C-L-A
Posted On: 10-29-2025
This is not that new, but worth implementing in your training for your squad. CLA or Constraints Led Approach is a method used that employs game day situations as opposed to the traditional step-by-step method used by most to build skill sets.
Let me elaborate with a scenario or two. I first off am not setting to the side the idea of building a youth shooter up with step-by-step building blocks to a point at which they become great shooters. Those steps might begin with footwork, stance, gun position and together lots of individual pieces as that is our tried-and-true method. But now consider we couple the basics with game-day situations that help the shooter understand how all the learning can be implemented.
Try during a practice session adding in possible scenarios that we all know can exist. How about stepping up to the line in a 24th straight hit and having to hit the 25th. How about allowing your squad to stand behind a shooter and talk and distract however they can while that shooter in trying to concentrate. Try throwing shells on the ground, have all the semi-auto shooter remove their shell catchers, don’t pull on time, pull too fast, throw in dummy loads to a box of shells and see how they react. Be creative in these scenarios to help each one find a solution that when they happen everyone knows how to handle that situation.
The basic if CLA training is if we always see things as happening perfectly, we miss the idea that things really happen imperfectly. If one practices as if the world around them is perfect when something goes wrong the ability to handle the situation is so important. Going to practice shooting 25 then 25 more then maybe 50 more without any disruptions may not contribute to success. Take a different approach and mix it up some.
As a final thought or way of looking at this is to force disruptions throughout practice both as shooters and coaches. Push the kids to concentrate despite the disruptions. Get your parents to pitch in and watch, talk, honk horns, run UTV’s up and down the shooting line, and figure out what you remember to be the ACTUAL shooting conditions your shooters realize.
Also try to construct shooting day scenarios that begin with an exact duplication of how you and your squad will conduct their shooting on competition day. Don’t mix it up but be exactly like the shooting day. All teams do this by practicing all week then a day or so before replicating game day.
I know this takes some effort especially in the idea how much this differs from how one might typically conduct practice. Mix up your practice to ease shooters into game day and they will appreciate having seen and experiencing possible scenarios’ that might otherwise disrupt their success.
David R. Vaught, Ph.D.
Executive Director