The Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) has been awarded a multi-year grant by the Vista Outdoor Foundation, supporting its initiative of volunteer coach education specific to the shooting sports and youth development. The Vista Outdoor Foundation received over 100 requests for funding as part of the grant approval process. The SSSF was one of just ten organizations selected to receive grants, following a rigorous review of grant applications by the Vista Outdoor Foundation’s Board of Directors based on operational, geographic and mission-based criteria.
In 2020, the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation launched its Basic Shooting Coach Education Program, in an initiative to further grow youth shooting sports teams throughout the country. Offering a comprehensive curriculum for prospective coaches, the SSSF’s training program allows adult volunteers to digest online material at their own pace before becoming certified via a short, 4-hour in-person session. To date, nearly 1,000 coaches have become certified through the SSSF Basic Shooting Coach Education Program, with an additional several hundred having completed the online curriculum.
The SSSF relies on 20 state partners with a current average of four coach trainers in each state to conduct coach certifications. Utilizing support from the Vista Outdoor Foundation, the SSSF will expand existing coach training programs and the development of new efforts using online and hands-on training. National training efforts will focus on select state partners to reach youth shooting sports program volunteers in key areas of their respective states.
To learn more about the SSSF’s coach training programs, visit https://sssfonline.org/become-a-coach/
About Vista Outdoor Inc.
Vista Outdoor is a leading global designer, manufacturer, and marketer of outdoor recreation and shooting sports products. We operate through two reportable segments: Shooting Sports and Outdoor Products. Together, our segments serve the outdoor sports and recreation markets through a diverse portfolio of well-recognized brands that provide consumers with a wide range of performance-driven, high-quality and innovative products. Brands include Remington Ammunition, Bushnell, CamelBak, Bushnell Golf, Foresight Sports, Bell Helmets, Camp Chef, Giro, QuietKat, Federal Ammunition and more. Vista Outdoor products are sold at leading retailers and distributors across North America and worldwide.
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. The 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.
The mission of the SSSF is to provide and enhance personal growth and development opportunities for student athlete members; become the premier authority in all things pertaining to firearm-related pursuits for youth; pass on to future generations the legacy of lifelong, safe, responsible enjoyment of the shooting sports. This includes serving as a feeder/pipeline for organized, sanctioned shooting organizations and teams.
