The annual Youth Leadership Conference schedule always includes a full series of how-to presentations designed to support the educational needs of junior shooting coaches and leaders.

Junior shooting coaches, leaders and parents from all over the country have one common annual opportunity to participate in training courses that are structured to increase their knowledge and skills as junior shooting sports leaders. This one national-level training week occurs each fall as either the National Youth Shooting Sports Leadership Conference (hosted by CMP in even-numbered years) or the National Shooting Coaches College (hosted by USA Shooting in odd-numbered years). The NRA Education & Training Division also plays a major role in each year’s program.

This year’s training event is the National Shooting Sports Leadership Conference and Training Week that takes place at Camp Perry, Ohio. The training schedule includes these events:

• 19-21 Sept., Advanced Rifle and Pistol Coaching Courses.

• 20-21 Sept., Basic Rifle and Pistol Coaching Courses.

• 20-21 Sept., CMP Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Master Instructor Training Course.

• 22-24 Sept., Youth Shooting Sports Leadership Conference. This is the major event that is attended by all CMP State Junior Directors and a wide variety of other active junior leaders.

• 24 Sept. (PM), CMP State Junior Director Workshop.

The official conference program with details on each of these courses and events is posted on the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.com/Programs/YouthLeadership.htm. You can register on-line at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchInfo.cgi?matchID=1710. You can also register by calling 419-635-2141, ext. 1102 or 1101.

If you are involved in junior shooting, whether as a coach, instructor, parent or volunteer, you can improve your knowledge and effectiveness as a junior leader by attending this year’s training conference at Camp Perry. By registering for conference events, you can:

• Complete training courses that lead to basic or advanced coaching certifications.

• Complete training that will certify you as a Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Clinic Master Instructor.

• Learn about new programs and new shooting equipment that can benefit the juniors in your program.

• Learn how to conduct a Rimfire Sporter rifle match and have the enjoyable experience of actually firing in one of these matches.

• Network with junior leaders from around the country and meet your State Junior Director; the common meals and receptions are often the best opportunities to learn great new program ideas.

• Hear presentations on exciting new programs to recruit youth to the shooting sports like the U. S. Sportsmen’s Alliance’s Trailblazer Program and take part in discussions on how to develop recruitment activities for your programs.

• Attend presentations on how to teach specific phases of marksmanship instruction; learn about instructional points that are most frequently not properly taught to juniors who attend CMP junior camps; hear about lessons learned from the coach training courses offered by the NRA-USA Shooting-CMP coach training program; dialogue with some of the best shooting teachers in the country as they present their ideas on the best shooting techniques.

• Lead instructors in this year’s conference include Dennis DeMille, General Manager at Creedmoor Sports and 2005 National Highpower Rifle Champion; Dr. Dan Durben, former National Rifle Coach and Director of the CMP Junior Rifle Camp program; Bob Foth, Olympic silver medalist and USA Shooting Youth Programs Director; Howard Moody, NRA National Coach Trainer; Marcus Raab, NRA National Coach Trainer and Gary Anderson, CMP Director.