Sometimes a little push is good for kids

The girls competed in a junior 3-position target shooting sectional in Augusta last weekend with their 4H shooting sports club. The girls were resistant to attend a state-level competition (they compete in the NRA postal leagues at their home range and have never shot anywhere else) but one of their leaders said it would be a good experience for them. My girls tend to shy away from competitions of any kind so it was a hard sell but they finally agreed on the condition that someone help them at the new range.

All year the girls' shooting sports 4H leaders (they have several) have suggested they try shooting jackets but each time they refused. These jackets are widely used by target shooters of all levels because they help stabilize the torso and arms to improve accuracy. The jackets are snug and have shoulder and elbow pads to help steady and cushion the shooter. There is also a sling that attaches to the arm of the jacket as well that helps steady the arm even more. Nearly every boy in their club wears a jacket but the girls have always passed the rack with a quiet (and amused) comment to me that "the boys like their accessories."

My girls have done OK for a couple of years without this equipment and have recorded some good scores for their ages and level of experience. But they are long overdue to accept the equipment used by all the other junior shooters at the range.

When the girls arrived in Augusta at the sectional competition, the range leaders there assumed the girls wore jackets and directed them to get one from the rack. When the girls hesitated, the Augusta leader walked them over and outfitted them each with a jacket. There was simply no choice about the jackets - or shooting sling and glove - and once donned, they were brought directly to the range to start shooting.

I met the girls in the range but there was no time for them to complain to me about the uncomfortable jackets because the Augusta leader didn't give them a chance to say anything. He jumped right in to the safety rules and then offered instruction on how to manage the arm strap correctly (it's not so simple).

This leader also offered some tips and corrections for each of their shooting positions before the match began. It was all very matter of fact and left no room for discussion to take the jackets off. The girls quickly forgot their discomfort because they were focused on the new leader's directions, which turned out to be super helpful to the girls.

[And I have to note that the range guys were prepped by the girls' 4H leader ahead of time that they were resistant to the equipment. Hence the strategic maneuvering and lack of opportunity to complain.]

By the end of the match (90 straight minutes, which was a whole lot longer than they're used to) the girls were smiling and feeling a lot more confident with their new found abilities and management of the "accessories."

Then the big surprise (to them) came. When their scores were tallied they were told by their 4H leader that each of them improved their overall scores by ~30 points and shot their all-time personal bests that day.

At their home range meeting a couple of days later, the girls put their new learnings from Augusta to use - including wearing the jackets and sling - and were pleased with their improved scores there as well.

Although the girls do not have aspirations to be truly competitive target shooters, they learned some great skills from that Augusta leader, including the notion that the accessories can be helpful.

There have been many times when I've been concerned about how much to push the girls to accept trying something new versus letting them come to the decision on their own. There are both positive and negative outcomes with both approaches and it can be really hard to know which way to go as a parent.

But once in a while it is helpful to have the decision taken out of my (parental) hands because my kids are less likely to whine and complain to a new teacher than they are with me. Sometimes it just takes a different person, and approach, to help a child come to a new realization - and a new level of understanding.

Thanks Jim.

G. getting some instruction on the strap attached to her shooting jacket.

G. warmed up to the experience a little more quickly than L.

L. was giving me "the look" but as soon as I snapped this picture her leader had her busy with a new task to practice.

It didn't take long after that to get L. smiling and laughing. A couple of good looking (completed) targets rolling up the range from her lane helped her acceptance that the jackets and sling did in fact improve her accuracy.