February 15, 2017
4-H Shooting Sports Minimum Standards
Safety first a phrase we’ve all heard since we were young; but now more than ever when working with 4-H Shooting Sports we need to be aware of setting a priority of safety. Nearly, 75% of Kansas Extension Units offer certified 4-H Shooting Sports Programs across Kansas, therefore knowing the risks about shooting sport can insure we can maintain a vital, thriving program.
4-H National Headquarters provides guidance through the National 4-H Shooting Sports Committee that has geographical participation from across the Nation. It is this committee that establishes standards for the 4-H Shooting Sports to insure consistency and program safety.
Three ways the 4-H Shooting Sports Program maintains program consistency:
- Use of the approved 4-H Shooting Sports Curriculum
- A standard structure for the training and certification of 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors
- 3. Program minimum standards and best practices at the state level
Therefore, for more details on the Minimum Standards & Best Management Practices of a 4-H Shooting Sports Program check out the Kansas 4-H web page at Shooting Sports.
According to the Minimum Standards & Best Management Practices of 4-H Shooting Sports Programs, following the minimum standards are not negotiable. A state level 4-H Program with an active 4-H Shooting Sports component is advised to adopt and adhere to these standards at the state and local level. Should an injury occur in a state due to the disregard of any these minimum standards, the potential negative legal/liability ramifications to the land-grant university system could be significant.
However the National Committee does continue to receive questions whether a State must follow the minimum standards or are the statements optional and if the standards only apply to 4-H Shooting Sports or extend to all 4-H club activities? The answer to those questions can be answered in two parts: 1) program safety, and 2) legal exposure for the State and Land-grant University. The activities most questioned are combat sports i.e. paintball, laser guns, archery tag, etc.
Program Safety – were established because of injuries that occurred in the past, or because certain practices that might be common in the world of shooting sports may not support the safety training found in the 4-H program.
Legal Exposure - if someone is injured within the state 4-H shooting sports program because the state has chosen to disregard a program minimum standard or best practice that has been established by the program management body, that is recognized by 4-H National Headquarters, then the state Extension program has just placed itself in a very precarious legal situation. The national committee would never say that a state “Must follow these minimum standards,” because we do not have the authority to set policy. However, when written, recognized national program standards are ignored, resulting in damage or injury, the legal counsel of the injured party has just been given significant evidence to support their case in a court of law.
Each of the ten minimum standards are vital for maintaining a safe program, however two key standards worth highlighting:
- Regarding simulated combat sports including but not limited to, paintball guns, air-soft, laser guns, archery tag. Pointing any type of gun including paint ball guns, air-soft guns, laser guns, laser paint-ball, archery tag bows and arrows or sighting devices at any person or any humanoid shaped target is inappropriate in any 4-H program activity.
- Cloverbud age youth (5-7) age youth are not allowed to participate in any shooting sports activity that includes the handling or live-fire of any air-guns, firearms, or archery equipment. (based on age before January 1, current year).