December 28th, 2008

 

Dear Wisconsin Trapshooters, Youth Trapshooters, Parents of Youth Trapshooters and Trap Shooting Coaches

 

There have been many questions and much confusion surrounding the (SCTP) Scholastic Clay

Target Program and the new (AIM) Academics Integrity Marksmanship program and how it

affects Wisconsin’s young shooters.  Many are wondering what the future holds for the SCTP

program in light of the new AIM program being developed by the ATA.  I will attempt to

shed some light on the issue and tell you were we are as of today. There are many people who believe we have two national groups competing for the participation of our kids thus dividing them into two groups.

 

A little background is required to understand why we are experiencing these changes.  We must understand that the SCTP was originally started with funds from and administered by the (NSSF) National Shooting Sports Foundation.  The SCTP program has been extremely successful and has introduced the clay target shooting sports to many young people the past several years.  As some may know, the SCTP has been turned over to the (SSSF) Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (President and CEO; Bill Christy) to run.  This occurred because the Board of Governors of the NSSF cannot, according to their bylaws, be in the shoot management business. All shooting programs they have started have been turned over to other associations/groups to continue the operation of that shooting group.

 

As for the ATA, they have initiated the AIM program; this program is designed to promote registered trapshooting among our young shooters and is similar to the current SCTP.  Both programs help promote the game of trapshooting to our young people. I believe the ATA is doing what is right for the ATA.  Aim is focused on registered trapshooting and the ATA rule book..

 

Currently, the SCTP uses the recording services and rules of the ATA, NSSA & NSCA to act as the official “National Governing Body” or NGB. I would be remiss if I didn’t say there are concerns that the SCTP will not have an outside National Governing Body for the different disciplines (Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays) in the SCTP. It is the stated intent of the SSSF to act as the NGB for all disciplines. In other words they might be moving away from registered targets after the 2009 season.  I have been told that for 2009, registered targets will be required for the state shoots, but I have not received confirmation from the SSSF that registered targets will be required beyond 2009.  The Wisconsin WSCTP State Shoot will be a registered shoot.

 

At our Annual meeting held in early December the WSCTP (Wisconsin Scholastic Clay Target Program) Board of Directors decided to change its name to the WYSSA (Wisconsin Youth Shooting Sports Alliance).  We envision WYSSA to grow beyond SCTP/AIM and to include all youth shooting groups that would like to be included such as (4-H, Boy Scouts, Venture Programs, Etc.). We will be rewriting our by-laws so as to not exclude any group that would like to shoot in the WYSSA.  Our current directors are committed to our youth shooters in Wisconsin, we have several directors on the board of WYSSA that are both SCTP and AIM State Directors, that shows the dedication these individuals have to the kids of Wisconsin. These changes will strengthen our commitment to the youth shooters of Wisconsin and keep their best interests in mind no matter what happens on a national scale.

 

 

 

As for the coming year, the Wisconsin SCTP State shoot will be held at Sauk Prairie Trap & Skeet Club on June 20th 2009.  The WYSSA will run this shoot with the shoot management of Sauk.

 

This coming year we will again hold telephonic shoots for the SCTP and AIM.   We are going to try something new and will be holding several combined SCTP and AIM invitational shoots throughout the state.  There will be more information available in next few weeks.

 

I am also working with the WTA Board to hold an AIM State shoot in conjunction with the WTA State shoot at Waukesha; we are currently working out the details and I will be attending the next WTA Board Meeting to work with the Board on this. The ATA will be providing AIM Trophies for the Wisconsin State Shoot for the 16 Yard Championship Shoot.

 

2009 will also mean that our coaches will need to determine what group or groups they want to shoot with.  As it stands today the SCTP has a $15.00 per shooter registration fee, if the SCTP shooter participates at the WSCTP State shoot they will also be required to join the ATA, they must have their $12.00 ATA membership paid.  Coaches for the SCTP have a $25.00 registration fee and are required to take an online coaching course (this is a change from last year).  On the other hand the AIM program has a $25.00 per shooter registration fee; they must also be a member of the ATA, youth membership is $12.00 per year (Collegiate and Graduate category members are included in the $12.00 youth membership fee as AIM Members).  You can have a shooter in both organizations or your Team can be in both. Information on both programs can be found at www.aim4ata.com and www.sssfonline.org  (SSSF will be coming soon).

 

For future reference in 2010 the Coaches (just one per team) for AIM will be required to have completed the NRA/ATA Coaches School ($175.00 for course, renewal every 3 years) or have completed the NRA/USAS Shotgun Coach School and be registered with the ATA.  We are very fortunate that in Wisconsin we have over 60 coaches with these credentials; we will be holding another NRA/ATA Coach School in Wisconsin in 2009, time or location is not set at this time.

 

With all these changes taking place and an  unknown future we must keep in mind that this is about our youth shooters in Wisconsin and what best for them.  As for WYSSA we look forward to working with all youth shooting programs and together we can determine what works for our state.  In the meantime with your help we need to continue our investment in the youth of this state and promote the clay target games.  I hope everyone looks at this like I am, it should mean greater shooting opportunities for our Wisconsin youth.

 

Gary DeSmidt

trapshooter@netwurx.net

NRA/ATA Shooting Coach

President Wisconsin Scholastic Clay Target Program Trap

Youth Program Director Hartford Conservation & Gun Club

Wisconsin State Director AIM (Academics, Integrity, Marksmanship)

Wisconsin State Director SCTP (Scholastic Clay Target Program)