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MEDIA ADVISORY
2018 SCTP/SASP National Championships set for
July 14-21 at Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, OH
Members of the media are cordially invited to the 2018 (SCTP) Scholastic Clay Target Program and (SASP) Scholastic Action Shooting Program National Championships, set for July 14-21. The event will be held at the Cardinal Shooting Center located at 616 State Route 61, Marengo, Ohio. SCTP and SASP Representatives, Tom Wondrash, SCTP National Director and Rick Leach, SASP National Director will be on hand for interviews and to arrange safe photo and video coverage of the event.
Current media materials including statistics about the National Championships and a Competitor List (with athlete hometowns) is available by clicking here: https://sssfonline.org/news/media/
About the Scholastic Clay Target Program
The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) focuses on youth development through team-based clay target shooting sports. Teams are organized and led by trained and responsible adult volunteers with an emphasis on firearms safety, youth development and fun! Teams practice locally and can compete at local, state and national levels. Founded in 2001, the SCTP has grown to over 16,000 athletes supported by over 4,000 volunteer coaches from 45 states participating in the 2017 season.
About the Clay Target Sports
Trapshooting
On each trapshooting field, up to 5 athletes line up 16 yards away from a concrete house containing a mechanical clay target thrower. Clay targets flying about 42 mph are launched from the house at random angles when each competitor calls “Pull”. Competitors fire one shot at each target and targets are scored hit or “lost” (missed). The competitor with the most hit targets wins. In SCTP competition there are both individual and team awards presented. Each competitor attempts 100 to 200 targets depending on the competition.
Skeet
On each skeet field up to 6 athletes attempt targets launched from two houses (high and low house) from eight different stations. Targets are launched on fixed flight paths at approximately 45 to 50 mph when the competitor calls “pull”. On some stations only single targets are attempted and on others both single and doubles targets (one from each house) are attempted. Competitors fire one shot at each target and targets are scored hit or “lost” (missed). The competitor with the most hit targets wins. In SCTP competition there are both individual and team awards presented. Each competitor attempts 100 to 200 targets depending on the competition.
Sporting Clays
Unlike trap and skeet, sporting clays does not have a standardized field of play but rather uses a “course” layout, similar to how a golf course may be spread out. Sporting clays utilizes portable clay
target machines that can be placed on natural terrain to simulate hunting scenarios. Targets may be different shapes and sizes and may be thrown at various speeds and trajectories. Competitors work their way through the course stopping at different stations to attempt their targets. Most sporting clays stations feature target pairs which require two shots. Competitors fire at each pair of targets and targets are scored hit or “lost” (missed). The competitor with the most hit targets wins. In SCTP competition there are both individual and team awards presented. Each competitor attempts 100 to 200 targets depending on the competition.
About the Scholastic Action Shooting Program
The Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) focuses on youth development through team-based action shooting sports. Teams are organized and led by trained and responsible adult volunteers with an emphasis on firearms safety, youth development and fun! Teams practice locally and can compete at local, state and national levels.
Founded in 2012, the SASP has grown to over 1,300 athletes supported by over 400 volunteer coaches from 29 states participating in the 2017 season.
How the Scholastic Action Shooting Program is Played
The SASP is a sport based on both speed and accuracy. In an official SASP match there are four courses of fire (i.e. stages) athletes must shoot. Each stage consists of five steel target plates varying in size and distance. Four of the five targets may be attempted in any order but the fifth plate is called the “stop plate” and must be attempted last. On an audible start signal the competitor will start firing at the plates and when the last shot is fired on the stop plate is taken, the time stops.
Each athlete will repeat the sequence of targets on each stage five times (also known as a “string”) and only the four lowest times are used for the score. The athlete with the lowest total time for all 14 strings (4 strings x 4 stages) wins. In SASP competition there are both individual and team awards presented.
Athletes will fire a minimum 100 rounds of ammunition in a match. Athletes may compete in multiple divisions based on the type of firearm used. Rifles in .22LR caliber and handguns in both .22LR and 9mm are used in most competitions.
Are the Shooting Sports Safe?
According to the American Sports Data, Inc. - "A Comprehensive Study of Sports Injuries in the U.S.", the shooting sports have some of the lowest occurrences of injury compared to other forms of recreation including all popular sports offered in schools today.
All youth athletes involved in SCTP/SASP competitions have been provided with extensive coaching in the safe and responsible use of firearms. During all practices and competitions, all firearms must be completely unloaded and carried with the action open unless the athlete is on the firing line and it is their turn to shoot. All activities are closely supervised by trained and responsible adult volunteer coaches.
Shooting sports and firearms safety education replaces curiosity and promotes respect and responsibility in the handling and use of firearms.
SCTP and SASP member teams are supported by the SSSF and enjoy many program benefits. For a summary of benefits or for more information on how to start or join a team please visit: http://bit.ly/2E40rmA
About the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation
The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) is 501(c)(3) public charity responsible for all aspects of the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) and Scholastic Action Shooting Program (SASP) across the United States. SCTP and SASP are youth development programs in which adult coaches and other volunteers use shooting sports to teach and to demonstrate sportsmanship, responsibility, honesty, ethics, integrity, teamwork, and other positive life skills. SCTP was developed as a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) until the SSSF was created in 2007 to operate SCTP. In 2012, SSSF created SASP and became the managing foundation of both programs.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joe Wieczorek
The Media Group, Inc.
(847) 956-9090
