4-H shooting sports coaches needed

Shooting Sports is one of the growing 4-H Project areas in Cass County, but there is a shortage of trained Coaches and Instructors. With registration beginning Sept. 15 through Sept. 29 at midnight on 4-H Online, 4-H invites everyone, adults and youths, to consider becoming a trained coach by attending the 2021 District IV Shooting Sports Coaches Training. Registration can be found at https://v2.4honline. com/#/user/sign-in. The training and certification will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16 with the opening program being held at Bowie County Courthouse. Disciplines include: Shotgun, Rifle, Archery, and Pistol. Shotgun training will be held at the Maud Gun Club in New Boston while Archery, Rifle, and Pistol training will be held at the Texarkana Gun Club in Texarkana. Online Green Injection Training Module must be completed prior to the training.

Requirements for adults to be a 4-H Certified Coach, in which the individual will lead the program or have direct supervision of the youth, includes: being 21 years of age or older, currently enrolled as a 4-H Volunteer in 4HOnline, have up-to-date Youth Protection Standards background check completed on 4HOnline, complete a waiver, indemnification, and medical treatment form as well as a COVID-19 Screening form. The cost of the training will be $125, which includes meals and resources.

Youth can sign up to be a certified 4-H Assistant Coach. They must be 14-20 years old, currently enrolled as a 4-H Member or Volunteer in 4HOnline, must have up-to-date Youth Protection background check completed on 4HOnline, required to maintain annual enrollment as a 4-H Member or Volunteer to keep certification, and must complete the Assistant Youth Coach Acknowledgment form, a waiver, indemnification, and medical treatment form, and COVID-19 Screening form. The cost of training will be $125, which includes meals and resources.

Registration fees for both Adults and Youths are non-refundable.

Those interested in becoming a certified Coach should contact John Ferguson at john.ferguson@ag.tamu.edu. Depending on the number of responses, assistance with covering registration fees may be available.