Head Coach:  Vic Seiter

Assistant Coaches:  Tony Hannon, Craig Stouffer, Stan Broerman, Jeff Maxwell, Todd Crain, Robert Steves, Jason Merrell, Sarah Merrell

GREENVILLE HURRICANE MARKSMANSHIP TEAM
2022-2023 SEASON

SEASON

September 10, 2022 - May 27, 2023

The Marksmanship program focuses on preparing student athletes for competitive rifle and pistol shooting.  Match scoring considers accuracy, but may also be based on a combination of accuracy and speed.  Weekly practices prepare the athlete for multi-disciplined matches designed for either slow-fire accuracy, or matches designed to combine the skills of accuracy and speed.  

During the month of June, advanced practices are held in the Greenville area for athletes qualifying for the SASP National Championship week in July at the Cardinal Shooting Center, Marengo, Ohio, near Columbus.

AGE CLASSIFICATIONS

At match competitions, boys and girls under 18 years old are classified as “Junior” Shooters.  There are further class designations, or age categories, in the primary organization we participate in- SASP, Scholastic Action Shooting Program:

• 4TH-5TH GRADE- ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ROOKIE
• 6TH-8TH GRADE- MIDDLE SCHOOL INTERMEDIATE ADVANCED, or ENTRY (1st year) 
• 9TH-12TH GRADE- HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR VARSITY, or JUNIOR VARSITY (1st year)

PRESEASON

Preseason meetings are held at SharpShooters Indoor Range, 1345 Rutherford Rd, Greenville, SC 29609.

Discovery Day:  For new shooters and their families- NEW KIDS LEARN TO SHOOT FREE after going through instruction on the safe handling and use of firearms as well as proper operation of a rimfire rifle.  Following demonstrations, hands-on, one-on-one instruction with a coach will be offered to students that would like to experience shooting a rifle.  Rifles and ammo will be provided.  Held in August at SharpShooters.

Informational Meeting:  Learn more about the 2022-2023 Marksmanship team season, practices, and matches.  Meet the Hurricane athletes that medaled in the South Carolina State Championships and the National Championship Team.  See them in action with their guns during a match at SharpShooters.  Held in August at SharpShooters.                                                                                                                      

Orientation Meeting:  For ALL registered Marksmanship athletes and their families.  League registrations, forms, paperwork, and season preparations.  Saturday, September 10, 5:00-6:30, SharpShooters.                                      

GearUp Greenville:  More than just a gun show experience!  With gun demos on the range, specials on the latest guns and gear in the industry and special items for youth target shooters, this annual event is a BLAST!    Meet team sponsors and vendors that are supporting the marksmanship team.  See the guns and gear used in competitive matches and the swag to go along with it.  Random prize drawings throughout the day including GUN giveaways!  Saturday, September 24, 9-5, SharpShooters.  

PREREQUISITES

• Sports Physical
• The NRA BASIC SHOOTING SAFETY COURSE qualification is required. Sign up at SharpShooters for one of the times it’s offered.  This course, taught by the team’s head coach, can be taken on a Saturday or on a 2-night option. There is a written test and a shooting test after the training has been completed.  Guns, ammo, targets, eye pro, ear pro, and training materials provided.  Certificate issued.  There is a $50 fee to secure a spot with limited spaces available.  Returning Hurricanes and SharpShooters Summer Campers have already completed this requirement.  We encourage parents to get certified with their child.  If certification is needed, register at SharpShooters. 
• Waivers.  Signed during Registration, which opens in August at greenvillehurricanes.com/marksmanship
• League applications and waivers signed at orientation which is scheduled for September 10, 5:00PM.

GUN DIVISIONS

For a limited time, new shooters may use a team gun at practices if they do not yet have one.  A .22LR rimfire rifle is required to participate on the Marksmanship team.  We understand it may take some time to decide on the model that fits best.  Hurricanes will have until October to decide on a rimfire rifle. Suggested models are the Ruger 10/22, Winchester Wildcat or Tippman Redline.

Gun divisions used throughout the season are: 

Rifles
Rimfire Rifle Iron sights, Rimfire Rifle Optic sights, PCC Pistol Caliber Carbine, High power Rifle, Precision bolt action rimfire rifle with any sight system

Pistols
Rimfire Pistol Iron, Rimfire Pistol Optic, Rimfire Revolver Iron sights, Centerfire Pistol Iron, Centerfire Pistol Optic, Centerfire Revolver Iron, 1911 model    

EQUIPMENT
Athletes will need to bring their own gear to each practice and competition:

• Personal Eye and Ear protection
• Gun(s) and appropriate Ammunition 
• Range bag to hold ammo, eye and ear protection, supplies, gear, cleaning equipment and tools

PRACTICES

Athletes are expected to attend practice at least once a week.  The season schedule will be released at orientation.  Practices will be after school on selected weekdays and on selected Saturdays.  Home schooled athletes may attend a morning practice.  Practices provide an opportunity to develop skills and friendships while surrounded by teammates, coaches and instructors encouraging each other to improve.  Practices will be used to review safety standards; to learn and exercise a particular shooting discipline; to prepare for specific upcoming matches; to understand a course and its rules; and to achieve individual NRA skill qualification level medals.  For those wanting to participate in a match, squads of 4 athletes in the same division will be formed based on results at practice. 

