Growing The Next Generation of Clay Target Shooters
Veteran instructors are essential to any youth shooting program. Image by P2K Sports.
The future of the shooting sports was on full display this summer at P2K Sports in El Cajon, California, where the facility’s 2nd Annual Youth Summer Trap League wrapped up another successful season. With 14 young shooters taking part, participation doubled from the inaugural program, signaling strong interest from families looking to introduce their children to safe, supervised shotgun shooting.
Led by veteran instructors Susan Sledge and Ken Buckner, the four-week league combined hands-on coaching with friendly competition. Each session included one instructional round followed by a scored round, giving participants the opportunity to immediately apply the skills they learned on the trap field.
A structured curriculum helps new shooters build confidence
while challenging returning participants to improve their scores. Image by P2K Sports.
Building Skills One Target at a Time
According to Sledge, nearly half of the participants had never shot trap before joining the league. That made education a primary focus of the program.
“Each week I gave them an infographic on what we would be focusing on that week,” Sledge explained. “It has been a lot of fun, and hopefully we can continue gaining momentum.”
From gun handling and target acquisition to follow-through and consistency, the structured curriculum helped new shooters build confidence while challenging returning participants to improve their scores.
Just as importantly, Sledge noted that every participant seemed genuinely eager to be there, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere throughout the four-week program.
Creating an enthusiastic atmosphere is key to return participation. Image by P2K Sports.
Industry Support Makes a Difference
Shotguns donated by Shooting Industry and the Shooting Industry Masters event several years ago helped ensure young shooters had access to quality equipment while learning the fundamentals of trap shooting.
Programs like the P2K Youth Summer Trap League demonstrate how industry partnerships can directly impact recruitment and retention efforts, creating positive first experiences for new shooters and their families.
Reaching New Families
The league fee was set at $99, excluding ammunition, making it an accessible entry point for many participants. More than half of the youth shooters and their families had never visited P2K before enrolling, exposing a new audience to the range and the shooting sports community.
While the facility has not yet seen significant increases in follow-up participation outside the league, Sledge remains optimistic. The goal is to convert first-time visitors into long-term customers who return for future leagues, recreational shooting opportunities and other youth-focused events.
Introducing children to safe, supervised shotgun shooting helped P2K Sports
double trap shooting participation year over year. Image by P2K Sports.
Looking Ahead
Following this year’s success, P2K has already committed to bringing the Youth Summer Trap League back next year. The range is also planning a four-day Winter Shooting Camp during school winter breaks and may introduce additional youth trap leagues throughout the year if interest continues to grow.
For the team at P2K, the mission extends beyond breaking targets.
By providing expert instruction, a welcoming environment and access to quality equipment, P2K Sports is helping introduce a new generation to the shooting sports. And judging by the smiles, scores and growing participation numbers, the program is already hitting its mark.
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