Shooting Sports Organizations & Programs

A Girl & A Gun is a club by women shooters for women shooters. Through our network of caring and qualified instructors, we offer women the ability to improve their marksmanship and make new friends.

The ACUI Clay Targets program was established in 1968 and is the oldest collegiate shotgun sports program. Over the last 50 years, the program has evolved from a national championship event to a robust program, offering regional events from October through March each year in addition to the ACUI Collegiate Clay Targets Championships. As the popularity of shooting sports programs on college campuses has grown, so has participation in the ACUI Clay Targets events. The ACUI Clay Targets program strives to produce efficient, fun, and friendly competitions for collegiate student athletes.

AIM is the official youth program of the Amateur Trapshooting Association. AIM provides a safe and positive experience with firearms and registered trapshooting for youth, elementary school through college age. AIM encourages good sportsmanship and personal responsibility through competition while establishing the foundation to make trapshooting a lifelong avocation.

The ATA serves as the faithful protector of the sport of trapshooting. As the largest clay target shooting organization in the world, the ATA governs the sport’s rules and regulations and seeks ways to further enhance the sport and increase participation. Annually, ATA members participate in 6,000 plus registered tournaments and shoot at more then 60 million targets. With more than 900 gun clubs affiliated with the ATA you can find registered shooting just about anywhere. 

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a national organization dedicated to training and educating U. S. citizens in responsible uses of firearms and airguns through gun safety training, marksmanship training and competitions. The CMP is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) corporation that places its highest priority on serving youth through gun safety and marksmanship activities that encourage personal growth and build life skills.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association® is the Fastest Growing Equestrian Sport in the Nation. Mounted contestants compete in this fast action timed event using two .45 caliber single action revolvers each loaded with five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition. The Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association “C.M.S.A.” has a variety of levels of competition for everyone, ranging from novice levels to the seasoned professional.

Learn to shoot in a safe, fun, and respectful environment. Join in on our all women shooting leagues, fun multi-disciplined clinics, and in-depth classes on a variety of shooting and outdoor subjects and help DIVA WOW in our mission to help, teach and support women in the outdoors.

The International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) is the governing body of a shooting sport that simulates self-defense scenarios and real life encounters. It was founded in 1996 as a response to the desires of shooters worldwide. The organization now boasts membership of more than 25,000, including members in 70 foreign countries.

The MidwayUSA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working to sustain and grow youth shooting sports by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams through annual cash grants. Every donation made is tax-deductible and allows the Foundation to assist in expanding and enhancing the leadership skills, confidence, and discipline of today’s youth through shooting sports activities.

The focus of all 4-H programs is the development of youth as individuals and as responsible and productive citizens. The National 4-H Shooting Sports Program stands out as an example. Youth learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of hunting and archery, and much more. The activities of the program and the support of caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth, and conservation ethics.

The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association exists to promote, support, nurture, and preserve our Nation’s rich historical heritage in the sport of muzzleloading through recreational, educational, historical, and cultural venues such as match competition, hunting, gun making and safety, historical re-enactments, exhibits, museums, libraries, and other related programs.

National Royal Rangers commissioned a new shooting sports program, which began with BB Guns and NRA Postal Competitions. Launched in May of 2001, the National Shooting Sports Program (NSSP) of Royal Rangers steadily expanded to include additional shooting disciplines, and more local and National Competitions. As an active Special Program of Royal Rangers, the NSSP exists to support the mission and purpose of Royal Rangers, while promoting a safe and rewarding shooting sports experience for all.

The National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA) was founded in 1928 and is a non-profit organization owned and operated by its members. It is the world’s largest skeet shooting organization and annually hosts the World Skeet Championships. Membership is represented by a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee which employs an Executive Director to manage NSSA business.

The National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) was formed in 1989 as a division of the NSSA. NSCA membership is represented by National Delegates and an Executive Council, and an Advisory Council provides members with an additional source of input. It is the largest sporting clays organization in the world, hosting an annual National Sporting Clays Championship that attracts shooters from every U.S. state and many foreign countries.

The National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) was formed in 1989 as a division of the NSSA. NSCA membership is represented by National Delegates and an Executive Council, and an Advisory Council provides members with an additional source of input. It is the largest sporting clays organization in the world, hosting an annual National Sporting Clays Championship that attracts shooters from every U.S. state and many foreign countries.

