The Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Advisory Committee recognizes the diversity of the 4-H shooting sports programs within the state. It is advised that programs at the county level adopt and adhere to these standards. Should an injury occur in a county due to the disregard of any of these minimum standards, the potential negative legal/liability ramifications for a land-grant university system could be significant. The following minimum standards are not negotiable:
The Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Advisory Committee recognizes the diversity of the 4-H shooting sports programs within the state. It is advised that programs at the county level adopt and adhere to these standards. Should an injury occur in a county due to the disregard of any of these minimum standards, the potential negative legal/liability ramifications for a land-grant university system could be significant. The following minimum standards are not negotiable:
- All instructors accept and abide by the National/Nebraska 4-H Shooting Sports Code of Ethics.
- The National 4-H Shooting Sports Curriculum is the established adult teaching curriculum for training adults to teach youth shooting sports within a 4-H program.
- Club level 4-H Shooting Sports Programs will have written risk management plans which include items such as emergency response and preparedness, insurance, safe storage of firearms and ammunition, state-level reloading policies, etc.
- That the thrust of the 4-H shooting sports curriculum is to teach the child life skills, as opposed to teaching shooting skills to the child.
- That certifications by other national organizations are a welcome supplement to the 4-H shooting sports certification process.
- All certified 4-H shooting sports instructors are a minimum of 21 years of age and have completed a state level 4-H shooting sports workshop in the specific discipline they will be teaching.
- To maintain certification as a 4-H shooting sports Level I instructor, the individual must teach youth or assist in instruction of youth, a minimum of four hours each year within the discipline certified. These individuals are also required to complete and submit their annual report to the state coordinator.
- Cloverbud age youth are not allowed to participate in any shooting sports activity that includes the handling or live-fire of any air-guns, firearms, or archery equipment.
- Only factory ammunition is used at 4-H shooting sports competitive events.
The following minimum guidelines for instructor training at the state level workshops must be adhered to:
- All certified adult 4-H volunteers with supervisory responsibilities in the shooting sports program are a minimum of 21 years of age or older.
- All state level certification workshops must provide a minimum of twelve (12) hours of instruction; including a minimum of eight (8) hours instruction in each specific discipline taken and a minimum of four (4) hours instruction in teaching youth development principles, ages & stages, risk management, and life skills.
- All instructors must teach youth or assist in instruction of youth, a minimum of four hours in their respective discipline every year. Instructors must also complete and submit their annual instructor report to the state coordinator to remain a certified instructor in their respective discipline.