JROTC Air Rifle Major Marlow KY-951 Senior Aerospace Science Instructor (SASI) CMP/NRA Marksmanship coach
Air Rifle = Varsity Sport Currently in 2600 HS (Nationally) Mostly JROTC programs 2050 community youth clubs Boy Scouts 4-H American Legion USA Shooting
Safe = YES Air Rifle = Safe? Out of 4650 clubs (17k shooters) 8 years of tracking (CMP/NRA) One incident reported Misuse of Maintenance Equip (Air Tank) Not a shooting accident Safe = YES
Air Rifle = Safe? Safe Storage (Requirements) Current JROTC Contract All equipment that looks like a weapon Must be stored like a weapon Drill Rifles (Currently Possess) Closet/Locker with Two Locks Additional Safety Pellets Stored in Separate Dual Lock Cabinet Air Rifle not “Charged” during Storage
History HS rifle teams have existed for >80 years Smallbore (.22) rifle up to 1980’s 3 Position Air Rifle introduced in 1990-91 Smallbore dropped in 1995 Three Position Air Rifle has grown to 115 varsity teams
Team Basics Team Size Title IX neutral Total team = ~ 1-3 per class Gender Neutral 5 shooters per team 4 top scores count for team score All 5 eligible for team awards Title IX neutral Total team = ~ 1-3 per class
Equipment Basics Air Rifle, Sling, & Glove Kneeling Roll & Mat Spotting Scope & Stand Rifle Stand Target Trap Pellets Targets
Equipment Costs Initial Investment Equipment Life 5-15 years $250 - $1400 per athlete NRA Grants for startup Equipment Life 5-15 years Annual Operating Costs <$75/Athlete True Annual Cost $200/Athlete (Travel/Nationals)
Basic Rules Rules: Rifle Categories Standard 3 Position Air Rifle Rules Published by Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) Rifle Categories Sporter Precision
Basic Rules Three positions 10 minute prep period Prone 10 shots/15 minutes Standing 10 shots/20 minutes Kneeling 10 shots/15 minutes 5 minute transition periods Complete match ~ 90 minutes
Basic Rules Firing line to target = 10 meters Target = AR5/10 (Olympic) Pellets = .177cal (Olympic)
Shooting Teaches: Emotional/Self Control, & Discipline Responsibility (Safety of items) Concentration & Attentive Skills Goal Setting & How to Achieve Goals Fair Play, Teamwork, & Leadership Rewards of Hard Work, Practice, Competition Self-image Enhancement
Shooting is Egalitarian Boys/Girls Compete Equally Shooting is 85% MENTAL Athleticism is Not Required Good Shooters make Good Students Good Students make Good Shooters
Why? Your High School FUN! Small Team Size Inexpensive Operation Co-ed Sport All Students can Participate Readily Available Resources (NRA) FUN!
College Scholarships 300 Colleges offer Scholarships (Growing) Local Colleges: Murray State (NCAA) University of Kentucky (NCAA/ROTC) Moorehead State (NCAA/ROTC) Austin Peay State (ROTC) University of Memphis (NCAA/ROTC) Middle-Tennessee State (ROTC) www.competitions.nra.org/collegiate-shooting-programs.aspx
Additional Items Provide Leadership Training Provide Coaches Training Ongoing Informational Support Local Hands on Training Booster Clubs/Parents