The Team will host several local matches in the upstate competing against other individuals and/or teams in the area.  In addition to those matches, the team participates within several other leagues, organizations, and qualifiers.

SHOOTING LEAGUES AND ASSOCIATIONS

NRA MQP-National Rifle Association Marksmanship Qualification Program:  This is an individual skill development program that challenges the shooter to meet specific target accuracy requirements to earn qualification level ratings.  The first rating is called ProMarksman, then they will move on to Marksman, Sharpshooter, Expert, and finally the highest achievement level available, the Distinguished Expert.  We focus on 3 Divisions:  Pistol, Rimfire Rifle, and America’s Rifle Challenge.  Athletes are awarded certificates, patches, medals and pins.  

SASP-Scholastic Action Shooting Program:  Speed shooting on steel plates with rifles and pistols.  There are 4 age classifications.  Elementary, Middle, High School and Collegiate athletes compete in State, Regional and National Championship Matches each year.  SASP is the largest youth action shooting organization in the world.  2,500 competitors attended the SASP National Championships in Ohio for a week in July 2022. There are 10 gun divisions.  An athlete may select to compete in multiple divisions from the 3 rifle, 2 revolver and 5 pistol divisions available.  The gun division is based on caliber (.22 rimfire or 9mm centerfire) and the gun’s sight system (iron sights or electronic optics without magnification).  A match consists of 4 stages.  Each stage is unique, but all 4 stages each have 5 steel plates that are arranged in various configurations, heights and distances.  The steel plates differ in size and shape, including 10” round, 12” round and 18x24” rectangles.  An athlete’s score is based on the time it takes to hit all 5 plates, which is called a string.  In a string, the first 4 of 5 plates may be shot in any order as long as the designated “Stop” plate is hit last.  Guns may be loaded with up to 11 rounds of ammunition per string.  Each of the 4 stages is shot 5 times in a row.  For scoring, the worst time is thrown out and the 4 fastest string times are added together for a stage score.   The 4 stage scores are added together for a competitors match score.  Awards for each gun division in each classification are given to a squad of 4 athletes competing together, as well as to individual athletes finishing in the top 3 at a match. The team has had a blast traveling to SASP matches in Belton SC, Talladega AL, Orlando FL, and Columbus OH.  Visit mysasp.com for details.

SCSA-Steel Challenge Shooting Association:  Speed shooting on steel plates with rifles and pistols.  Very similar to SASP, but more difficult.  Up to 8 stages.  There are 13 gun divisions to choose from.  Age categories include junior competitors under 18, regular competitors 18-54, and senior competitors over 55.  The Hurricanes compete at the Belton Gun Club in monthly matches.  State, National and World match competitions are held annually.  Visit scsa.org for details. 

USSG- Upstate Sport Shooting Group:  Weekly indoor match competitions that rotate monthly at SharpShooters Indoor Range on Thursday evenings.  1st Thursday Bowling pin using centerfire rifle and/or pistol, 2nd Thursday Falling Steel Plates with rimfire rifle and/or pistol, 3rd Thursday Bullseye pistol, 4th Thursday Outlaw Steel Challenge with rimfire rifle and/or pistol, 5th Thursday Action Rifle.

GSSF-Glock Sport Shooting Foundation:  There are both indoor league and outdoor match competitions throughout the year.  Any semi auto Glock model may be used and will determine the division you compete in.  The monthly indoor league in Greenville is held at SharpShooters Indoor Range.  Competitors shoot at one target moved to 5 separate distances and are scored for accuracy.  The outdoor match has 3 stages (Glock M, Glock Plates, and 5 to Glock) that combine speed and accuracy.  Cardboard bullseye targets and steel plates are used.  Awards- plaques, prizes, guns, gear and cash awards for adults, juniors and seniors.  The team plans to compete at matches in Greenville, Belton, Charlotte, Charleston, Savannah, and Talladega this season.   Visit https://gssf.pro/outdoor-matches/rules/ for details.

IDPA-International Defensive Pistol Association:  For the trained, advanced competitor, this is a practical action pistol match using holster draw, concealment, cover, movement, and reloading.  There are multiple targets to acquire and other targets to avoid.  Indoor matches are held on the 2nd and 4th Monday each month at SharpShooters.  Outdoor matches are held monthly- one in Anderson and one in Belton.  

