The Principles of Marksmanship Instruction

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• The Principles ofMarksmanship Instruction

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Principles of Marksmanship Instruction

• Principles that should be the foundation of all
  marksmanship instruction
• Principles focused on developing the best and
  most effective teaching methods for new shooters
• Principles that help new shooters
• Learn rifle target skills more quickly and
  effectively
• Establish a foundation for their future
  development regardless of their personal goals
• Enjoy their marksmanship experience more
• Are more likely to become life-long participants

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1 Teach Safety First, Last and Always

• Safety instruction and discipline must be part of
  all shooting activities
• Keep safety simple, not complex
• Focus on critical performance factors Muzzle,
  Action, Trigger, Target
• Real safety requires practice, not
  justintellectual awareness
• Continue safety emphasis at all levels

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2 Start with the Most Appropriate Rifle

• Rifles must be appropriate for the age, physical
  size and maturity of the junior
• Junior must handle rifle comfortably and safety
• Rifle must offer appropriate competition
  opportunity
• Advance junior to another rifle when they are
  ready

10-13 years
12-15 years
13-16 years
13-18 years
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3 Use the Correct Stock Length

• A rifle that is too long (or too short) cannot be
  handled comfortably
• Have stocks of variable lengths available
• Fit stocks to individual shooters
• Shorter stock lengths facilitate ease of
  handling, better rifle control, better positions.

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4 Use Big Targets
Start with a target big enough to contain all
well-executed shots. Misses are negativehits are
positive. Graduate to the official target when
shot groups merit advancement
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5 Work Ethic and Interest are Keys

• Shooting is a motor skill developed through
  correct repetitions
• Natural ability has little or nothing to do with
  shooting advancement
• Some shooters do poorly at firstsome do
  wellneither is an indication of ultimate success
• Continue to encourage every shooter in your
  program

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6 Present Shooting as an Olympic Sport
The Olympic dream, with its imagery, idealism and
world-wide stature, is the single most important
attractor that shooting has for youth.
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7 At First, Teach Only Key Points

• Introduce new positions by presenting the fewest
  teaching points needed
• Teach only key points for each positionstanding
  key points shown on right
• Common mistakes
• Teaching the whole clinicto much information
• Teaching nothing or teaching the wrong key points

3head up/rifle up, achieved with correct
support hand position
2place elbow/arm on side, keep elbow under rifle
1turn body 90º, stand with side to target
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8 Use the Step Method

• Use the Step Method to teach new shooting
  positions
• Teaching steps
• Body position only--without the rifle
• Position with the riflewithout the sling (sling
  positionsalways find hand stop position before
  adding sling)
• Position with the rifle and the sling
• Go back to step method to correct serious
  position problems

STEP B
STEP A
STEP C
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9 Add Details One at a Time

• Refine and improve positions by teaching one new
  teaching point at a time
• Shooters can only master one new thing at a time
• Teachpracticeautomateteach again
• A teaching progression for standing is shown on
  the right

9/10pre-shot balance/relaxation checks
7head position
6-Right hand and arm
1correct hand position
4hip under rifle, hip angle
5full relaxation of arm before each shot
3legs straight relaxed
2Foot position, body-target angle
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10 Keep It Positive, Supportive, Enjoyable

• Apply corrections calmly quietlystay in
  control
• Give positive correctionshighlight the correct
  action, not the incorrect one
• Accept every participant as a person of worth and
  potential
• Young people, discipline, challenges and fun do
  go together

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11 Its Positive RepetitionsNot Magic

• Shooting ability is developed through positive
  repetitionscorrectly executed position, shots
  and techniques
• Believe in training--minimize changes or
  experimentingthere are no secrets or magic
  answers
• Use a shooters diary to understand, master and
  reinforce positive repetitions

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12 Stress Shooters Growth, Not Winning

• Keep the emphasis on the shooters and their
  growth not on winning.
• Respect every shooters goals
• Make sure shootings life skills live in your
  program
• Self control, self discipline, emotional control
• Concentration skills, goal-setting, achievement
• Fairplay, teamwork, leadership
• Rewards of hard work, training and competition