October 2019 Coaches Newsletter
Posted On: 10-12-2019
It’s now “off-season” for most shotgun teams. Here are some preparation ideas for next year.
Remember to apply for your MidwayUSA Foundation grant by December 15 if you’re in that grant cycle. Don’t leave free money on the table so to speak. If you do not have an endowment account with the Foundation, it’s simple and free to create one here: https://www.midwayusafoundation.org/programs/team-endowment-account-program/
Think about recruiting new shooters for next season. Put a flyer in your school, or local school if a non-school team, and advertise your program if allowed. Ask your athletes to check with friends who may be interested. Perhaps you could use an assistant coach. You can check the MYSSA Event Page for the next coach’s certification class.
Encourage your athletes to stay active when possible. Some local gun clubs may host registered trap shoots into the fall and winter season. Occasional practice at the local club or a Missouri Dept. of Conservation range keeps those pre-shot routines in memory.
Enjoy the hunting seasons that are in full swing. Fall turkey, small game, and waterfowl keep the shotgunner in tune.
Off-season is a good time to encourage your shooters to pay close attention to their shotgun maintenance. A thorough cleaning of the barrel, choke tubes, gas assembly if semi-auto, and trigger assembly is simply a good way to keep the shotgun in good working order.
If you have a coaching staff, perhaps a pre-season meeting to discuss plans for the next season is in order. A meeting now instead of the busy holiday schedules may be easier on everyone’s calendar.
Analyze your athletes from the past season. Who needs specific help in solving problems? Form a coaching plan for those specific individuals.
Read publications related to coaching. There are many good books available. I would recommend If It Ain’t Broke, Fix It by Gil Ash or Breaking Clays by Chris Batha. Several more related books are available on Amazon.
Consider taking an advanced coaching class. Dr. David Vaught offers those classes from time to time. Again, watch our MYSSA Events Page.
Consider taking the online Human Kinetics Coach Education course. http://www.asep.com/ This course deals with all aspects related to coaching.
Download and read the NRA Trainer’s Ethics Guide. Lot’s of good information here: https://www.nrainstructors.org/docs/trainer_ethics_guide.pdf
Note: The monthly Coaches Newsletter will be emailed on the 12th of the month, not on the 10th as indicated earlier.
Jan Morris, Executive Director
MYSSA