General Information

Safety First!

Safety is the number one concern of all coaches and should be and expected to be the number one concern of the shooters. We expect every shooter to follow general gun safety rules at all times during practice and at meets. Listed below are some safety guidelines specific to trap shooting that will be enforced by the Beatrice Trap Team coaches.

• When carrying your shotgun to and from the trap house where your squad will be shooting, the gun must be unloaded, the action must be open or the gun broken open, and the muzzle must be pointed towards the ground or straight up in the air. Never point muzzle of the gun straight forward towards someone even when unloaded.
• When on the shooting range, load only one shell in your shotgun at a time and keep the action open until it is your turn to shoot.
• Anytime an individual is approaching or leaving the trap house or a red flag or orange cone is visible, all shooters shotguns must be unloaded with the muzzle pointed towards the ground or straight up in the air.
• When on the shooting range during the round, shotgun muzzles must be pointed towards the ground or straight out towards the trap house. Do not move around and accidentally point the shotgun muzzle towards another shooter.
• Do not rest your shotgun muzzle on your foot or any other part of your body.
• All shooters must wear eye and ear protection while shooting.
• When changing from post-5 to post-1 on the shooting range, the shooter shall walk behind the other shooters, never in front of the other shooters.
• If the shooter encounters a light load or "blooper", always make sure the wad has cleared the shotgun barrel. If the wad did not clear the shotgun barrel after the shot, make sure wad is removed from barrel before firing off another shot.
• For trapshooting etiquette, read "Rules of Trapshooting Etiquette" by the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP).

General Requirements

• All shooters will be required to have passed a hunter safety course through or approved by the state of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. We must supply your Hunter Safety Certification Number to the ECTC before shooters will be eligible to participate in meets. We will offer a course to those who need it.
• Eye and ear protection are required, no exceptions! These items can be purchased at the gun club or at local discount stores. Please discuss with coaches before buying glasses with colored lens. If in doubt, clear lens are your best option.
• Shooters need to supply their own accessories that will allow them to carry their shells to the shooting line. A couple of good ideas for these accessories would be a combination shell carrier and empties pouch or a shooting vest. All shooters will be required to catch their empty shells and deposit them in the trash if they do not wish to keep them.
• A shotgun in good safe working condition. We do recommend 12 ga. shotguns but have had shooters using 20 ga. shotguns or smaller. If that is what the shooter is comfortable with, we will work around it.
• Ammunition for the shotgun you are using. Shot size to be 7-1/2 or 8. We strongly recommend light loads for junior shooters (2-3/4 dram equiv.). For senior shooters we recommend light loads (2-3/4 dram equiv.) for 16 yard targets and 3 dram equiv. loads for handicap yardage beyond the 20 yard line.
• Clothes that are appropriate for the climate. Do not show up underdressed and expect to perform well. Light gloves (No thick gloves) and layers of light clothes work best. You can always remove layers if temperature raises.
• The use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco is prohibited.
• Shooters are expected to keep school grades up just like with any other high school sport. We will ask for permission to retrieve your grades from the high school which you are attending.
• Pre-season registration fee is $35.00 (Includes 1 year membership to the Beatrice Gun Club).
• The fees for practice targets are covered by selling raffle tickets and fund raisers. All shooters are expected to participate.

Practice Requirements

Note: The practice schedule can be found on the "Events" page of this website. Please follow the schedule unless notified otherwise.

• Practice will take place regardless of the weather conditions. If driving conditions are unsafe, practice will be called off.
• We expect all shooters to attend all scheduled practices. If a conflict arises that prevents you from attending practice, please contact one of the coaches in advance.
• Shooters are expected to arrive on time. When you arrive at practice, please sign in at the counter so we can get you squaded. Squading is done on a first come first serve basis. If you wait to sign in, there is a good chance you will be on one of the last squads to shoot.
• There will be a short meeting to discuss upcoming events before the shooting begins.
• Expect to be asked from time to time to help out around the gun club. The Beatrice Gun Club is generous in letting us use their facility and this is one way we can thank them for their support.
• We encourage shooters to bring school home work out to the gun club. Home work can be worked on in the club house while shooters are waiting to shoot.
• We expect shooters to act in an acceptable manner at all times.

Meet Requirements

Note: The meet schedule can be found on the "Events" page of this website.

• Meets will take place regardless of the weather conditions. If driving conditions are unsafe, the meet will be called off.
• Shooters and/or their parents are responsible for their own transportation to and from all scheduled meets. If a parent cannot get the shooter to a meet, we recommend that you find someone else whom you trust to get them there and be responsible for them at the meets.
• At the practice prior to the scheduled meet, we will let the shooters know where the meet will be held and at what time they are expected to be there.
• Upon arrival, shooters must check-in with the coaching staff. At that time, we try and let the shooters know what squad they are shooting on and the approximate time they will be shooting.
• Shooters are responsible for ensuring they are at the proper trap at the proper time.
• Some meets require us to supply our own pullers and scorers. Parents are needed and encouraged to help out with these duties as they are required.
• Coaches are very busy during the shoot and we do our best in monitoring all shooters. However, we cannot guarantee that we can watch them 100 percent of the time. We expect shooters to act in an acceptable manner at all times and we would appreciate the help of all parents attending the meets.
• Shooters must notify one of the coaches prior to leaving the meet.
• Each ECTC shoot will have two (2) divisions:
  Junior Division (grades 6-8) - One (1) event which consists of 50-16 yard targets.
  Senior Division (grades 9-12) - Two (2) events; 50-16 yard targets and 50-handicap targets.
• Teams for each meet are determined from the average scores taken from practice and the conference shoots. Practice attendance and attitude will also be taken into consideration.
• There will be six (6) Eastern Cornhusker Trapshooting Conference (ECTC) South Division Meets, one (1) All-Conference Meet and one (1) State Championship Meet during the season.
• We encourage all shooters to participate in all six (6) ECTC Meets. Shooters must participate in five (5) of the six (6) ECTC Meets to be eligible to participate in the All-Conference Meet and be eligible for the All-Conference academic awards.

Miscellaneous Comments

Over the years, the Beatrice Gun Club has been an important factor in making the Beatrice Trap Team successful. They supply us with a place to practice and charge us minimal costs for the use of their facility, electricity, and targets. Please thank them and let them know how much you appreciate it when you get the chance.

We need your help! The trap team needs parent volunteers to help out at practices and at the meets that are held at the Beatrice Gun Club. Please contact one of the coaches if you are interested in helping out at any time. If we cannot supply volunteer help, we will have to pay help and that leads to higher costs for the shooters. We will be more then happy to teach you what you need to know. However, our first meet is not the best place to learn. Let us know if you are interested and we will work you in during practice so you will be ready for the meets.