Road trip to NRA Junior Sectional Precision Air Rifle

This post is written for those wanting to learn more about youth precision shooting programs.  It is New Hampshire and rifle centric.  Good read and many links for the parent trying to lean more about what might be available for a young girl or boy interested in precision shooting.

For some time I have been wondering how to help create a true youth rifle team.  Team or individual.  I ask myself why?  In truth, because I guess if I were to do it again, I wish there had been such a program for me to join when I was a small-fry.  Even with all the video games, there is nothing like live fire to build discipline and mental toughness.  Plus, they learn how to interact with their peers and adults as an extra bonus!

My serious shooting days are about over and it would be good to pass down the little I do know to the next generation and their parents..  I also believe precision shooting and the mental control it requires is a great way for kids to develop self esteem.  Kids can't blame their goalie, their coach or the referee.  The buck stops with them.  Sure, I guess you can blame the equipment.  Nothing a quick bench test or parents' check book can't solve!  If a youth is able to "out shoot" their equipment, that is a what I call a "good problem to have".

As I research what is going on in the area of precision shooting sports, there are currently two hotbeds of activity in NH.  First and foremost, I think the Hudson Fish & Game Club in, no surprises here, Hudson, NH, has a very strong program.  I also am told and certainly witnessed the shooters who traveled from Keene, there is a strong program at the Cheshire County Fish and Game Gun Club.  Their team is called the Ferry Brook Junior Shooters.  Here are the results from the road trip.  It was an NRA regional event.

So what does strong mean?  First, it means kids.  There were 24 kids who preregistered for the NRA Jr. Sectional I visited Feb 23rd, just 40 miles from Concord.  I suspect if the range had more shooting positions, there would have been more shooters.  Second, fully engaged parents.  I would say there were more Moms than Dads there.  This sport is no different than hockey, swimming or skiing.  It takes equipment, special facilities and travel.  These parents see the value of this individual sport for their child and support their child's pursuit of it.  Better yet, unlike skis or skates or pads, quality shooting gear depreciates very little.  Over the past 10 years I would argue all of it appreciates!

Third, I would have to say the sponsoring club has to be supportive with range time and budget.  When I talked to a group of Moms, they said when they first started, they simply brought their child and the club provided coaches and entry level equipment.  Of course now the parents have purchased collegiate level equipment but at the start, the club set the hook as well as validated the child's interest with club resources.

Fourth, volunteers.  I was very impressed at how deep the volunteer pool was. One for stats, registration.  Two for scoring. One for calling the line and likely three floaters.  All were Hudson Gun club members with club sweatshirts.  Very well done.  I saw seven volunteers of which only two had kids shooting that day.  Yup, seven folks who never fired a shot and five of them did not even have a kid in the program.  Very impressive.



So what do I know?  The first step is to see what kind of interest lies out there in the local area.  There is no organized youth program with the objective being to provide a path toward collegiate level shooting and potential scholarships offered by Div I, II and III schools.  Shoulder to shoulder competition does exist in the North East.  Even in NH!  Precision shooting is 80% mental.  It is about putting it all together and executing each element perfectly 40 or 60 times in a 40 or 60 minute time period.

Second, identify those "seven" volunteers, preferably some with kids, to help start building a program.  What type of "Program" do you mean you ask?  In my humble opinion, it all should start with air rifle.  Optimally it should start with what is called "Sporter air" for which there is an NRA rule book and a range of approved guns.  These guns are not $2,000+ as you see pictured above.  Here is a pretty comprehensive electronic publication from the NRA.  If you read it, you will see a broad range of different levels of shooting. From the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program to full blown youth Olympics in Colorado Spring, CO sponsored by USAShooting.  USAShooting is the the Olympic Development organization for Olympic shooting sports in the US.

Third, create some awareness.  Host a Jr Sectional in Concord area and promote it to parents and youth so they can come see what it is all about.  As they like to say in Missouri, SHOW ME! Pioneer has an excellent facility that could provide these youth the chance to travel to an unfamiliar place and work on performing as well as they can at their home club.  An important component of training.  No doubt the club might learn a few things along the way as well.

So, bottom line, in some parts of the Country kids start off in earnest with the simple Daisy 499 BB gun and compete in the Daisy Nationals. They can then move on up to NRA, CMP, JROTC programs. If they love it and strive to do more, they can head to Colorado Springs, CO for the Junior Olympics.  Some of the kids I saw last weekend will be heading to the Junior Olympics.  Hats off to them! Even if they don't achieve Olympic level performance, they have a sport for life.  They know and respect the use of firearms and likely have learned one heck of a lot more about themselves.

To the right is a picture from 2011while in Texas for a silhouette match.  Shooting in Texas is no different than Little League.  Kids start with the Daisy 499 and if they have fun (note the pink gun with flames) they keep on shooting.  Click on picture to enlarge.  They are all the same gun.  Just some creative woodwork to make the butt of the stock longer or shorter.

Learn more about Daisy and their youth BB gun program go HERE.  Daisy is quite involved in the youth shooting arena and has a full line of competition youth guns under the Avanti line. Not the stuff you find in Walmart.

As always, click on pictures to enlarge for detail.

Interesting links.

CMP - Primer on youth shooting sports. For more look under Air Gun, Coach Resources for other good articles, manuals, powerpoints etc etc.  .