Discipline Expansion Memo

MEMO

 

FROM: National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee 

DATE:  December 2018

SUBJECT: Position on adding/expanding disciplines at 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship


For the past several years, it has been asked or suggested that National Committee add or expand disciplines at the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship. 

At this time, the National Committee will not be adding or expanding disciplines at the National Championship and would like to share the rationale behind that decision. 

  1. There is a limited capacity to range space, time constraints for events and awards, funding for additional events, and volunteers at the National Championships. 
  2. By adding a class or expanding a discipline, there is a concern that this will open the door to other disciplines wanting to add specific classes. Examples could include barebow for compound or re-curve archery, open sites only class in any of the firearm disciplines, 16-guage and under class in shotgun, muzzle loading pistol, etc. This would add a significant amount of time and cost to the event. 
  3. Every State Coordinator, Coach, and Competitor should be aware of the rules and what equipment is allowed at the National Championship. The type of equipment a competitor decides to use at the Championships is a personal choice if it falls within the rules. 
  4. 4-H is a positive youth development program that strives to teach individuals the desire to be the best they can be with the equipment they have or CHOOSE to use. In speaking with youth that attend and have been to the championships in the past, they don’t talk about how they shot, or the equipment they used, but about the experience they had and the friends they met. 

The Committee understands that some people believe it is unfair that competitors don’t all have the same equipment, and therefore, can’t “compete”. We believe that the definition of competition is an individual choice and the equipment does not make the champion. The dedication, desire, hard work, attitude, and how the competitor represents their sport, club, state and 4-H defines the Champion.