INSTRUCTOR GUIDE
1. NOTES TO INSTRUCTOR
A. KEEP IT SIMPLE
B. BE PATIENT
C. SAFETY FIRST – rules apply to everyone including yourself
D. Be slow and deliberate with your information
E. Remember your teaching beginners
F. Work on one point at a time. You are about to give them a lot of details. Be patient and focused.
G. Keep the class fun but safe
H. Repeat yourself or reword the information if needed.
I. Ask the students questions – the only way to know if they are following along or not
J. Be positive – “give more lead” instead of “you are missing behind”
K. Be sure to encourage – even if you have to search something to praise yet remain balanced
L. Adjust your teaching to each student. Not all people learn the same
2. PRE-SHOOTING
A. Terms
1. Pull
2. Single
3. Report Pair
4. Following Pair
5. True Pair
6. Show Pair
7. Dead vs. Lost
8. No bird (broke target and flight path)
9. Chokes (Patterning board may be used later to show difference in sizes)
10. Shot sizes
B. Safety
1. Gun Safety
a. Fundamental gun terminology (barrel, action, safety, stock, choke)
b. Keep your action open
c. Properly carrying guns (muzzle down) and placing in racks safely
d. Only TWO shells
e. Gun malfunctions
1. Remain safe & review the situation
a. Safety still on
b. Weak shell
c. Dented primer
f. Main safety rules
1. Treat your gun as loaded
2. Point in safe directions (downward or downrange)
3. Only TWO shells
4. Load only on a shooting stand and when ready to shoot
5. Keep your finger off the trigger unless ready to shoot
g. Reinforce ALL clubs rules
2. Personal Safety
a. Eye & ear protection is MANDATORY
b. Stay in designated areas (when going to fields show each area)
c. Do NOT attempt to repair a machine
C. Eyes
1. Test eye dominance
2. Explain two eyes and why (make sure they don’t look at the bead)
3. Illustrate lead by looking at one object and pointing at another
D. Properly holding the firearm
1. Gun Mount
a. Shoulder position (get in “pocket”)
b. Eye alignment
c. Bring the gun up not head down
d. Keep head on stock
2. Focus Point
3. Hold Point
4. Break Point
E. Stance & Mount
1. Make sure the gun is in the proper place on shoulder
2. Make sure their head is placed properly
3. Left foot ahead of right (right handed only – swap for left.)
4. Make sure they lean forward
5. Body should face the break point
F. Etiquette
1. Safety First
a. You must abide by all safety rules
b. If someone is not abiding by the rules, tell them politely or tell a coach or range personnel.
2. Behavior
a. Do not distract shooters
b. This is gentlemen’s/gentlewoman’s game, treat it like one
c. Personnel are to be respected and obeyed not ordered. They are here to make shooting possible, not to be your butler
d. No verbal or physical abuse of ANYONE will be tolerated at all.
1. Swearing, throwing of shells… will result in immediate dismissal.
3. Pay Attention
a. No Horseplay
b. Pay attention to what is happening
4. Treat it as your own
a. Do not abuse the equipment
b. Do not throw trash on the ground
c. Basically if it is a rule at your house it is here too.
3. SHOOTING
A. Move to fields (watch how firearms are carried)
B. Double check eye and ear protection
C. Each student loads and unloads the firearm
1. Make sure fingers remain off the trigger as the action is closing
2. Watch for “fidgety” fingers
D. Reiterate safety rules
E. Have each student shoot ONE shell downrange to feel recoil – one shell in the firearm at a time
1. Watch for flinching
2. Watch for closing of eyes and shooting. – have to see what you shoot to hit and be safe
3. Be careful about dropping firearms
4. Make sure action stays open afterward
5. Most fears
a. Recoil / Pain
b. Intimidated by shooting
c. Over worried about missing a target
d. Shooting in front of others
F. Practice shooting stationary object such as an empty box
G. Start shooting targets mounted (un-mounted will be homework)
1. Make sure you are in position to grab firearm and/or person at any time
2. Instructor carries all ammunition, for the first few lessons
a. Different gauge shells MUST remain in different bags.
3. Students start with one shell in the firearm
4. Start with the gun mounted (mounted will remove one more variable.)
5. Varies depending on their skill level and team
6. Remember most students have never shot more than a box of shells – consider how tired they are becoming.
7. There are typically only a few main reasons students miss – but there are exceptions
1. Focusing on the gun not the bird
2. Bad gun mount
3. Lifting their head off the stock
4. Not following through
5. Improper lead
6. Jerking the trigger
8. Begin students on easier targets. Change as students progress.
a. Incomers are the best start with. They become larger and slower as they approach
b. Going straight away is the next target to shoot since no lead.
c. Next would move slight to the side of the going away shot as to increase lead.
d. Continue moving to increase lead until the target becomes a crosser requiring most lead
e. Next would be transitional targets (targets that have a curl to their flight)
f. Report pairs
g. True pairs
9. Write down both positives and areas to work on for students
4. HOMEWORK
A. Practice in front of mirror mounting the gun properly
1. Three times for five minutes a week
B. Go over positives and areas for improvement
5. SECONDARY SHOOTING
A. Reiterate safety rules
B. Keeping score
C. Introduce shooting unmounted as students progress.
D. More sight pictures
E. Don’t forget the basics
F. Shooting techniques
1. Sustained
2. Swing through
3. Pull away