Trap Shooting - Youth Shooters

Youth Shooters

Trapshooting is becoming ever more popular among younger shooters. ATA shooting provides for "special categories" for younger shooters, including a Junior class for shooters who have not turned 18 or Sub-junior for those not yet 15 as of the beginning of the ATA trap year (September 1). The ATA has launched a major initiative to attract more youth shooters.

The ATA allows shooters under the age of 18 to shoot for half-price at the Grand American as well as many other large ATA sponsored shoots. Other major shoots allow reduced cost shooting for junior shooters.

The ATA and state organizations such as the Texas Trapshooters' Association (TTA) award scholarships to college bound trapshooters based on citizenship, scholarship, and need. Numerous former TTA junior shooters are now attending college with the help of TTA and ATA scholarships.

The Scholastic Clay Target Program promotes gun safety, personal responsibility, and sportsmanship among primary and secondary students. Teams compete at the local, state, and national level. Athletes are divided into four divisions based on academic grade level and experience: Rookie (fifth grade and below), Intermediate (sixth through eighth grades), Junior Varsity (ninth through twelfth grades), and Varsity (eleventh and twelfth grades with at least two years of experience at the Junior Varsity level). Trophies and college scholarships are awarded to third place, runner-up, and champion squads in each division at the SCTP National Championships, which are held concurrently with the first two days of the Grand American Trapshooting Championships in Sparta, Illinois.

Additionally, non-scholarship college teams are growing in popularity. Leading college trap teams include those from Texas A & M, Purdue, Virginia Tech, and Lindenwood (MO). Teams from these schools dominate the U.S. intercollegiate trap championships.