Newport Rifle Club Junior Team Information Packet for Perspective Members for the 2002-2003 Season BRIEF HISTORY The Newport Rifle Club has a long and distinguished history.. As the oldest continually active club in the country, established 1876, Newport shooters have excelled both nationally and internationally. Continuing in that proud tradition, the Newport Rifle Club Junior Team has long dominated state competitions, and for the past four years, has been nationally ranked with several juniors competing in the National Junior Olympics, the National Championships and US Team Selection Matches. Some of our members are national record holders and many aspire to shoot in the NCAA's, and, ultimately, to make the National Team. Head Coach A member of the National Rifle Association's National Coach Development Staff since its inception in 1994, Michele Makucevich is currently the Civilian Marksmanship Program's Rhode Island State Junior Director. She is a national record holder in both smallbore and long range rifle and a past Collegiate National Champion in air rifle. She has been competing and coaching since 1985 and has represented the United States in international competition as a member of the US Randle Team. In 1998 she was recognized by the National Shooting Sports Foundation as the USA Shooting National Coach of the Year. Assistant Coach Joseph Chrostowski began his involvement in 1997 when his daughters began to compete. He is a NRA Certified Rifle Coach and has attended an advanced rifle course at the Olympic Training Center. The father of two highly successful rifle shooters, he has, several times, been a volunteer at the National Junior Olympics. Assistant Coach Dan Nagelhout's extensive coaching experience is not limited to the rifle range, as he has been involved in community sports for the past two decades. A sporting rifle shooter, Dan is an NRA Certified Coach and has been part of the Newport Rifle Club coaching cadre since 1997. Team Armorer With 35 years experience, Dan Makucevich is a multiple national record holder and frequent member of the International Dewar Team. He has represented our country as a member of the 1993 Roberts Team and has won numerous state and regional titles. A Distinguished Prone Shooter, Dan is also a member of the NRA's National Coach Development Staff. He assists the team most often by repairing our equipment, but is also a tremendous resource for the mechanics of the shooting sports. COACHING PHILOSOPHY Because of their unique nature, the shooting sports can impart a number of life-long lessons. They teach perseverance, patience, self-discipline, problem solving, optimism, concentration, confidence, responsibility, and personal accountability. While it is always the intent of the program to enter strong, competitive teams, the overriding goal is to develop the person as well as the athlete. COACHING STYLE Because on the line coaching is prohibited in all registered matches, each shooter must be capable of making independent decisions. With this in mind, even beginning shooters will be encouraged to analyze his/her own performance. Typically, beginning shooters will have an instructor close at hand while learning the basic positions. He/she will be asked to give feedback to help determine changes which can be made to stabilize the position and otherwise facilitate a better hold. In addition, coaches will emphasize that beginners WRITE DOWN settings and adjustments in their shooting diary. More advanced shooters will be expected to follow the prescribed practice schedule. Should they require help in a specific area, it is their responsibility to bring this to the attention of the coaching staff. Though each shooter's position and technique is observed and noted EVERY practice, he/she may not receive direct feedback during that particular training session. RISKS Shooting is one of the safest of all competitive sports. Being a non-contact sport we are fortunate in that our athletes do not suffer from trauma-related injuries. But, because we are using a firearm, we must be ever mindful of safety issues. There is NEVER any horseplay on the range or in the presence of equipment. Eye and hearing protection is mandatory at all times on the range. Each shooter is required to have a medical release on file. This will be utilized in the event that a parent or guardian cannot by reached and medical assistance is needed. We will take this form with us when we travel to away competitions. ATHLETE AND PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES Shooters will be expected to: * be ever vigilant regarding safe range practices * show respect to coaching staff, club members and visitors * care for all club equipment * assist in setting up and cleaning up before/after practice sessions * honor commitments (particularly as pertains to attending scheduled practices and matches) * assist with at least one range clean-up per calendar year * participate in fund raising activities * maintain and bring shooter's diary to EACH practice and match Parents should * be supportive of coaching staff * insist on their child's honoring commitments to the team * ensure the prompt arrival and departure of their child for team practices and competitions * volunteer as a driver, range officer, statistician, etc. for at least two events per calendar year *Parents are financially liable for the care of club equipment on loan to their child. Any damage done through willful destruction or negligence (including loss of items) will be charged to the parent. PRACTICE SCHEDULE Practices will be held every Tuesday from 5-9 p.m., divided equally between two relays. Relay one will arrive at 4:45 and will have until 6:45 p.m. Relay two will arrive at 6:45 and will shoot until 8:50 p.m. The range should be cleaned up and all shooters picked up by 9:15. Any shooter who has not arrived by his/her scheduled time runs the risk of being 'bumped' by another shooter. In the event that open points are available on relay two, any relay one shooter may opt to stay and continue firing. Sign-ups for relays will be posted each practice session for the subsequent session. If you are unable to attend practice, you are urged to call a friend and have them sign up for you. Practices will begin the first Tuesday in October and run through the last Tuesday of June. A typical practice will have shooters arrive 15 minutes early and begin setting up their gear. Those arriving for first relay will be charged with setting up the range, those arriving for relay two will be responsible for cleaning up the range. Check the bulletin board to see what the course of fire will be for the evening. We will try to have an opportunity to shoot 60-80 well-considered shots, though on drill nights that number may vary. COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES * Ocean State Junior Rifle League (open to ALL junior team members) * Rhode Island Smallbore Rifle League (invitation to select junior members) * NRA Junior Sectionals (open to ALL junior team members) * NRA Open Sectionals (open to ALL junior team members) * Rhode Island State Junior Olympics (open to ALL junior team members) * Regionals (open to ALL junior team members) * State Championships (open to ALL junior team members) Procedure for Match Registration Sign-ups are handled by writing your name in the match sign-up book. It is important that once you are registered to attend a match, you honor your commitment. We try to field multiple teams in these events and cancellations will impact the entire team. Should you be unable to attend, you MUST NOTIFY MICHELE DIRECTLY. TRAVEL TEAMS * Walsh Invitational (Xavier University) * Buckeye Invitational (Ohio State University) * US Coast Guard Academy Tournament * National 3-P Air Rifle Junior Olympic Team Championships * National Championships and US Team Selection Match * Camp Perry National Championships * NRA National 3-P Air Rifle Championships * National Guard National Championships * American Legion National Championships * Palmyra Junior Invitational Team Selection Selection for participation on traveling teams will be based on a variety of criteria including, but not limited to; scores, attitude, participation in practice sessions, and the ability to integrate as a member of the team. Though we are often fortunate in receiving some funding, it by no means covers all the costs. Participants are responsible for their own expenses (these costs vary by destination, air fares, match fees, hotel, etc.) COST/EQUIPMENT Junior Team membership is $125.00 for the October-June season. This fee includes use of facilities, equipment, targets, ammunition, membership in the Rhode Island State Rifle and Revolver Association, and participation in the Ocean State Junior Rifle League. We do have some very good club equipment that is certain to take a junior from a beginner to an intermediate level. As the athlete progresses, however, he/she will want to begin investing in his/her own. All members of the Newport Rifle Club are also responsible for becoming members of the National Rifle Association (insurance issues). Cost for Junior membership is $15. per year. It is the competitor's responsibility to pay individual match fees and his/her share of team entries for non-junior league competitions. [Junior Sectionals and JORC's are $11.00 and include a souvenir brassard.] RANGE CLEAN-UPS All members of the junior team will be required to assist at a minimum of one range clean-up per season. Clean-ups are generally held once a month, begin promptly at 8 a.m. and end at or before noon.