Behind the Line - Community

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…