ATA’s problem isn’t not enough shooters!

Hey Brad there are plenty of shooters. The shooters are not interested in the ATA product. And the delegates are clueless.

This weekend there are 2,000 high school shooters in New York at one venue. There will be nearly twice that in Michigan. The biggest event of the year will be the SCTP Championship at the Cardinal Center. It will have close to 4,000 shooters. The Wisconsin High School Championship is another huge youth shoot.

If not for the youth shooters the vendors might not attend the ATA Nebraska State Shoot.

There isn’t any money to continue after High School. You can’t spend ATA points.

Guns are flying off the shelves but ATA continues to fail. Ohio clubs are having more success with non ATA Calcuttas.

ATA members…ask your Delegate what his plan is. Get back with me.

 

Small Wisconsin clubs can't wait for the ATA bonded youth to get done with their ATA commitments for non- ATA leagues -has been a gold mine for us.

 

Mr Man, Every month gun sales are at a record, handguns, AR's make up the bulk. These are shooters, kids shoot trap in FFA, scouts, sctp, high school and practice but few of them shoot ATA. The USA has plenty of shooters, the lack is in the ATA. The ATA management is clueless in how to get these gun loving youngsters interested in an old failed association.

 

We offer free shooting in our leagues for the youngsters and few show up anymore. A local club runs a free kids day each year and traditionally around 20-25 show up. This year only 5. If anyone needs a trap gun for a kid someone usually has something collecting dust in a closet somewhere. That said, we put a bunch of handguns, AR's and silencers out for display at this years AIM shoot and guess what table got the most attention?

 

Between 6 venues there are 20,000 youth shooters. Note the venues do not share many shooters.

So then if there are close to 20,000 youth shooters in just 6 known venues, then tell us why the ATA can’t get more than 2,000 in the grand american handicap.

 

Fact: There are more youth shooters participating in trapshooting than adult ATA members registering targets.

And they don’t got to Sparta. Why?

 

My #1 son was on 4 or 5 ATA All-American teams in the 90's. I know of only one still shooting-Dave Shaeffer. When mommy and daddy stop paying the freight they're gone but it sure is nice to look at.

 

If the handicap system worked and the dad thought his son’s 96 from the 20 or a 50 straight paid several thousand he would drag his kid to the grand. We all know the handicap system isn’t working at the ATA.

There are lots of youth that can break good scores from short yardage. But you have to be perfect now. I can remember when a 50 paid for a new Perazzi. A 47 and a 50 together could be a years tuition.

The parents can do the math. They aren’t taking them to the grand.

btw dawg…..the op’s post wasn’t about after graduation.

If Stats numbers are right there are more kids shooting than adults.

 

The ATA doesn’t need to keep them after graduation. You might think they could get one of 20 for the flagship shoot.

The other orgs are doing half the work.

 

PA Resident high handicap championship score was a 97/100 from the fence by a great junior shooter. All the rest were also rans. I'll betcha that score wouldn't make a sizeable down payment on a used Yugo. If people don't play the scores won't pay and they haven't played for decades.

 

sad....we live in the age of temporary flash in the pan shooters buying cheap guns.
and the market loves it.

 

Until the other organization figure out they can do it better and cheaper. that day is coming.

 

Maybe the ATA should create a new category open to all young shooters that only plan to shoot until the free ride dies!..lol

 

I shot my first ATA targets 50 years ago when I was 19. No body paid for my shooting, not the ATA not my dad and mom. I did it. I worked a factory job and spent all my extra cash learning how to break trap targets because I wanted to make a living from being a trap shooter. I remember the first time I won some money on a Sunday. It was more than I made in a week of factory work.

Within 2 years of that first trap season I was winning more and made more money than working so i quit and went on the road. I started shooting the big shoots out west, down south, back east and around home. In 1982 I used my name and experience to go to work for Beretta, again on my own without someone handing it to me.

I know what it took me to get what I got and I will tell you that opportunity isn't there today. The ass holes that run the ATA hated me because I wasn't rich. I didn't kiss their asses and most importantly I beat them fair and square on the trap field. I wasn't alone in this by no means. Dan, Ray, Britt, Leo, Gene and many before them did the same. The ATA is ran by no talent wannabes that resent people that they or their kids can't beat. The ATA will never be GREAT AGAIN but I thank god that I got to enjoy it when it was.

I should also say that the ATA is run by thiefs. They can't have competent people on the EC because they would not be able to steal so easily. If you ATA types want to sue me for defamation have at it. Remember I know where a lot of the bodies are and who put them there.