Southwest Trap – Lincoln

Expectations

As a student of Lincoln Public Schools, and a member of the LSW trap team, you are expected to conduct yourselves in a mature and responsible manner both on and off the line. To participate with the LSW Trap Team you must be enrolled in school. attending classes regularly & in good standing with the school.

Drug and Alcohol Use is Prohibited

Members may not consume alcoholic beverages, use illegal drugs or smoke or chew tobacco (including, but not limited to, any cigarette-like devices, tobacco product that is not lit, vaping devices or any device used to inhale a substance such as aerosol or aromatherapy oils) at any time while representing the LSW Trap Team. This includes before or during live firing or while on the premises for meetings, practices or events/meets. Anyone in violation of this rule will be subject to removal from the team immediately.

Hunter Safety

All participating members of the SW trap team and ECTC are required to successfully complete a Firearm Safety Training Course recognized by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Here are a couple suggested avenues:

• staging.outdoornebraska .gov/hunt/hunter-education
• hunter-ed.com/nebraska

••• Hunter Education numbers must be provided to the Conference prior to participating in any Conference sanctioned shoots.•••

Gun Safety

Th ere is Zero Tolerance for guns or ammunition at or near any school or school property, ever. Leave the guns and ammunition at home and pick them up after school on your way out to practice. There is no hurry to get out to the lkes. We will wait for you.
Once again, there can be absolutely NO suggestion of any gun or ammunition at or near school grounds.

• Muzzles must be pointed in a safe direction at all times. (When transporting firearms to and from the line, muzzles shall point in a safe direction, with action open}. Guns may be rested on an approved pad, guns may NOT be rested on shoe/toes.
• Guns should be unloaded and stored away or on gun racks when not at the line.
• Fingers must be off the trigger and outside the trigger guard, until the gun is mounted to the shoulder and ready to fire. Movement to mount gun shall NOT start until prior shooter has shot.
• The action of the shotgun must be open and the firearm unloaded until ready to use. On a trap range, this means that the shooter is on the line and it is their turn to fire.
• Shooters may never load their gun prior to changing positions. When shooters are rotating from post 5 to post 1 they must turn to the right to avoid bumping guns with the shooter coming from post 4. When moving from post 5 to post 1, shooters must always walk behind the other shooters with their action open and the muzzle pointed at the ground.
• Shooters shall load only one shell at a time for all ECTC events. If a delay occurs, all shooters in the squad must remove the shell from the chamber.
• Shoulder carry with the muzzle pointing behind is not allowed at any time on the line or in adjacent areas of the shooting facility.
• Participants are permitted to use only shotguns and ammunition gauges and loads deemed acceptable by the Shooting Range Management.

Eye and Ear Protection

Every participant must have eye and ear protection during live fire, scoring, pulling, and shooting. Hearing protection that is capable of playing music ARE NOT allowed. This is a ECTC Rule.

Toe Tabs

The use of toe tabs for resting of muzzles is NOT permitted by the ECTC. Participants shall NOT rest muzzles on the top of their foot or any other part of their body.

NEW RULE 2025: ATNOTIMESHALL THE MUZZLE OF A GUN BE RESTED ON A SHOOTER’S TOE OR
GROUND WHILE THE ACTION IS CLOSED. I.E. Shooters may not rest their gun on their gun rest pad in
order to open the action of their shotgun.