The Single Action Shooting Society is an international organization created to preserve and promote the sport of Cowboy Action Shooting™. SASS endorses regional matches conducted by affiliated clubs, stages END of TRAIL The World Championship of Cowboy Action Shooting, promulgates rules and procedures to ensure safety and consistency in Cowboy Action Shooting matches, and seeks to protect its members’ 2nd Amendment rights. SASS members share a common interest in preserving the history of the Old West and competitive shooting.

Steel Challenge Shooting Association (SCSA) promotes safe, fair and fun participation in Steel Shooting competition, for members of all ages and skill levels, through effective leadership, education, communication and administration.

The Student Air Rifle Program (SAR) uses school aligned units of study, teacher training, universal whistle commands, positive language, and standardized equipment to facilitate an introduction to the lifetime sport of target shooting to school-aged youth in grades 4 through 12.

The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) is the national governing body of practical shooting in the United States under the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC). Our over 31,000 active members and over 440 affiliated clubs makes USPSA the largest practical shooting organization in the United States and the second largest region within IPSC after the Russian Federation of Practical Shooting. USPSA publishes a member magazine called Front Sight six times a year. USPSA is a 501c(3) non-profit Delaware corporation and currently headquartered in Burlington, Washington. The association is organized into 8 “Areas”, each of which is represented by an Area Director at the board meetings of the organization. Further, each Area is divided into sections which is represented by a Section Coordinator responsible for coordinating the activities of clubs within his/ her section, and managing the nationals slot distribution process.

The USA Clay Target League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The League is the independent provider of clay target shooting sports for secondary and postsecondary schools. The League’s priority are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order.

USA Shooting, a 501c3 non-profit corporation was chartered by the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee as the National Governing Body for the Olympic Shooting Sports in April 1995. The organization develops and implements programs to promote growth in the sport and serves as a sanctioning body for local and national competitions. Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the US Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, USA Shooting has a full-time staff dedicated to our sport.

USAYESS is a non-profit organization and the nation’s premier and only all-inclusive youth program which introduces, grows, supports, and educates youth, and their families to firearm safety, shooting sports and wildlife conservation and habitat.

he ASA Federation is proud to have over 330 clubs in 37 states. ASA Federation clubs host competitions that feature our standardized set of competition rules; professionally executed shooting ranges; standards for dress and conduct; safety standards that include a maximum arrow speed; and our copyrighted 12-ring scoring system. The ASA Federation is focused on the growth of 3-D archery by supporting local clubs and making a commitment to youth education and training. The ASA Federation includes experienced archers and coaches that work year-round conducting well organized and challenging events that are enjoyed by seasoned participants and newcomers alike.

The focus of all 4-H programs is the development of youth as individuals and as responsible and productive citizens. The National 4-H Shooting Sports Program stands out as an example. Youth learn marksmanship, the safe and responsible use of firearms, the principles of hunting and archery, and much more. The activities of the program and the support of caring adult leaders provide young people with opportunities to develop life skills, self-worth, and conservation ethics.

The National Archery in the Schools Program promotes instruction in international-style target archery as part of in-school curriculum, to improve educational performance and participation in the shooting sports among students in grades 4-12.

The National Field Archery Association is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the sport of archery and is the largest field archery organization in the World. Founded in 1939, the NFAA now consists of 49 chartered state associations and nearly 1,000 affiliated clubs. The NFAA is a member of the International Field Archery Association and a national allied organization of USA Archery.

The mission of the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Program is to foster, educate and guide youth in the areas of indoor target, 3-D and outdoor target archery as well as safe, ethical bowhunting practices. The goal of the S3DA program is to provide archery and bowhunting opportunities for young people in after-school settings as well as with archery-affiliated clubs and businesses in the community. We provide an effective after-school archery program, focusing on Indoor 5-spot, 3-D and Outdoor Target archery and the certification and tools to deliver the instruction to youth. As a result, S3DA expects to see increased participation in 3-D and target archery by youth and parent archers using compound bows and traditional archery equipment while also helping to increase participation at local, state and national archery events. In addition, S3DA expects to help provide a basic understanding and respect for our natural resources, environment and nature, with a special emphasis on the modern wildlife conservation and regulated sport hunting.

The mission of USA Archery is to provide the necessary resources to foster strong athlete participation, competition and training in the sport of archery. Membership in USA Archery is open to everyone involved in all disciplines of archery including target, field and 3-D. USA Archery sanctions more than 200 events annually and conducts indoor, outdoor and collegiate National Championships as well as the United States Archery Team Qualifier Series. USA Archery also provides youth and adult archery programs and clubs throughout the United States, and certifies archery instructors, coaches and judges.