Expanded AIM Program at WSC

As I mentioned on another thread the AIM program has been expanded to four days. It appears the ATA is holding to the "fantastic direction" explanation so we are to believe the overwhelming number of shooters expected for this years AIM shoot could not be accomadated in just two days. Now I know some naysayers might think this may be a way to gain a larger financial take from a smaller than expected number of shooters but I believe the ATA is consistently placing the needs of the shooters above the needs or desires of the organization. Right? I am correct in my thinking right? Well I mean I hope I'm correct in my thinking. Well, I guess we'll see but it sure seems like an unbelievably large crowd is about to swoop in for the AIM event. Boy, I sure hope the WSC is open

 

In light of recent financial developments the AIM shoot may be expanded to 6 days with a small deposit due immediately. Discussions are currently under way.

 

It looks like the additional days were added so that the ATA/AIM can get into the Skeet and Sporting Clays business.

 

The AIM national has been 4 days since they moved to the weekend and Monday and Tuesday before the Preliminary events start. There have been doubles and handicap events prior to the 2 day singles on Monday/Tuesday. There were also some other shooting games for the kids.

 

There is a new membership offering for the youth.

http://www.aim4ata.com/pdfs/20YRSTOLIFE.pdf

At the SCTP Nationals the members competing are required to be ATA members. I wonder if at the AIM National Skeet tournament, do the competing members have to be NSSA members?

 

Jhunts,
I don't believe the kids in SCTP are required to join the ATA. They must be members if they want the registered targets. I could be wrong, but that was the way it was explained to me.

 

The AIM was moved to the Saturday through Tuesday before the Preliminary events several years ago. It pissed a lot of coaches and athletes off because up until a 14 year old won the $100,000 challenge and half the handicap events the prior year, the AIM national tournament was the Saturday and Sunday between Preliminary week and Grand week.
Too many old farts were pissed because the kids stayed for Grand week and won majority of the money.
The next year the kids were moved to the weekend and Monday and Tuesday before the Preliminary events started on Wednesday.
At the coach meeting that year, Mike Hampton was busier than a cat in the litter box trying to tell us it was better for the kids this way.
Reality was, moving the kids up a week earlier, kept most of them from being able to stay 2 weeks to shoot the Grand. Effectively keeping the old farts from having to compete with the kids .

 

I think it was best summed up by the well known Sparta ATA icon who said, "kids, we don't need no stinking kids." Remember those darned kids walk right out there and shoot 98, 99, 100's and stuff. They are to young to realize how hard this game really is and worst yet they haven't spent the required amount of money for a Prevost coach and five or six high dollar engraved shotguns. Those darned kids can ruin everything for those who have invested in their own personal good times. Another thing, those darned kids don't understand the ongoing politics and who the good and bad guys are. They just want to shoot and try their damnest to win. What fun is that without all the behind the scenes shenanigans that take place.

 

Taken from page 16 of the SCTP Handbook

SCTP STATE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS (AMERICAN DISCIPLINES)

NGB Target Registration
Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays targets at SCTP State Team Championships will be registered with the appropriate NGB. TARGETS CANNOT BE REGISTERED RETROACTIVELY.

• SKEET – ALL SQUADS SHOOT REGISTERED TARGETS.
• SPORTING CLAYS – ALL SQUADS SHOOT REGISTERED TARGETS.
• TRAP - ALL SQUADS SHOOT REGISTERED TARGETS.

 

I just looked at the SCTP handbook. It states nothing about the athletes joining the ATA. It just states that the targets will be registered with the NGB of the discipline. The athletes only have to join the ATA if they wish to receive target registration.

 

http://www.shootata.com/Portals/0/ATA_SCTP_Partnership_Press Release.pdf



From the SCTP Handbook:

 

Hunts,
Looks like you're correct . It didn't really matter to me because our kids shoot both SCTP and AIM.

 

Those Kids are shooting the same easy old fart targets and are cleaning their clocks. Good for the kids with those quick reflexes and terrific shooting ability, even if they were the harder angles they would still be cleaning their Clocks, keep it up kids we need you.

Gary Bryant............................Dr.longshot

 

Roger: I personally think the ATA added the AIM to try and show numbers of shooters at the facility.

GB......................DLS