Trapshooting Etiquette and Rules

• Shooters must be ready to shoot when their squad is called, and when it’s their turn to shoot in the squad.
• The shooter assigned to post 1 shall be considered squad leader and shall visually and verbally ensure all shooters and scorers are ready prior to commencing shooting and the beginning of shooting as well as after each position rotation. The squad leader has the right to request a target be thrown prior to commencement of shooting. Gun cannot be shouldered at this time, nor any target tracked while in the air unless you are the one shooting at the target.
• All shooters are required to have either a shell pouch or shooting vest for empties. All empty shells go into the trash after your round if you don’t want to keep them.
• Do not allow shells to be ejected from your gun onto the ground orto hit and annoy other shooters. Team members shooting semiautomatics must use a shell catcher.
• Shooters must not raise their gun until the shooter ahead of them has fired. This will be monitored during weekend shoots and State so please abide by this.
• All members of a squad shall remain on their post, standing facing the trap quietly, until the fifth person has fired their fifth shot, prior to moving to the next post. At the end of the round, shooters must remain still on their post facing the trap until the last person has fired the last shot.
• All shooters should not unnecessarily talk on the line; voices should be kept down when you are around other squads who are shooting.
• Shooters should time their shooting to establish a rhythm within the squad. Targets should be called for in a clear voice; do not call in such a loud voice so as to trip the voice release on the adjacent fields. Likewise, do not call with such a quiet voice so that the release does not trip.
• If you encounter a gun or ammo malfunction on the line, stop and raise your hand for a coach or range personnel to help you. Keep your muzzle pointed down range at all times until help arrives. Be a sportsman at all times. If you are shooting well, others will be aware of it. You don’t need to brag unnecessarily. By the same token, if you are having a bad day, accept it without complaint or displays of anger.
• Place your shooting bag on the ground while shooting or waiting to shoot. Benches are for bodies.
• Observe all safety rules. Ear and eye protection are mandatory. Do not point your gun at another person, even if you think it’s unloaded. Always keep your gun pointed toward the ground or the trap house. Off the firing line, keep your action open at all times.

Practice and Practice Attendance

During most practices, we will be focusing on each individual shooter’s fundamentals, technique, and gun safety. “Safety will be number one for every shooter.” We plan on helping each shooter by providing informative training sessions, one-on-one instruction, simulation drills, as well as live practices. We will try to sharpen your skills and keep your mind focused on what it will take to become a successful trap shooter.

In order to get everything you can out of a practice: “Make Every Shot Count” Your coaches are there to make suggestions to help your shooting ability. Please respect what they are trying to pass onto you and use that information to benefit from it.

Horseplay will not be tolerated. This includes shooting sitting, laying down, behind back, etc.

Once at practice, you are a member of a “TEAM”. At no time should you assume that you can show up, shoot at 50 or 100 targets, and go home. We will all do our part by loading trap houses, pulling, scoring, and picking up boxes and empty shells.

Just as with any other team sport, we practice to improve. You need to come to practice with a good attitude and learn from your mistakes or successes. We will not tolerate team members who are just here to basically hearthe gun go “Boom!” Meaning, you could care less whether you are hitting targets or not. “Don’t waste Your Time & Your Money OR Our Time & Our efforts.”

Going to practice is the most minimal thing you can do. Everyone goes to practice. Champions are great because of what they do outside of practice!

What to expect at practices

• All practices are held at Izaak Walton – M & W, 3:30 – 5:30
• Juniors and Seniors will shoot on separate traps.
• When you arrive, there may be a brief speech from the coaches. You will then need to be squadded (sign up) in the Ike’s office on a score sheet to shoot.
• Be prepared to help load the trap houses weekly.
• Two boxes of shells are to be shot (minimum); make sure everyone else has had a chance to shoot one box before you sign up for your second box.
• At least 1 parent/coach must be on each trap in order for you to shoot (and preferably two – one to pull and one to score). i.e. We NEED lots of parent/adult volunteers! We will train you!

Trap Meet Expectations

• Arrive at least one hour prior to your squads scheduled shoot time, which will be available to you the Thursday prior to each shoot.
• Check in with the Coaches as soon as you arrive – look for the truck with the LSW Flag.
• Pay close attention to when your squad is ‘on deck’ and at that time, get your gun and everything you need to shoot ready to go. This includes eye and ear protection and 3 boxes of shells for juniors & 6 boxes for seniors (includes extras for shoot-offs), and always have at least 2 extra shells with you in case of a dud or a shot at a broken target.
• As soon as you are finished with your 1st box, get your 2nd box ready. You will shoot the 2nd box immediately.
• When you are finished with your 2nd box, you are done for the time being.
• You may not leave the meet until you have permission from the Coaches. In the event of a tie, a shoot off may be required. If you leave and are not there for a shoot off, the entire squad forfeits the opportunity for an award. They will be shooting off all required awards this year at every shoot, new requirement this year.
• Awards are not presented until mid to late afternoon at best. You have the opportunity to bring lunch or share in the cost of our ‘Chuckwagon’.

Parent Involvement

In order to make the club and the shooters successful, parent involvement is essential. Each family will be expected to help in some way. Contact a coach if you have questions on how you can best help or contribute.