Youth Rifle Programs

           
                                 Matt Emmons                                                                                          Amy Sowash

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Rifle Youth Programs

Numerous opportunities exist for young people interested in rifle shooting sports. The Olympic events include Men’s and Women’s Air Rifle (Standing) and Smallbore (.22) Rifle Three-Position as well as Men’s Smallbore Prone. The junior event created to prepare juniors to compete in these events is called Three-Position Air Rifle (3PAR).

3 Position Air Rifle (3PAR)

3PAR is a great introduction to the sport as the equipment, and particularly the ammunition is less expensive as well as cleaner and quieter. Temporary ranges can easily be set up in any large area (like a gym) as these guns do not require a permanent back-stop or special ventilation system. Many organizations have joined to form the National Three-Position Air Rifle Council. These organizations include:

USA Shooting

USAMU and JROTC 3PAR video

Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP)

4-H Shooting Sports

The American Legion

Daisy/U.S. Jaycees Shooter Education Program

• Army, Navy and Marine Corps JROTC Commands

• The National Rifle Association (NRA) also runs a 3PAR program

CMP runs the 3PAR National Junior Olympic Championship in partnership with USA Shooting and the 3PAR Council. The 2013 3PAR NRA/JO/CMP Championships for precision air rifle is scheduled for 11-14 July 2013 in Anniston, AL at the CMP South Shooting Center. There will be three distinct competitions (NRA, Junior Olympic and CMP). The aggregate of all three precision 3PAR scores will determine the overall champion and USAS will award the champion a slot on the National Junior Team.

USA Shooting

USA Shooting publishes USA Shooting News (for members), sanctions matches and is the National Governing Body for the Olympic Shooting Sports in the US. We run and coordinate Junior Olympic Development Camps here at the Olympic Training Center and around the country at our Certified Training Centers. Our website also includes information about match schedules, USAS merchandise sales and competition results.

CMP Programs

CMP sanctions matches, has publications, very helpful training materials (including plans for pellet traps), sells guns, ammo and equipment, runs great summer camps and administers an Excellence-In-Competition program and a Junior Distinguished program. Here is the link to CMP's air rifle camps: http://www.thecmp.org/3P/Camp.htm

NRA Programs

NRA has a qualification program, sanctions matches, offers a tremendous variety of materials and has programs for competitions, collegiate shooting, coach education, advanced summer camps, etc. NRA also offers grant programs that provide funding for youth programs.

Collegiate Rifle Programs

Because Collegiate Rifle has the coveted NCAA status, many schools offer scholarships for talented athletes, often worth tens of thousands of dollars over a 4 year career. Click here to find colleges with shooting programs and shooting scholarships. 

Coach Education Programs

Growing youth shooting sports in the US is always a focus for USAS. One of the key areas to achieve this is the Coach Education Program  in which we partner with the NRA and Civilian Marksmanship Program www.odcmp.com. Every youth shooting sports program should have at least one certified coach. Please contact michael.theimer@usashooting.org for more details.

4-H/USAS Passport Program

USAS has partnered with the 4-H and created an marksmanship achievement program for rifle, pistol and shotgun events called the Passport program. Click here to learn more about the Passport program. Your 4-H club can order the achievement pins and ‘passports’ directly from the 4-H National website.

Informational Links

National Junior Olympic 3PAR Championship Program and Rules

2012 National Junior Olympic 3PAR Championship Results

Click here for a personal copy of the Olympic Path Poster for Junior Athletes

 

National Shooting Sports Foundation