National Sporting Clays Association


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Founded in March of 1989 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the National Sporting Clays Association is a non-profit organization owned and operated by its members. With more than 17,000 members, NSCA is America's official premier sporting clays association. Membership is represented by an Executive Council which employs an Executive Director to manage NSCA affairs. An Advisory Council provides members with an additional source of input.

The NSCA is dedicated to the development of the sport at all levels of participation and vows to create an atmosphere of healthy competition and meaningful fellowship within its membership. Shooters who wish to compete can enter sporting clays tournaments and be competitive immediately. The NSCA also offers the hunter a recreational target shooting sport that will strengthen hunting and gun safety skills and extend "hunting" seasons.

The Beginning of Sporting Clays

Sporting Clays is the closest thing to actual field shooting of all shotgun sports. The sport dates back to England in the early 1900s when trap shooting used live pigeons. With the introduction of clay targets, the sport began to take on the popular form known today. But rather than using standardized distances, target angles and target sizes, sporting clays courses are designed to simulate the hunting of ducks, pheasants and even rabbits. Six different sizes of clay targets give the participant the experience of actual hunting conditions, so you can see why the sport is so popular with hunters.

Membership Information

Activities. NSCA clubs host numerous tournaments for the serious competitor or the casual shooter. You can join the League & Sweepstakes which puts new and experienced shooters on an equal basis to win thousands of dollars in prizes awarded by a random drawing. These activities let you enjoy shooting while meeting new people and winning prizes! In addition, NSCA hosts the National Sporting Clays Championship, which attracts over 1,000 competitors annually.

Who are the People that Shoot Sporting Clays? Men, women and children of all ages and from all walks of life. Their occupations reflect the mainstream of America - from students to retired business executives and everything in between. They enjoy outdoor activities with friends and family, believe in safe handling of guns and want to learn how to enjoy the shotgun sports or improve the skills they already have.

Is Sporting Clays an Expensive Sport? Not necessarily, it depends on your personal objectives. You can have a lifetime of fun and fellowship at a local gun club in return for a small investment in the shotgun of your choice, safety gear and modest ammunition costs. On the other hand, if traveling to shoot in state, regional, national or international tournaments is what you prefer, then, like any sport, the costs can go as high as your ambition and budget will allow.

What if I've Never Shot a Gun Before? Membership in a gun club affiliated with the NSCA offers you the finest and safest means of learning to shoot from scratch. Rigid safety regulations are enforced and certified instructors are available at most ranges.

Can People with Disabilities Shoot Sporting Clays? Anyone who is physically able to shoulder a gun and shoot safely can enjoy the game. Any person who is mentally capable of understanding the rules and regulations of competitive sporting clays shooting will enjoy becoming a part of the NSCA family and shooting registered targets. Some of our most devoted sporting clays shooters are people with disabilities of one kind or another.

Sporting Clays magazine is the official publication of the National Sporting Clays Association. The magazine is distributed to all members (except associate members). The magazine provides tournament schedules and results, information from NSCA Headquarters and NSCA member club locations as well as feature articles and advertising. Members receive monthly issues of the magazine from the time they join until their membership expires.

Membership Benefits

  • Monthly issues of Sporting Clays magazine, the official publication of NSCA, discounts on rental cars, and other items.
  • Official rule book in a convenient pocket edition, window decal and patch included with membership.
  • www.mynsca.com provides shoot schedules and results, your personal shooting history, lists of NSCA ranges, instructors and officers as well as National Championship results, All American and All-State teams, downloadable forms of all kinds and complete rules for NSCA registered shooting.
  • Computerized scorekeeping at a central location and a classification system designed to determine a shooter's rank by their wins in class rather than by shooting average assures shooters that they will be competing only with others of their same skill level. Also provides access to more than 3,000 NSCA tournaments. Membership and annual shoot record cards (classification cards) are provided.
  • Annual National Championship, open to all members, provides the ultimate excitement, includes a chance to inspect the latest guns and accessories; share recognition of top shooters; and the chance to win, by drawing, many valuable prizes.
  • Annual recognition of All-State Teams, All-American Teams and Team USA. Members shooting 1,000 or more registered targets during the year also earn recognition awards.
  • A League and Sweepstakes program that allows new and experienced shooters to participate on an equal basis. Thousands of dollars in prizes are awarded by a random drawing.
  • A toll-free number from which shooters and gun clubs can quickly receive answers to questions and help with membership problems.
  • Gun Floater Insurance available to members at a discounted rate via Sportsman's Insurance Agency, Inc.
  • Instructor Certification Courses for interested members.
  • Referee Certification program.
  • An Advisory Council, comprised of up to 45 NSCA members, divided equally among Range Owners, Shooters and Industry Representatives, promotes and guides the Association.
  • The Association is governed by National Delegates who are elected by NSCA members in each state. Delegates, whose number for each state is based on the state's member population, represent their state for a two year term.
  • NSCA provides shooters of all skill levels and ages the chance to win recognition/prizes in competition at State, Zone and National shoots, as well as at fund-raising events.
  • A magnificent Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates our history.
  • NSCA is the official governing body of parcours de chasse (FITASC) in the United States.
  • The friendship and distinction of belonging to a group that prides itself in maintaining the honor, integrity and rules of the game.

    Joining NSCA
    NSCA is the largest sporting clays association in the world. When you take up sporting clays and join, you are in for many years of enjoyment. Sporting clays shooters are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet...which we think is the best service NSCA provides. An NSCA family member is sure to find the fun, friendship, and a family of sporting clays shooters wherever their travels may lead.

    Currently more than 600 NSCA clubs exist, with NSCA representation in all 50 states and 10 foreign countries. Annual membership is $40 for a Regular membership (includes Sporting Clays magazine) and $30 for an Associate membership which is available to the dependents of Regular members (does not include the magazine). You can join at any NSCA club or use the application form enclosed. We have a universal expiration date of December 31th of the current year. When a member joins NSCA after October 1, his/her membership is updated through December of the next year. We keep records of our members' scores in competition, register shoots for the clubs and associations, hold the National Championship each year, and provide a myriad of awards for outstanding achievements.
    • Author:   NSCA       Date:   Tuesday Oct 12 2004 20:24:00 pm