USA Clay Target League Introduces New Athlete, Coach Certification Programs

The USA Clay Target League, helped in part by the NRA Foundation, launched a website for its new SAFE and CLASS certification programs for athletes and coaches.

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posted on February 9, 2024
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USA Clay Target SAFE CLASS 1
Thanks in part to a development grant from the NRA Foundation, the USA Clay Target League has debuted its SAFE and CLASS certification programs for athletes and coaches via new websites. Each student-athlete must complete firearm safety certification prior to participation in the organization’s trap, skeet, sporting clays and five-stand leagues.
USA Clay Target League

With financial backing from a NRA Foundation development grant, the USA Clay Target League recently launched a new interactive learning website for its SAFE (Student-Athlete Firearm Education) and CLASS (Coach Leadership And Safety Support) certification programs for athletes and coaches.

The 19-lesson SAFE and 37-lesson CLASS online training has informative videos, creative graphics and diagrams, interactive modules, audio recordings and clay target-related photos presented in mobile-friendly components that, according to the USA Clay Target League, “deliver the best method for teaching procedures and safety to any clay target participant.”

SAFE & CLASS certification programs
All student-athletes that complete SAFE certification, as well as coaches that complete CLASS certification, will receive official iron-on certificate patches from the USA Clay Target League.

 

These new certification programs would not be possible without a substantial development grant awarded to the USA Clay Target League from the NRA Foundation. In addition, the League received content assistance from its partnership with AllenComm.

“The NRA Foundation is very proud to help with this one-of-a-kind learning tool,” NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum Director Peter Churchbourne said. “The USA Clay Target League is one of the largest clay target shooting sport organizations in the world so it is well-deserved.”

The 501(c3) non-profit USA Clay Target League offers trap, skeet, sporting clays and five-stand leagues to secondary and postsecondary schools across the country. In 2023, there were 49,337 registered student-athletes on 1,647 teams that participated in USA Clay Target League activities.

To access the SAFE or CLASS certification courses, the cost is $25 for each course. New USA Clay Target League head coaches can receive both programs for free. (One head coach for each team may complete the CLASS Certification for free.)

USA Clay Target League student-athletes cannot participate in any shooting activities with a team without a League-approved firearm safety certificate. This can be either a state-approved hunter education certification or Student Athlete Firearm Education (SAFE) certification.

More about USA Clay Target League Student-Athlete Firearm Education (SAFE) certification: “The League’s SAFE certification provides an in-depth firearm safety and procedures training program designed specifically for League participants. The cost per student of the SAFE certificate is $25 and is payable at the beginning of the online course. Refunds are not allowed. The SAFE certificate is valid only for League participation and cannot be used for obtaining a hunting license. The SAFE certificate is designed specifically for student athletes and coaches participating in the League.”

As for the USA Clay Target League’s Coach Leadership And Safety Support (CLASS) certification program, it has been “designed specifically for coaches participating in USA Clay Target League-affiliated programs. The League’s CLASS certification provides a comprehensive and interactive online education and training program designed specifically for League coaches. The CLASS certification is available to all coaches and takes five to six hours of online training to complete.”

“We’ve delivered what the clay target shooting sport industry has always wanted—an easily-accessible, comprehensive and affordable online learning platform,” John Nelson, president of the USA Clay Target League said about the new SAFE and CLASS certification programs.

Find out more about the USA Clay Target League’s new SAFE and CLASS certification programs at the organization’s website.

Learn more about the NRA Foundation at nrafoundation.org.

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