USPSA Junior
Program
P.O. Box 811
Sedro Woolley,
WA 98284
360-855-2245
Mike McCarter
Junior Coordinator
May 2008
2008 U.S. Junior Invitational Update
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Applications for the match are coming in and we have room for more juniors. I have been receiving questions about what will happen if the match reaches capacity at 200 competitors. We will never turn away a junior who wants to shoot in this match. That is the primary reason for the match; to bring juniors together and allow them to have more fun in shooting USPSA sports. Remember we are putting on the special seminars and setting up side shoots including a full auto shoot. So don't hesitate to get your applications in for the first U.S. Junior Invitational.
Junior Team Workbook Coming Soon
The junior team at the Columbia Cascade Section has 14 members in it to date and three past juniors as assistant instructors. We couldn't be more pleased to see some of our past juniors working with the new juniors this year. Over the last two years our program has been pretty successful and when you see 'old' juniors coming out to work with the new juniors you have a pretty good idea that the team concept does work in USPSA.
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I receive many emails asking how we recruit and put our junior team together. This gave me an idea that we had better put together a 'How to Build a Junior Team' workbook and give anyone who wants to start a junior team some help and the benefit of our experiences. I can tell you right up front that it is not how you do it but simply saying "I'm going to do it" that builds a team. If you want to take a look at this workbook, to go the USPSA Junior website and download it. (Or since you're already here, just get it now!) There is no right and wrong when it comes to getting young people involved in our shooting sport. If you keep safety first and fun second you will find new juniors every week.
New Source of Recent Juniors
My club, Albany Rifle and Pistol Club, is just 20 miles away from Oregon State University and is a gold mine of 'recent juniors'. We have recently tapped into this source of new USPSA competitors and it is growing every month. In fact, at the end of March we held an Oregon State University Benefit USPSA match to raise funds to purchase holsters, magazine pouches, belts and magazines for OSU students. Students who come to college don't have the equipment to participate in USPSA shooting sports. Now, with the help of a group of students who like to shoot they are building up a USPSA shooting team and introducing other students to the sport. Not only are they plugging into USPSA pistol shooting but also speed steel and multi-gun shooting. So what does this have to do with USPSA juniors? They are also stepping forward to work with our junior team and maybe recruit a few into OSU. Chris Cordoza, 2007 Nationals Production Junior Champion, is heading to OSU in engineering and firearms building (just kidding about that last part).
Don't miss the opportunity to get college students involved in shooting spports if you have a college near you. It doesn't have to be a major university either, private schools and community colleges have a wealth of students who would love to get involved in USPSA. Promote a special open house match for a college near you and see what develops.
Order Junior Raffle Tickes Now
Give the USPSA office a call and talk to Staci about getting your USPSA Junior Raffle tickets for this year's Junior Raffle. This is an excellent way to support junior programs within USPSA shooting sports. It is amazing how fast they sell when people know you have Junior Raffle tickets to sell.