The Different Shooting Associations
Introduction
Within Shooting Sports, you can find a variety of different programs to join. For Trapshooting, Skeet Shooting, Sporting Clays, or International Disciplines, there is a program out there waiting for you to sign up! Below are the main associations for each of these disciplines, where anyone of all ages and experience levels can sign up to get more into the shooting sports world!
The Amateur Trapshooting Association – ATA
As the faithful protector of trapshooting, the ATA not only governs the sport's rules and regulations but also seeks ways to enhance the sport and stimulate participation. The ATA provides trophies, financial assistance and event management support to the state and provincial associations. The ATA has also been instrumental in developing programs to increase interest in the sport with its creation of National Trapshooting Day, Satellite Grand Americans, Achievement Recognition and other valuable programs.
Annually, ATA members participate in 6,000 plus registered tournaments and shoot at more than 55 million targets. With nearly 1000-gun clubs affiliated with the ATA you can find registered shooting just about anywhere.
The ATA administrative offices and national headquarters are located in Sparta, IL. The Grand American World Trapshooting Tournament is held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex located in Sparta Illinois each August. The annual trapshooting championships have been hosted each year at various locations since 1899.
The National Skeet Shooting Association – NSSA
Founded in 1928 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the National Skeet Shooting Association is a non-profit organization owned and operated by its members. With approximately 15,000 members and 700 affiliated member clubs, it is the largest organization in the world dedicated solely to the sport of skeet shooting. Membership is represented by a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee which employs an Executive Director to manage NSSA affairs.
The NSSA 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 want to compete can enter fun shoots and skeet shooting tournaments. The NSSA also offers the hunter a recreational target shooting sport that will strengthen hunting and gun safety skills and extend “hunting” seasons.
The NSSA hosts the World Skeet Shooting Championship, World Vintage Skeet Championship, Junior World Skeet Championship and an International World Skeet Championship annually. NSSA clubs host numerous fun shoots for the serious competitor or the casual shooter. All the fun activities let you enjoy shooting while meeting new people and winning prizes!
The National Sporting Clays Association – NSCA
NSCA is the largest Sporting Clays association in the world and the governing body for the sport in the U.S. We keep records of our members’ scores in competition, register shoots for the clubs and associations, hold the National Championship each year, and provide myriad awards for outstanding achievements.
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.
NSCA has over 22,000 members in all 50 US states and 10 foreign countries. More than 600 member clubs serve members and host both registered and recreational shoots.
The International Shooting Sports Foundation – ISSF
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) was founded in 1907 and is the world governing body of shooting events at the Olympic Games but also regulates several non-Olympic shooting sport events. The ISSF headquarters is in Munich, Germany. In 2022, Luciano Rossi, a former Senator in the Italian Parliament and President of the Italian Shotgun federation (FITAV) was elected as President of ISSF. ISSF brings together 159 member federations from 147 countries or territories around the world.
The Federation's activities include regulation of the sport, managing Olympic qualification events and quota places, as well as organization of international competitions such as the ISSF World Cup series and ISSF World Championships. In addition, ISSF has set up a development fund to assist federations and promotes innovative digital initiatives including virtual reality and Esports.
A core professional staff including technical, administrative, organizational, communications, marketing and legal experts are managed by Secretary General Alessandro Nicotra di San Giacomo. In addition, ISSF is supported by specialist committees and task forces covering all shooting discipline and stake holder groups.
The highest political entity in ISSF is the General Assembly, a gathering of all ISSF National Member Federations, and this body elects the Executive Committee, who are delegated to supervise and manage the activities of ISSF.