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Next Registered Shoot:  The Queen Jean at High Desert Sporting Clays on Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13, 2008

The National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) is committed to a professional approach to the learning and teaching process as it relates to promoting our sport as a safe and entertaining way to have fun with a shotgun. As part of this commitment, NSCA offers a progressive level of instructor certification. Each certification level provides instructors with an increasing set of skills.

For new shooters, a qualified instructor can help make that first experience an enjoyable one - chipping away the beginning shooter frustration and providing a good foundation for future shooting fun. At the higher levels, the NSCA certified instructor might not be able to help everyone become a state or national champion, but they can shorten the journey. As a side benefit for range owners trying to bring in more of the shooting public's entertainment dollars, instructors at any level of expertise can be a helpful partner.

Below is a short description of each certification level:

Youth Coach - This certification is primarily associated with the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) which requires a coach for each team of youth participants (grades 6-12). The 2-day seminar focuses on safety, keys to effective instruction, shotgun basics and ammunition, team development and leadership.

Level I - This certification provides instructors with the knowledge and ability to teach shotgun fundamentals (e.g., setting up foot and body position for proper balance; setting up hand and shotgun positions to move with the target; how to use the eyes to acquire a target; realize why a target was missed; and explain why all this is important.) It also deals with eye dominance, gun safety, listening and communication skills, and basic gun fit. Level I Instructors are NSCA members, 18+ years of age, have at least two years of shooting experience, and successfully complete a 3 day school taught by a Level II or Level III Instructor.

Level II - This certification level is geared toward allowing the instructor to move from teaching to coaching. The mental side of shooting is better understood, as reality and perception may not be the same. The program helps the instructor to "get on the same page " as the students, to help them overcome their problems. Positive reinforcement, helping them learn what to do, when to do it, and rehearsing those actions both physically and mentally are the skills being developed. The instructors are able to provide progressive training and help their students visualize breaking targets so they can empower the subconscious and make the right things happen. The Level II Instructor must have been a Level I Instructor for 2 years, have a recommended 400 hours of paid instruction, and successfully complete a 3 day school taught by a Level III Instructor.

Level III - This certification level provides the instructor with the highest level of professionalism. Here is where sharing ideas, a good grasp of the mental game and being able to quickly and effectively identify and correct problems are key. Advanced stage shooters are not looking for someone who wants to change their shooting technique; they are looking for someone who can get their confidence back. At this level, the instructor has to be more patient with the shooter and be able to effectively communicate the minor tweaks and techniques that will improve their game. The Level III Instructor must have been a Level II Instructor for 3 years, have a recommended 1,500 hours of paid instruction as a Level II Instructor, and successfully complete a 4 day school.

Following are the NSCA Certified Instructors located in Arizona:

Youth:

Danielle Abbott
Mesa, AZ 
(480) 296-5082
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  100
     2006:  250
     2007:  0
Instruction available at Rio Salado Sportsmans Club.

Lee Bachman
Green Valley, AZ 
(520) 648-1331
NSCA Class:  B
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  0
Instruction available at Coyote Springs Sporting Clays.

Roger Clark
Phoenix, AZ 
(602) 586-1437
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  0

James Fiedler
Mesa, AZ 
(480) 832-8489
NSCA Class:  A
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  0

Madison Harrell
Phoenix, AZ 
(623) 826-7881
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  0

Jay Helm
Phoenix, AZ 
(623) 872-7822
NSCA Class:  A
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  0

Thomas Johnson
Pinetop, AZ 
(928) 369-1155
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  100
     2007:  0
Instruction available at Rio Salado Sportsmans Club.

Bill Lagusis
Mesa, AZ 
(602) 408-1158
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  200
     2006:  350
     2007:  200
Instruction available at Rio Salado Sportsmans Club.

Leonard Ordway
Mesa, AZ 
(480) 668-2647
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  0

James Tingstad
Tucson, AZ 
(520) 749-8860
NSCA Class:  E
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  800
     2002:  600
     2003:  100
     2004:  106
     2005:  350
     2006:  400
     2007:  750

William Wandelear
Queen Creek, AZ 
(480) 821-1486
NSCA Class:  A
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  900
     2002:  1,750
     2003:  2,000
     2004:  3,125
     2005:  2,850
     2006:  2,350
     2007:  1,777

Ken Zentz
Peoria, AZ 
(602) 566-1192
NSCA Class:  A
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  100
     2007:  0

Level I:

Darin Fields
Mesa, AZ 
(602) 501-6308
NSCA Class:  M
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  1,550
     2003:  1,800
     2004:  100
     2005:  2,350
     2006:  5,400
     2007:  6,950

Wayne Mennetti
Scottsdale, AZ
(480) 202-8462
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  1,300
Instruction available at Red Mountain Trap and Skeet.

Marshall Ojerio
Sierra Vista, AZ
(520) 378-2403
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  0

Thomas Slaughter
Tempe, AZ
(480) 628-9977
NSCA Class:  D
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  0
     2005:  0
     2006:  0
     2007:  0
Instruction available at Red Mountain Trap and Skeet and Rio Salado Sportsmans Club.

Hugo Soll
Chandler, AZ
(480) 628-2333
NSCA Class:  A
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  300
     2002:  350
     2003:  1,850
     2004:  1,550
     2005:  1,500
     2006:  2,150
     2007:  1,650

Steve Wacker
Marana, AZ 
(520) 240-3647
NSCA Class:  E
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  0
     2003:  0
     2004:  200
     2005:  300
     2006:  300
     2007:  600
Instruction available at Picacho Sporting Club.

Level II:

Wayne Bixenman
Tucson, AZ 
(520) 886-0703
Cell:  (520) 370-4474
NSCA Class:  A
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  2,000
     2002:  400
     2003:  0
     2004:  100
     2005:  0
     2006:  1,450
     2007:  1,850
Instruction available at Coyote Springs Sporting Clays and Picacho Sporting Club.

John Greenwell
Scottsdale, AZ 
(480) 948-9053
NSCA Class:  AA
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  2,650
     2002:  3,950
     2003:  2,700
     2004:  3,006
     2005:  2,800
     2006:  2,800
     2007:  2,600
Instruction available at Ben Avery Clay Target Center.

Level III:

Russ Gunderson
Phoenix, AZ 
(602) 819-0738
NSCA Class:  C
Number of Registered NSCA Targets:
     2001:  0
     2002:  400
     2003:  700
     2004:  1,000
     2005:  200
     2006:  0
     2007:  100
Instruction available at Ben Avery Clay Target Center.

Instructors, please e-mail the webmaster if you would like your e-mail address or a personal website to be included in your listing or if you need a correction made to your listing.