 RESPONSIBILITIES

To remain on the Hurricanes Marksmanship Team, athletes must follow the safety rules below and always be quick to follow all instructions given by Range Safety Officers, Coaches, Instructors and adult assistants.

• All guns must remain empty and cased until a coach instructs them to uncase.
• Always keep the gun muzzle in front of all flesh, pointed in a safe direction at your target down range.
• Always keep your finger off the trigger until instructed to fire and you see your sights are on your target.
• Always know your target and what is beyond it. Be aware of your surroundings.
• Always keep the gun unloaded until instructed to load, only at the firing line.
• Always assume all guns are loaded and treat them safely with the well-being of others in mind.
• Always listen carefully to important instructions given by coaches and range officers.
• No horseplay, yelling, pushing, touching, grabbing, jumping or running on the range.
• No threatening words or gestures, written, verbal or physical.  These will NOT be tolerated, whether meant to be funny or otherwise.

COSTS

The season registration fee is $425 (when paid in full at time of registration) or, an available payment plan of $175 at registration + $100 per month for 3 months, if fundraising has not already credited your dues.  Fundraising will offset these fees and possibly provide you with additional funds for your team expenses.  

Your registration fee pays for a team uniform (shooting jersey and t-shirt), range membership, access to other facilities and ranges, SOME awards, SOME ammunition, SOME match entry fees, targets, annual dues for SASP, Hurricanes organization overhead fees, use of team guns and targets throughout the season, team insurance coverage, fees that organizations charge for registering a team and their coaches which are needed for participation in matches.

Additional expenses include:

• Ammunition
• Personal eye and ear protection
• Match entry fees
• Guns
• Cases
• Cleaning kit
• Optional gun upgrades
• Travel expenses
• Optional shirts, jackets, hoodies, hats, holsters, belts, mag carriers 

Fundraising can help each athlete pay their team registration fee, pay for match registration fees, pay for ammunition, for travel expenses, or it could also help purchase a gun needed to compete in matches.  It’s as easy as mailing a flyer to a business or handing a business owner a flyer with all the details.  Flyers available at Orientation.

AMMUNITION

• .22LR ammunition for rimfire rifles and pistols.  
• 9mm ammunition for centerfire rifles and pistols is most commonly used.  

The amount of ammo needed in a season is dependent on an athlete’s participation level in practices and matches.  Plan on a minimum of 1,000 rounds of .22LR ammunition.  Several athletes that enjoy being active will shoot 5,000-10,000 rounds of .22 in a season.  If shooting 9mm, most athletes go through 1,000-3,000 rounds a season.  The team attempts to keep ammo on hand to sell at a reasonable price.  There is no additional charge for tax or shipping through team purchasing.  Prices fluctuate, but currently, pricing for the team is as follows:

COMMUNICATION

• App:  Download the TeamSnap app on your smart phone.
• Website:  Hurricane Marksmanship Page:  greenvillehurricanes.com/marksmanship
• Facebook:  Greenville Hurricanes Marksmanship
• Instagram:  hurricanes marksmanship

Uniform is covered in the cost of the season registration. See below for pictures of Marksmanship athletes wearing the team jersey.

SPONSORS
Your Business can be a team sponsor with a minimum $500 tax deductible donation to our nonprofit organization that supports youth shooting sports.  Sponsors' logos will be placed on the back of one of our team shirts as well as on our team banner that travels to matches with us.  We send out posts on social media to recognize the businesses that support youth sports in our community.  Or, if you wish, remain anonymous with your tax deductible donation that supports our local youth shooting sports team.

Midway USA Endowment Fund
Matching Funds are given to our team when contributions are made to the Greenville Hurricanes Marksmanship Team ID: R16032 https://www.midwayusafoundation.org/givenow/

Attend the Sheriff's Annual BBQ Dinner in the Fall

Attend Match Competitions where proceeds benefit the Team- keep up with announcements on Instagram and Facebook/Greenville Hurricanes Marksmanship

Eat Pizza!  Hurricane Marksmanship athletes will give you a Pebble Creek Pizza gift card for a Free Large one topping pizza each time you contribute $10 to them.

Enter to win Guns and prizes in random drawings at specified times throughout the season at SharpShooters Indoor Range, 1345 Rutherford Rd, Greenville, SC 29609

Please be familiar with the following:

Handbook - Located under "Program Info" on the Home Page of the web site

Physical Forms - Located under "Program Info" on the Home Page of the web site

Liability Waivers - Signed in the registration process

SASP Sportsmanship Contracts and Medical Consent forms can be downloaded at
https://mysasp.com/resources-and-forms/