[roger8918]

I was just on the SCTP site and took notice of the latest Participation Graph they had listed. It seems that while the number of SCTP participants continues to rise, for the first time in the history of the SCTP the number of Head Coaches has gone down.

Any coaches out there care to share your thoughts as to the reasons?

 

[roger8918]

Sorry to hear that Mike and you’re correct, last year was the first year that younger shooters where not permitted to move up. I believe that that rule really hurt some of the small teams.

 

[John Thompson]

Gee, why would the SCTP not suffer when mostshoots were down. Travel costs, ammunition costs, not to mention all costs being up. Most of us only have so much money to spend. Something has to suffer.

 

[roger8918]

I agree John that makes sense, but why then would the kids be up?

 

[Ellen]

As a previous coach alot has to do with the money to travel,motels,food, the registration fee for a team (trap most expensive),and the fees to shoot. I can also tell you that the changes that the NSSF have made along the way have greatly hurt some states in regard to the "school team" promotion by Bill Christy. Now the NSSF has actually driven a further wedge between themselves and the ATA to the point that the ATA has renamed their youth program to attract many of the teams that have or will be leaving the SCTP program due to their new rule changes coming in 2009. Mr. Charles might be able to enlighten us better on what some of those changes may be. I have heard that the SCTP State Championships and National Championships in 2009 may not even be registered target events. Most coaches also didn't like having to be "certified" at an expensive course that really didn't help them with their coaching techniques either.
Just my 2 cents worth.