Over 100 people attended the 2006 Youth Leadership Conference at Camp Perry. Next year the conference will be hosted by USA Shooting and held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO.

In what has become annual pilgrimage, coaches and youth leaders from across the country again made their way to the National Youth Shooting Sports Leadership Conference. The conference takes place every fall, alternating between the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO and CMP headquarters in Port Clinton, OH. This year it was CMP’s turn to host the conference and over a hundred people descended on Camp Perry for the event which took place 22-24 September.

Prior to the beginning of the conference, several coach courses were offered by CMP, USAS and NRA. These courses were two and three-day programs that provided certification at the completion of the training. This year training courses were offered for Advanced Rifle Coaches, Basic Pistol Coaches, Basic Rifle Coaches and Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Master Instructors. These classes provided a great set-up for the conference where experts in the various rifle and pistol programs packed the weekend with a wealth of information.

Putting their knowledge to a test, participants of the 2006 Youth Leadership Conference shot a reduced Rimfire Sporter Match on the opening day.

CMP Vice Chair Judy Legerski and DCM Gary Anderson opened the event by welcoming those in attendance and introducing the first speaker, Dr. Dan Durben, who would make the first of four presentations that he prepared for the conference. Durben is a professor at Black Hills State University and the CMP Summer Camp Director. He is also a 1988 Olympian, served as the coach of the US National Rifle Team from 1996 through the 2000 Olympics, and coached the 2004 Paralympic Team. His first presentation was a recap of the 2006 CMP Three-Position Junior Air Rifle Camps, which set-up his following discussions.

The Junior Rifle Camp presentation was followed by a presentation on the USAA Trailblazer Program, then a group session on increasing youth exposure to shooting events. In the afternoon Dennis DeMille, National Highpower Rifle Champion and General Manager of Creedmoor Sports, captured everyone’s attention as he discussed how to both shoot and teach the sitting position. This was of special interest to many because after DeMille’s presentation the group was given a hands-on introduction to Rimfire Sporter Competition through a fun match fired on Camp Perry’s Petrarca Range. Attendees shot a shortened 30-shot Rimfire Sporter course and medals were awarded afterward.

DCM Gary Anderson took a moment to recognize a special guest at the conference when he presented Janet Raab the International Distinguished Badge she earned this summer while competing for the United States in the ISSF World Championships in Croatia.

Saturday was packed with presentations, with seven different speakers and a panel discussion at the end of the day. Topics ranged from organizing a junior club and working with beginners, to fund raising and physical training. The highlight of the day was certainly the panel discussion. DeMille, Durben, Anderson, Bob Foth, USAS, and Marcus Raab, NRA, provided their insights and expertise on match pressure and how to manage it. The group fielded many questions from the audience and drew examples from their own personal match and coaching experiences.

The following day the conference closed with Durben’s presentation on Developing the Expert Shooter and a panel discussion with the experts from the day before. Again this topic and the opportunity to engage the experts proved to be a big hit as numerous questions were posed by the audience.

The conclusion of the conference signified the beginning of the CMP State Junior Directors Training Workshop which took place right after lunch on Sunday. This was the opportunity for the CMP staff to inform its State Junior Directors of the progress and availability of programs that they can use to promote junior shooting in their state. CMP Chief Operating Officer Orest Michaels led the way with a breakdown of CMP’s sales program and financial outlook. He was followed by various CMP staff members who provided information and fielded questions about junior-related programs that they administer.

When the State Junior Directors wrapped-up at the end of the day, the 2006 National Youth Shooting Sports Conference was officially closed. CMP Director Gary Anderson said, “I want to thank all of the speakers and attendees who made this conference a huge success through their sharing of lots of exciting new information. Now we can all return home motivated to do even more to grow junior shooting.” The 2007 Coaches Conference will be held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. For photos of this years event go to http://www.odcmp.com/Photos/06/YLC/index.htm.