junior programs

[Jon Coppenbarger]

How many of you out there plan on donating your time to junior programs at the local and national level?

Also not sure about some sports because I do not partake in them so I am out in the dark what kind of programs they have in place to help junior shooters.

Now I know they have great programs for juniors in 4-H. And I see some great programs in small bore and high power rifle.

I even see some local clubs that donate funds for the programs and a few who are planning on it in the future.

So here are my questions?
#1 what shooting sport do you participate in and what kind of junior programs does your shooting sport have?

#2 What does your local range do to support its juniors? Time, rifles, pistols, shotguns, money?

#3 what do you as a person do to promote the junior programs to help the youth.


Ok I will go first. I have in the past helped juniors prepare for shooting at the national level in highpower service rifle. by helping train, set up practices, funds, coaching and the such.

My goals for this year wil be to help the youth get the best training that I can give them. I plan on continuing to try and get more funds to help them from local ranges that participate in the sport that I like.
I also look foward to coaching again at the national championships as I find it very rewarding to help the youth and it is our future.

 

[Soupy44]

1 - I shoot smallbore 3P and prone as well as international air rifle. These disciplines have programs ranging from private ranges, public ranges, high schools, JROTC, ROTC, NCAA, College club teams, 4-H, Boy Scouts, etc. I did not participate in a program as a junior, but rather shot matches with my parents. I shot on an NCAA team at NC State University. Currently I shoot as I can, making it to the major matches like Palmyra, NRA Sectionals, NRA Regionals, State Championships, Blackhawk Open, USAS Nationals, and what local matches I can fit in between work.

2 - There are two junior programs in my immediate vicinity open to the pucblic: one at a county range, another at a private gun club. The county range program started up when the junior league I was running was shut down due to lack of support of the Board of Directors. The county range gives a discounted rate for the junior practice nights and a number of the ROs donate their time for instruction. At the moment, the program is in its infancy, but will hopefully blossum into a competitive program.

The league I ran for 3 years was highly successful. It produced a half dozen Junior Olympians, a 14 and under Junior Olympic Champion, collegiate shooters who to this day have received over $40,000 in scholarships, multiple Junior State Champions, a half dozen Junior National Records, and a dozen NRA Distinuished Experts. That was the advanced portion of the program.

The basic portion of the program still exists and runs Feb-Oct meeting once a month with an ANNUAL fee of $35 which includes all ammo, instruction, targets, range time, equipment, etc. The gun club provides the range time, but that's it. We are deeply grateful to the NRA Foundation for the nearly $100,000 in grants we have received in the last 15 or so years. A number of club members and parents donate their time to coaching and other tasks around the range on practice days.

3 - I want to get back to the range to do some coaching, but I work as a tennis pro and other kids want tennis lessons at the same times. The best I can currently do is stay active on messageboards such as here and targettalk.org to help folks out as best I can. Should anyone email me a question or program, I'm happy to help out. I'm trying to get a group of folks to head up to Palmyra for a match this month. I'll miss Perry this year but will attend USAS Nationals and would be happy to help any junior who wish to attend. Hopefully I'll get back to coaching shooting more soon.

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I started a 4-H club in my county last year since there wasn't one. I have about 20 kids in the club and we haven't really competed yet, but plan to break the ice this year. We mostly shoot air rifle, but have plinked with .22's when the weather is warm.

I don't know what my local clubs are doing yet but we are still growing so I look forward to a great club.

 

[WNTFW]

I would like to possibly coach in the future. Right now I don't feel I have the resources.
I did help the juniors locally by donating an item and also selling raffle tickets for them. (I bough a few also) That was as much about the admiration I had for the coaches as it was for the juniors.

 

[dzelenka]

Louisiana had no junior highpower rifle program since the mid 1990s. In 2007, I volunteered to create a program from scratch. After getting little support from the state association, I had my local club sponsor the program. Through NRA grants, we have acquired substantial amounts of equipment (16 rifles, 7 scopes and stands, mats and stools). We have also received donations of coats and other equipment from individuals. We train several dozen new shooters each year. If only I could get them to attend Perry consistently. Some of our kids have taken up international shooting. One went to the World Cup last summer for SB 3P.

I solved the lack of support by the state association by becoming its president. There are now grants available for travel and the association has used its experience in applying for NRA grants to obtain equipment for junior airgun and smallbore programs.

Keeping kids and coaches interested and involved takes a lot of time.

 

[Howard Roark]

I shoot high power and our state has a team. Our club allows all juniors to shoot for free at any monthly match and at greatly reduced fees for state and regional matches. Our range is always open for the junior team's use for free including supplies. We have put on several clinics over the years that focus on training new shooters. We will continue to do these things to promote the sport of high power and shooting in general.