Coaching Resources

This page offers links to many different resources that were selected because they may be informative or helpful to shooting sports coaches, instructors and participants.  To use this resource list, select a resource category and then review the link titles and descriptions under that category heading.  Most link titles will open PDF files that you can either read or download.  If you have recommendations for additional resources that would be of interest to coaches, instructors or competitors, please forward those recommendations to celder@odcmp.com. 

General Coaching and Instructional Information

•  On the Mark. The CMP magazine for coaches and junior shooters; each issue includes 16 pages of new junior shooting program information as well as news about junior events, instructional tips and coaching information. Bonus inserts and brochures are regularly included which detail programs for junior competition and training programs or provide equipment and training material purchase opportunities.
   

•  CMP Training Materials and Publications.  CMP offers several training materials and publications that are available.  Some materials are sales items; some are free of charge.
   

• Coaching Contact Links. Links to resource persons and other organizations that support coach and instructor training, including the USOC, USA Shooting and the NRA.
   

• How to Structure an Effective Shooting Session.  Written by Dan Durben.  The keys to an effective shooting session are proper preparation and analysis. Building these good habits early in their development will help shooters accelerate improvement in their performance.
   

• A Primer on Scoring Gauges.  Written by Gary Anderson, DCM. A description of the scoring gauges used for scoring air gun, smallbore, pistol and highpower rifle targets with instructions on which scoring gauge must be used for each type of competition shooting.
   

• Spectator Technology - Goal: Promote our sport through commonly used sports broadcasting techniques without putting an extra burden on our coaches by Ray and Tina Odle, Illinois CMP State Junior Director.





• BB Gun Poster Series. A series of eight special training posters that can be downloaded and printed in 8 1/2 x 11 (for student handouts) or in 11 x 17 formats (for posting in a classroom or range). These posters can be used to instruct beginning BB gun shooters. Poster titles are Safe BB Gun Shooting, Firing the Shot, the Supported Position, Standing Position, Proper Sling Use, the Prone Position, the Kneeling Position and the Sitting Position.
   

• JMIC Master Instructor Files.  This web page is intended for JMIC Master Instructors.  A password is required to enter and download files.  Please contact Brad Donoho at bdonoho@odcmp.com for additional instructions.

Safety/Safety Instruction

• A Junior Shooter's Guide to Air Rifle Safety.  A 20-page booklet; written for junior air rifle shooters, but it provides safety rules, procedures and guidelines that can be used by youth or adult shooters in any range firing situation.

• CMP Rifle Safety Guide - A 32-page booklet; written for owners of CMP rifles. This guide includes safe gun handling rules and safety guidelines, explains how the rifle operates, range safety rules, how to deal with special problems, tips for accurate shooting, proper care of your rifle and CMP Programs for new rifle owners.

Service Rifle and As-Issued Military Rifle Competition Shooting

• Shooting Tips from the USAMU Service Rifle Team.  This page offers links to a lengthy series of articles written by members of the U. S. Army Service Rifle Team about the positions, techniques and training of service rifle shooters.

• Target Pulling and Scoring Instructions for As-Issued Military Rifle Matches. A reprintable card to be used to teach or guide new Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Match shooters on how to correctly record scorecards and pull and mark targets. Includes proper procedures for scoring targets with insufficient or excessive hits.

• Firing Military Bolt Action Rifles in the CMP Games Matches By Stephen Merritt. Merritt, a Distinguished Rifleman, CMP Master Instructor and military small arms expert, discusses the M1903 Springfield, M1917 Enfield and several foreign military bolt action rifles to provide detailed instructions on how to zero these rifles and prepare them for use in As-Issued Military Rifles Matches.

• Carbine Shooting with Accuracy, Including How To Deal With Some Specific Problems - Submitted by an Anonymous Author. With an M1 Carbine Match now part of the National Matches and the CMP now selling a large quantity of government surplus Carbines, finding ways to obtain improved accuracy from Carbines has become a popular quest among Carbine owners. This article is comprehensive and detailed; it presents lots of tested tips on how to get better target results from Carbines. Carbine owners who intend to use their Carbines in Carbine Matches are cautioned that Carbines that are to be used in CMP-sanctioned competitions must be kept in "as-issued" condition with standard parts having standard dimensions.
   

