The NRA Coach Education Program is administered by the NRA
Education & Training Division and offers multi-level training
for coaches of the competitive shooting sports in partnership with
USA Shooting, the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the Amateur
Trapshooting Association, the National Skeet Shooting Association,
and the National Sporting Clays Association.
Separate coach training courses are available for rifle,
shotgun, pistol, and high power rifle coaches. The Level 1 Coach is
trained to coach beginning and intermediate shooting athletes in a
two-day school consisting of both classroom instruction and
on-the-range practical coaching exercises. Those desiring to attain
a Level 2 or Level 3 Coach credential must become a Level 1 Coach
and complete specific additional training.
The Rifle Coach Course addresses coaching position smallbore and
air rifle competitive shooting. The Shotgun Coach Course addresses
five clay target sports (American Trap, American Skeet, Sporting
Clays, International Trap, and International Skeet). The Pistol
Coach Course addresses coaching competitive Bullseye Pistol, Air
Pistol and International Pistol Shooting. The High Power Rifle
Coach Course addresses coaching competitive High Power Rifle
(centerfire) shooting.
All courses include instruction on safety, equipment, shooting
fundamentals, coaching methodology, mental training, rulebook use,
coaching ethics, training plans, team building, risk management,
and history. There are now more than 5,200 credentialed NRA
Coaches.
Coach schools are held throughout the Untied States where they
are sponsored by gun clubs, shooting organizations, or individuals.
NRA provides the school instructor and printed course materials. Scheduled
coach schools are usually posted on the NRA website. The fee
for a coach school is established and collected by the school
sponsor and includes the printed materials, instruction and the fee
for the initial three-year Level 1 Coach credential. Click
here to learn more about sponsoring a coach school.
Those attending a coach school are expected to have at least a
basic understanding of and experience in the chosen shooting
discipline.
The Coach Education Program continuously strives to provide
outstanding coach education and athlete training that provides a
high-quality experience to every shooting athlete. A high-quality
experience is one in which every athlete:
- Is coached using up-to-date training principles
- Learns the skills, tactics and strategies of the sport and
improves as a shooter
- Has fun shooting
- Feels like an important part of the team regardless of
performance
- Learns "life lessons" that have value beyond the range
We recognize that the coach is the one who most directly makes
this all possible. It is our goal to provide every coach with the
tools to be successful. We are committed to creating a positive
environment in which coaches, athletes, parents, officials, and
fans work together to achieve our mission in the shooting
community.
