NRA Journal - Spring 2011 - National Rifle Association

Notes from theDirector of TrainingbyPhyllisFarnanSport England Development and the ShootingWhole Sport PlanAs reported in the Winter Journal, the NRA is planningto offer subsidised RCO courses and Club Instructorcourses in the North-East during 2011. The RCOCourse at Ponteland Range will be held on 14 and15 May. Affiliated clubs in the North-East will becontacted with details about applying for places onthis subsidised course very shortly. There are similarplans for a subsidised Regional Club Instructor(General Skills) course in the North-East later in theyear. Details will be circulated to affiliated clubs assoon as possible.The project will be extended to cover other areas ofthe country in due course, so a rolling programme ofsubsidised training opportunities will be available formany clubs over the next two years.Under the Whole Sport Plan, funding is also availablefor training development; the Training Departmentplans to offer training and advice for target rifleshooters and club instructors using the SCATT trainersystem. More details will follow in the SummerJournal.Annual Club AuditDuring the next few months the NRA will beconducting an annual audit of affiliated clubs that usemilitary ranges, to comply with the 2008 NRA/MoDagreement. Clubs selected for audit in 2011 will becontacted individually to make the arrangements fora document check to take place.Probationary TrainingThe new modular Probationary training course isnow being offered at Bisley. Probationers completean initial introductory module on safety and a generalintroduction to target shooting, followed by one ormore discipline specific skills modules. They mustalso shoot under supervision with the NRA ShootingClub for a period before they can become full membersof the NRA. Probationary training is scheduled atweekends, but individual mid-week lessons are alsoavailable on request.Copies of the new Probationary Training Manual willbe available from the Training Department from theend of February. Instructor packs which include lessonplans and copies of the PowerPoint presentations toaccompany the new modular courses will also beavailable to club trainers. Please contact the TrainingDepartment to order your copies.New Modular Skills CoursesThe modular skills courses at Bisley are also open toNRA members who want to take up a new shootingdiscipline. The courses offered include: target rifle,gallery rifle, F class/scoped rifle and service (ironsight) rifle. These courses, which run in conjunctionwith the modular probationary training programme,include basic instruction up to the standard for ashooter’s Certificate of Competence. If you areinterested in learning about a new shooting disciplinecontact the Director of Training for further details.TR Skills Enhancement CourseThese courses are open to full members of the NRA,its affiliated clubs and to cadets and are designed toimprove knowledge and shooting skills in fullboretarget rifle shooting. Courses are offered twice a yearat Bisley and can also be run regionally by qualifiedNRA coaches.Wind Coaching CourseThis course provides instruction, guidance andpractical experience in reading the wind. It is designedfor target rifle shooters seeking to improve theirperformance, particularly for competition shooting.Expressions of interest should be sent to the Directorof Training.Club Instructor CourseThe Club Instructor course is open to members ofthe NRA, its affiliated clubs and to adults from thecadet forces. This course is designed for those whowish to assist with the training of novice shootersat their club/unit and with the assessment of clubmembers for Certificates of Competence. There aretwo categories of Club Instructor course:1 The Target Rifle Club Instructor course forfullbore target rifle specialists.2 The General Skills Instructor course for shootersof other disciplines eg gallery rifle, telescopicsighted rifle and iron sighted rifle (excludingtarget rifle).Club Instructor candidates must be experienced,competent club shooters and must have arecommendation from their club Chairman orSecretary. Applicants for the TR Club Instructor courseshould have completed a TR Skills EnhancementCourse.15