Teach the Skills of the Sport

Teaching student athletes a sport that requires discipline, self-control, hand-eye coordination and concentration is a challenge. Your team likely will be comprised of student athletes with a very wide range of shooting skills. From student that have never used a shotgun previously, to athletes who are just shy of shooting skill perfection, your coaching staff will be challenged with enhancing the skills of your young shooters. It’s important to keep in mind that safety and fun are the primary components of your teaching messages.MSHSCTL_ClassAAA_0060

  1. Familiarize yourself with the skills of trap, skeet, sporting clays and 5-stand shooting. Visit websites, read books, visit a shooting range, and watch videos.
  2. Teach your athletes about proper gun fit and how it relates to breaking clay targets. Stress to your coaches and athletes that is important to use the right firearm for them. Athletes will come in all shapes and sizes and there is no amount of coaching that can compensate for a gun that doesn’t fit an individual.
  3. Talk to your coaches and athletes about determining their dominant eye.
  4. Have all of your athletes find their dominant eye through a number of recommended tests.
  5. Try and have your athletes line up their dominant eye with their shooting hand.
  6. Explain to student athletes that it’s OK to start with both eyes open but using your dominant eye will help in your line of sight with the target.
  7. Teach your athletes about proper stance and balance. Feet shoulder with apart with nose over the toes is recommended.
  8. As you set up a new shooter teach them to keep their cheek on the stock and avoid raising their head to see if they hit the target. Cheek weld is important and will reduce bruising to the face.
  9. Talk to your team about hard and soft focus and when to squeeze the trigger after calling for the target.
  10. Segment training by skill level – novice, junior varsity, and varsity.
  11. Identify and assign qualified coaches to teach each skill level if needed for larger groups.

Resources:

PullUSA Magazine: Dominant eye, mental game, goal setting, and more

Title: How To Carry A Shotgun
Source: National Shooting Sports Foundation

Title: How To Shoot Trap
Source: National Shooting Sports Foundation

Title: Basic Trap Shooting – Level 1
Source: Dean Blanchard

Title: Basic Trap Shooting – Level 2
Source: Dean Blanchard

Title: Basic Trap Shooting – Level 3
Source: Dean Blanchard

Back to: New Teams