• M1 Garand Nomenclature, Accessories & Maintenance. Detailed information about M1 Garand nomenclature, disassembly and reassembly for As-Issued Military Rifle Clinic instructors and students.

Smallbore and Position Air Rifle Shooting

• Daisy M853 Repair. A Power Point presentation prepared by Daisy Manufacturing that provides detailed, complete instructions for the take-down, maintenance, repair and reassembly of Daisy M853/853C/753/853CM pneumatic air rifles. Includes 116 slides with excellent photos to illustrate all steps in the disassembly and assembly of these air rifles.

• Teaching Rifle Positions to New Shooters. A 10-page guide with step-by-step instructional methods for teaching the prone, standing and kneeling positions to new shooters. Contains dozens of photos and illustrations.

• Training Target Height Tables.  A series of tables that to be used in setting up dry fire or limited range training so that the training targets are placed at the same relative height as full-range competition targets. 

• Fill Procedures for Air Rifle CO₂ Cylinders (WMV, 42.8 MB).  A 17-minute video that describes and demonstrates detailed procedures and safety considerations for properly filling CO₂ cylinders that are used to power Daisy M887 and M888 air rifles that are used in three-position air rifle shooting.

• CO₂ Air Rifle Cylinder Filling Procedures.  Downloadable 8 ½ x 11 or 11x 17 posters listing correct procedures for refilling CO₂ cylinders for Daisy M887 and M888 air rifles.

• A Guide to Compressed Air Usage.  With so many shooting programs now using rifles and pistols powered by compressed air, it is important for coaches and instructors to know how to safely use the air cylinders and scuba tanks that are required for these air guns.  This is an excellent, well-illustrated article, written by master target gunsmith Scott Pilkington, that gives detailed information about compressed air equipment.  The article is posted on the Pilkington Competitions Equipment web site.

• Air Rifle Target Stand Plans.  Detailed drawings and instructions, with photos, for constructing air rifle target stands.  These stands are for use on gun ranges for three-position or standing air rifle shooting.
   

• Instructions for Making a Kneeling Roll. This is a homemade pattern of a kneeling roll by Nancy Jochum, Nebraska CMP State Junior Director.

• A Plea for Improved Scoring written by Gary Anderson, DCM.  An analysis of common errors in air rifle and smallbore scoring and how to correct them.

The History of Target Shooting

• 2008 Beijing Olympic Shooting Reports. CMP Director Gary Anderson served as the Chairman of the Jury of Appeal for Shooting during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. While he was in Beijing for the Olympics, he sent back daily reports with accompanying photos on the shooting events.
   

• A Short History of the Distinguished Shooter Program. Written by Hap Rocketto. A well-researched, detailed history of the program since its founding in 1884 until the present day.
   

• A Short History of the President’s Match and the President’s Hundred. Written by Hap Rocketto. 27 pages of history, documentation and data about one of America’s most prestigious series of shooting competitions.
   

• In Distinguished Company. Written by Dick Culver. A carefully-researched article about the origins of the Distinguished Badge program during its first 20 years.
   

• The Distinguished International Shooters Badge. Written by Gary Anderson, DCM. A history of the International Distinguished Badge from its inception in 1963 to the present day.

Power Point Presentations.  These will download onto your computer and then you can "File Save As" onto your computer.  Dial up takes about 15 minutes.

• How to run a Successful Camp or Clinic by Michele Makucevich, Rhode Island CMP State Junior Director.  This presentation is good to present to a club to show them how to run a successful Camp or Clinic. 
   

• Air Rifle as a Varsity Sport by Phillip Williams, Georgia CMP State Junior Director.  This presentation is good to present to High Schools that you are trying to get Air Rifle Shooting as a Varsity Sport.
   

• Principles of Marksmanship by Gary Anderson, DCM of the CMP.  This presentation is for a group of shooters.
   

• Mental Training, the Triangle of Success by Mark Taylor.  This presentation is for a group of shooters.