Level 3 Coach Certification Courses
For those coaches who have completed their Level 1 and Level 2 coach certification requirements and are coaching competitive athletes who are interested in winning a slot on the National Junior Team, National Development and eventually the National (Olympic) Team, we want to offer you the opportunity to increase your coaching skills by attending a Level 3 Coach Certification Course (rifle or pistol) here at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
We have set tentative dates for two Level 3 Coach Course opportunities:
- May 3-7, 2012 (arrival/check in on May 3rd and departure on May 7th)
- October 4-8, 2012 (arrival/check in on October 4th and departure on October 8th)
The Level 3 coach course is a three day course. Official online registration for these two events will begin on February 20, 2012 which will be posted to this web page and listed on the NRA Training & Education web site.
You will have a choice of staying on the OTC campus in a dorm room with meals for $45/night or you may elect to stay off campus. If you stay in the dorms, you will be provided with free airport transportation (arrival and departure). The Level 3 Coach Course is $160. Total cost for the coach course and three nights in the dorm with meals will be $295.
These courses are subject to cancelation if a minimum of six registrations is not achieved 32 days before the start of the event. If USAS cancels the course, you will receive a full refund.
Please send Mike Theimer (michael.theimer@usashooting.org) an email indicating your interest in attending one of these Level 3 coach courses (rifle or pistol) to get your name on the official online registration announcement mailing list.
Junior Programs and Athlete Development
For junior shooters seeking an introduction to Olympic-style shooting sports, the USA Shooting Youth Programs and Athlete Development division is the right place to start. The program is managed by 1976 Olympian and nine-time US National Champion, Michael Theimer.
USA Shooting is dedicated to the development of youth Olympic/international shooting sports. We are focused on the development of aspiring, dedicated junior athletes that will someday represent the United States of America in the Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Shooting Championships and other international competitions.
There are many programs available through USA Shooting and partner organizations. Where a youth may not have excelled in other sports, shooting sports do not require a participant to be the fastest, tallest, or strongest. It does require—or will teach—patience, determination, organization skills, mental and physical control, safety awareness, goal setting, problem solving, and good citizenship/sportsmanship.
We have many aspiring junior athletes who have traveled to competitions outside the US (e.g. Munich, Germany, Beijing, China, Plzen, Czech Republic). USA Shooting provides the support necessary so that our junior athletes can achieve their goals and dreams. You have to compete with the best to be the best.
USA Shooting Junior Membership
Junior USA Shooting members can register for USA Shooting sanctioned competitions that provide exposure to international shooting rules, shoulder-to-shoulder competitions and visibility of their skill progression that will earn them opportunities to make the National Junior Development Team.
There are three age categories for juniors at all national USA Shooting sanctioned events:
- Junior 1 (J1): ages 18-20
- Junior 2 (J2): ages 15-17
- Junior 3 (J3): ages 14 years or younger
Juniors can compete successfully within appropriate age ranges.
College Age Juniors
There are several programs associated with college age juniors, and most do not know that there are college scholarships available for talented pistol, rifle and shotgun shooters.
The NRA has an excellent search feature to locate colleges with shooting programs (and local affiliated ranges). NCAA college rifle programs offer scholarships, but those colleges with shooting clubs may or may not have scholarships available. Click here to search for colleges with shooting programs.
Brad Donoho, program manager in the Civilian Marksmanship Program, wrote an excellent article about how to choose a college with a shooting program.
Other Youth Program Resources
If you are interested in becoming a certified rifle/pistol/shotgun coach, please visit the NRA training website to find a coach certification course near you.
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is an excellent source of youth programs, equipment, ammunition, targets, training materials and competitions.
Click here to locate a USAS affiliated club in your area.
For more information about Olympic/International Youth Shooting Sports contact:
Michael Theimer
Youth Programs & Athlete Development Manager
719.866.4889
michael.theimer@usashooting.org
