Encouraging the green, green grass to grow
By Stuart Farr.
In many sporting-related settings – including shooting – we often talk about grassroots. The term is commonly used to describe how we identify, gather and nurture the potential champions of the future, through the early stages of their participation in sport. It works by focusing our attentions on the early developmental aspects where youngsters, in particular, are introduced to shooting and encouraged to develop their skills under the guidance of those who are knowledgeable and more experienced.
It has to be said that great strides have been made in recent years through greater attention to the grassroots of our shooting disciplines. Indeed, clay shooting has especially benefitted from this approach. Moreover, better and increased availability of sponsorship has helped many young Shots to get their feet on the competition ladder. It is pleasing to see many manufacturers taking this concept to heart. After all, the young Shots of today are, for them at least, the customers of tomorrow.
But are we doing enough to encourage development at grassroots level? Importantly, are the available resources and efforts being spread fairly and equally across all the disciplines? Or are they now tending to concentrate within just a few disciplines?
