Participant Eligibility
GROUPING ATHLETES
CATEGORIES
In order to level the playing field even more, novice athletes compete in a separate competitive grouping or category from the more experienced athletes.
ROOKIE DIVISION (Grades 5 and under) NO CATEGORIES IN ROOKIE DIVISION
INTERMEDIATE DIVISION CATEGORIES (Grades 6-8)
ENTRY LEVEL – 1st year of participation in the intermediate program
ADVANCED – After one year of participation in the intermediate division
SENIOR DIVISION CATEGORIES (Grades 9-12)
JUNIOR VARSITY – 1st year participation the senior division
VARSITY – After one year of participation in the senior division
CLASSIFICATION RULES
1. Athletes in the higher category in ANY discipline will be classified automatically in that same category in all disciplines for which they are registered. For example, an athlete in the intermediate advanced or senior varsity category in skeet will be in that category for trap and sporting clays.
2. First year athletes in the intermediate division will have ONE YEAR to be classified in the entry level category. After one year in the entry level category, intermediate division athletes will be classified in the advanced category.
3. First year athletes in the senior division will have ONE YEAR to be classified in the junior varsity category. After one year in the junior varsity category, senior division athletes will be classified in the varsity division.
USAYESS DIVISIONS
There are three competitive groupings or divisions within USAYESS. These divisions, determined by school grade level, are designed to allow participants to compete on a level playing field with one another. GRADE LEVEL in school, NOT AGE, is the criterion used to populate the divisions.
Rookie Division……….Grades 5 and under
Intermediate Division…..Grades 6-8
Senior division…..grades 9-12
IRREVOCABLE DECISION
Participants may not be a member of nor compete for more than one team in a specific discipline.
CHERRY PICKING
“Cherry Picking” individuals from within or from outside a state to form either a local team or a “State All-Star team” is strictly prohibited. “Cherry Picking” is putting together a group of “Hot Shots,” “All-stars” or “Paper Team” to compete. This practice runs counter to the letter and the spirit of the RMCB and is expressly prohibited.
ATHLETES AND/OR COACHES VIOLATING THIS RULE WILL BE SUSPENDED AND MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE PROGRAM!
TEAM REQUIREMENTS
HEAD COACH
Every team MUST have a head coach who is 21 years of age or older. The first and foremost responsibility of the head coach is to ENSURE THE SAFETY of all participants. Head coaches MUST emphasize the safe handling and use of firearms in every facet of the scholastic clay target program and must be willing to conduct the “Required practices”.
IMPORTANT PLEASE NOTE:
Violation of this rule voids the volunteer liability insurance policy coverage, disqualifies the team from entering an event, and may result in the removal of the head coach.
REQUIRED PRACTICES
Coaches must conduct a minimum of SIX team practice sessions — each on a separate day — for the team members with each team member shooting a minimum of 25 targets at each practice session. Team members must attend a minimum of Six team practice sessions in order to be eligible to shoot in a State or National Championship Event. Registered shoots are NOT to be counted as practice sessions.
TEAM FUNDING
Individual club members are responsible for their own funding, including but not limited to practice, travel, shooting fees and shells.