Junior Sports Shooting
Sports shooting requires a great deal of dedication, concentration, consistency and above all else, practice. These attributes are just some of the life-skills junior may gain when they participate in sports shooting. The SSAA’s focus on supervision and safety creates a nurturing environment for young people to develop while also helping to build their confidence. Most disciplines within the SSAA have a Junior component, with juniors often separated into two categories: those up to 15 years, and those from 15 to 18 years of age. If you’re keen to shoot a particular discipline or you know a young person who does, make contact with the relevant State or National Discipline Chairman.
Matches and Firearms
The variety of firearms and shooting disciplines within the SSAA will give juniors a taste of many different experiences, so they can decide what their ‘thing’ might be, whether that is rifle, shotgun or handgun shooting or even something a bit different such as shooting with a muzzleloading firearm. Parents and guardians should be prepared for the wide-eyed amazement of their youngsters, their thirst to try more and their desire to expend large quantities of ammunition!
There are a number of disciplines on offer across the board (which will be discussed further on in this guide) and visiting the relevant websites and then contacting your local SSAA club or state branch will be the best place to start. Most branches have qualified firearm instructors and range officers, as well as those who have been experienced shooters for many years and would be happy to assist any newcomers – whether they are juniors or older family members who want to have a look and try.
The SSAA, and sport shooting in general, is a family-oriented pastime and the whole family can enjoy a new-found group of friends, as well as many challenges, once the involvement begins. The experience can be as competitive or as passive as you wish, with opportunities offered to compete against just yourself or to venture into regional, state, national or even international championships.
State and national championships are usually run in conjunction with particular disciplines and all juniors are graded into two categories: those up to 15 years of age and those from 15 to under 18 years of age.