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We recently added six new shotguns to the LNSC Youth Program - not as a replacement, but as an expansion of our existing club gun inventory.

As our program has grown, so has the demand for safe, properly fitted entry-level equipment. This addition was about capacity, flexibility, and access, not upgrading for the sake of upgrading.

Here’s what we added:

12 Gauge (4 total):

• Winchester SXP Trap (Pump) -1 Full Size & 1 Compact

• Stevens 555 Trap (Break Action) (adjustable combs) - 1 Full Size & 1 Compact

We start developing the foundations of QE from day one, long before shooters even know the term.

1. Rookie Phase — Both Eyes Open

The first priority is getting athletes comfortable shooting with both eyes open. This sets the stage for everything that comes later:

• Wider field of view

• Faster target recognition

• Better depth perception

One of the quietest but most important operational pieces in any youth trap program is ammunition management. Over the last five seasons at Lake Noquebay Sportsman’s Club, we’ve built a system that works well for our structure - three high school teams, roughly 75 athletes, and a shared resource pool.

I’m not saying our way is the way. It’s just a way. And I’m really curious how other big programs manage this same challenge.

Here’s how we currently handle ammo at LNSC:

1. Storage & Access

   We keep team ammunition segregated from the club’s retail ammo. Only designated ammo managers and coaches have access. Athletes sign up for their round, then head to the back of the clubhouse where ammo is issued specifically for that round.

2. Standardized Loads (With Transition Options)

I have a young shooter who is convinced he must shoot a 20ga due to his size, I had him try the team gun a12ga which he shot just as good with no noticeable recoil issues and he shot it better, talked to him and his parents about the advantage of a 12ga pertaining to ammo (cost and felt recoil) and weight.

I believe his friend may have alot to do with his thinking(peer influence)

, I hear the friend on the sidelines telling him a 20ga is better for him because he is small.

Any ideas how to convince him to go to a 12ga.

I start my 7th decade of life on earth in February. For those that know me know that I have a 15 yo daughter who is learning the game. 4th year. I started helping with the AIM team in Weston when she started shooting trap competition.

Since that time we started a USA Clays Team at DC Everest, we both are NRA Level 1 certified and spend the spring and summer shooting.

I will stay involved with the team as long as I can.when she goes to college my wife and I may become snow birds.

How do you find people to take the reins? Do you try to challenge parents to get involved? Looking for some ideas. Our team is growing from eight Athletes to 32 this year.

Following up on our conversation about practice formats - I’ve been thinking a lot about team leadership and how other programs use their captains throughout the season.

This year, each of our teams (Crivitz, Coleman, and Wausaukee) now has a coach-selected Team Captain. All of them are solid shooters, great examples on the line, and natural leaders. Beyond the basic expectations (sportsmanship, squad management, setting the tone), I want to start bringing them deeper into the planning side of the program.

Here’s why:

We’ve got a core group of athletes with real potential — the kind of potential that could put us in the running for a National Championship next summer.But I’m careful not to project that ambition onto them. I want that fire to come from them, not from me. When the athletes decide what they want, that’s when you can build a plan they’ll actually buy into.

So I’m curious how other coaches…

Hey everyone — I’m really curious to hear how your teams run practice.

With our program growing across Crivitz, Coleman, and Wausaukee - and only two trap fields to work with - our practices tend to look the same every week: squad up, shoot a couple rounds of trap, and coach specific fundamentals during those rounds. It works, but I feel like we're leaving a lot of potential development on the table.

I’ve been wanting to incorporate more station work, specific drills, and maybe even small-group fundamental sessions… but with our numbers, time, and two fields, it’s tough to experiment without breaking the flow.

So I’d love to hear from coaches who run larger or fast-growing teams:

• Do you run dedicated drill stations or skill circuits?

(footwork, hold points, breakpoints, gun mount, eye exercises, etc.)

Hello all!

I am a newer coach (2yr) with 2yr old high school trap club in park city montana. Looking forward to reading about other coaches success' and failures in all aspects of coaching. For our second year we went from a team of 5 to 17 and the increase of the team came with some major growing pains. My 2 biggest problems is getting the students athletes to practice in the off-season, and getting them to actually consider the instruction be provided to them from me and the other 2 coaches as well as the local ata trap club members that want to help out occasionally.

I want to share something personal today — something that means a lot to me, and I think it’ll mean a lot to many of you too.

A good friend of mine, Dan Ehlers, gave me the notes you'll find in the attached PDF. Dan was one heck of a trapshooter, a straight shooter in life, and one of the first guys who ever really encouraged me when we were building the Crivitz Trap Team back in the spring of 2022. We met not long after I moved to Crivitz, and before I knew it, we were shooting together regularly, talking shop, and I ended up becoming friends with his whole crew. His best friend Jon, his brother Tim, and Ryan.

Dan passed away in October of 2024. And man… I miss him. I miss sending him my shot report after a shoot. I miss the phone calls, the banter…