Maryland 4-H Shooting Sports

Skills for Life...Activity for A Lifetime

Youth Development Through 4-H Shooting Sports

Why Does 4-H Have Shooting Sports?

Like all of our 4-H programs, the purpose of shooting sports programs is youth development and teaching of life skills to young people. Our programs are valuable for helping young people develop self-confidence, personal discipline, responsibility, teamwork, self-esteem and sportsmanship. The discipline and self-control required for responsible firearms use carries over into many other aspects of life.
Nearly two-thirds of the homes in the U.S. have firearms. Exposure to safety and responsible handling is vital to preventing accidents at home, at neighbors, or at a friend's home.
4-H programs provide a positive experience for youth and promote the safe and ethical use of firearms and archery equipment. 4-H youth may learn to shoot, but we teach first and foremost, the appropriate handling and use of firearms.
It is our belief that firearms education reduces gun accidents.
Hunting and shooting sports are rich American traditions. 4-H shooting sports programs help continue this tradition through involvement of the total family: youth, teens, parents and even grandparents.
The Shooting Sports rank third in popularity among International & Olympic Sports behind track & field and swimming. The uniqueness of shooting sports as a lifetime sport makes it exceptional.
Each of the shooting sports disciplines teaches safety, concentration, self-discipline, self-confidence, goal setting, decision-making and build toward more advanced activities and opportunities.
As is the case with other sports and scholastic programs, college bound youth have opportunities to vie for college scholarships.

It is the policy of the Maryland Cooperative Extension that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age or national origin.