member Terri DeWitt.  Terri is a level 3 NRA Certified Shotgun Instructor and is finishing her Master's degree in sport coaching as well as attending the International Shooting Sports Federation Coach School to attain international certification.  Most recently, Terri served as the MidwayUSA Foundation Program Manager for the eastern U.S. Terri also serves as the head coach for the Scholastic Clay Target Program International National Team. For the Coaches: Shooting Sports Clinics will help evaluate the skills and techniques of those coaches who introduce and teach trap shooting at the youth level.  Attendees will receive instruction and hands-on experience with athletes during the Youth Clinic. For the Athletes: Athletes will be provided a fun and safe learning enivronment that enhances the quality & abilities of young aspiring shotgun athletes.  The training will enhance the fundamentals an athlete needs to allow them to achieve greater consistency in training & competition. Shooting Sports Clinic Topics:
  • Coaching techniques (including the stages of learning)
  • Mental Training for Shooting Sports Athletes
  • Goal Setting for Success
  • Physical training (stretching and warm-up exercises)
  • Vision Training & Exercises
  • Trap Shooting Training Drills
  • Gun Fit Fundamentals & Eye Dominance
Registration  Fee is $50.00 per person.  The fee covers the training day instruction, clay birds, printed materials and lunch.  You will also receive a complimentary membership to Pheasants Forever or Quail Forever.  Please bring your own shotgun and 4 boxes of trap shooting ammo for the range portion of the training. Click here for complete details and for registration information. Space is limited to the first 50 attendees.                  Sponsored in part by Larry & Brenda Potterfield, founders of MidwayUSA &  the MidwayUSA Foundation  

2018 Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation Scholarship Program

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

The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF), the National Governing Body of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and the Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP), is once again offering a scholarship program to reward deserving SCTP/SASP graduating seniors with needed college assistance. The main objective is to award as many scholarships as possible to qualifying SCTP / SASP graduating seniors. Since 2013 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. 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 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, 2018.
  • 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, 2018. The scholarship funds are to be used for tuition, fees, etc. 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 2017-2018 in one of their SCTP / SASP State Championships, National Championships, or regional events in Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, or 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!
Download the complete application form here... Application and all supporting materials must be received by April 21, 2018 - no exceptions. Photo Credit Carla Jennings Photography

Scholastic Action Shooting Program Introduces New Stages of Fire

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

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 .

Beyond the Clays – The 2017 SSSF Championships

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

Article Courtesy Michael Sabbeth and Fiocchi USA. Photo credit to Carla Jennings Photography. “We are looking at the future,” Chris Hodgdon said as his hand swept like a conductor’s baton in an arc toward the line of trap fields. Hundreds of young shooters were pulverizing clay targets, laughing and speaking words of support to their teammates. We were at the 2017 Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) National Championships sponsored by the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation. The Cardinal Trap Shooting Facility in Marengo, Ohio, developed through the magnanimity of the Fishburn family, hosted the event. Competitive shooters, ages 8 to 23 from 32 states, competed for national titles in the shotgun disciplines of American Trap, Handicap Trap, Bunker Trap, Trap Doubles, Skeet, Skeet Doubles and Sporting Clays. Pistol and rifle competitors competed for steel shooting titles in Rimfire Pistol, Centerfire Pistol, Iron Sight Rifle and Optics Rifle divisions. About 2,700 athletes on 255 teams boasted 6,400 event entries. Thirty-three states were represented and an estimated 1.26 million shots were fired in the competition events! One hundred and five SCTP student athletes will receive scholarships totaling $83,000. Prior to SSSF, many students never or had only rarely shot a gun. Feeder organizations such as 4H and the Boy Scouts gave them opportunities to try. Many parents asked SSSF to help their children get involved in shooting. The children loved the sports, become members and gained deeper knowledge about shooting. I learned many teams were created by the desire of a parent to enable their child to shoot responsibly and routinely. Young shooters told me the attractions of these sports: they love to shoot, they value opportunities to improve, they welcome challenges, they can be competitive or just have fun, and, unlike most sports, they can participate throughout their lives. The vast property was lush and green with stands of hardwoods and cornfields, the earth’s fragrance more alluring than the finest perfumes. The range was a beehive of activity. Electric carts darted about like bugs on a pond and hundreds of shooters carried shotguns as nonchalantly as if holding bags of popcorn. Anna Van Nostrand, instructor and CZ representative, crafted a beautiful insightful phrase: “This is an environment of positivity.” I arrived on Wednesday, the CZ-USA recognition day. Dave Miller, CZ’s shotgun manager and exhibition shooter, was my host. Dave shot his way into the Guinness Book of Records by breaking 3,653 clays in 60 minutes! CZ has been a Platinum sponsor of this event for five years. Dave tutored me on the sporting clays, make-or-break and crazy-quail disciplines. He even taught me to break targets shooting from my hip! These programs require great effort. Ben Berka, President/Executive Director of SSSF, and Louise Terry, Chairman of the SSSF Board, told of the thousands of hours of organizing the event and the engagement of hundreds of volunteers. But it’s all worth it, they said. The youngsters are learning skills, get outside away from iPhones and, most significantly, develop a dedication to the American heritage and an appreciation for individual liberty. “The SSSF is about more than just breaking pieces of clay,” Louise told me. Support for SSSF signifies a commitment to shooting’s future. Companies such as CZ-USA, Hodgdon Powder and Fiocchi USA routinely make substantial financial commitments. Observing this championship, I am comforted that the future of shooting looks bright indeed. Michael Sabbeth is a lawyer and writer in Denver, Colorado. Please see his book The Good, The Bad & The Difference: How to Talk with Children About Values. Now in an eBook, available at Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/c5flmmu

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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.
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