3/27/2003

SCTP Kicks Off 2003 Season
Scholarships, state and national titles offered in premier youth shooting program

NEWTOWN, Conn. - Teams of young shotgun shooters from over 40 states will be competing for their share of $69,000 in college scholarships as the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) kicks off its third season.

SCTP is the national youth shooting program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to offer young men and women the opportunity to compete as a team for state and national titles in the clay target disciplines of trap, skeet and sporting clays.

Participants will also vie for an opportunity to train with America's Olympic shotgun coaches as part of the Junior Olympic Development Camp hosted by USA Shooting at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Last year, teams of junior and senior high school students from 40 states participated in SCTP competing in divisions and classes based on age and experience. Youths in grades 6-8 shot in the Junior Division while those in grades 9-12 shot in the Senior Division. Novice and Experienced classes insure teams compete against those with like ability.

The 2003 SCTP season will see some changes. Due to overwhelming interest from coaches, parents and young shooters, there will be a new Rookie Division for youths in grades five and below. The National Championship schedule has also changed. Trap Nationals will be held as a two-day event during the Grand American World Trapshooting Championships in Vandalia, Ohio, on August 8 and 9.

Skeet and Sporting Clays Nationals will both be held at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas, during the Sporting Clays National Championships September 11-14.

For further information, registration forms and complete schedules, visit www.nssf.org/sctp or call NSSF at (203) 426-1320.