Boy Scouts of America
September 24, 2020
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
YOUTH REQUIREMENTS
Registered Scouts BSA members, Venturers or
Sea Scouts and youth who are age appropriate
participating in a Rifle instructional curriculum
designed to develop and improve shooting skills.
All youth participants are required to have
written permission from their parent or guardian
before they can take part in the program. A
sample permission form is included in the back of
this guide. The council may also include this as
part of the overall permissions for the camp or
activity; however, it must clearly state that a
youth has the parent or guardian’s permission to
handle and fire a firearm.
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INTRODUCTION
This guide is intended
to provide units,
districts and councils
with an overview of the
requirements for
running the shooting
program ensuring all
BSA Policies are
followed under NRA
Certified Rifle
Instructor and NRA
Range Safety Officer
(RSO).
In this publication, you
will find youth
requirements, training
requirements for
adults who are
facilitating a safe
handling Rifle
instruction program
for youth.
INSTRUCTIONAL
RIFLE SHOOTING EXPERIENCE
FOR SCOUTS BSA MEMBERS,
VENTURERS AND SEA SCOUTS
Boy Scouts of America
September 24, 2020
ADULT SUPERVISION
AND
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
1. BSA Youth Protection policies for two deep leadership
must be maintained at all times.
2. Instructors must have current certification as an NRA
Instructor
3. RSO must have current certification as an NRA Range
Safety Officer (RSO).
APPLICABLE LAWS
BSA safety policies generally run parallel to or go beyond
legal mandates. However, it is the camp or activity
supervisor’s responsibility to confirm and ensure compliance
with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations or
statutes related to youth handling and using a firearm.
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STANDARD OPERATING
PROCEDURES
The standard operating
procedures (SOPs) of the
range should also be reviewed
by NRA Range Safety Officer
before delivering this program.
All firearms must be approved
for use by the NRA Range
Safety Officer.
THE RANGE
An approved range can include:
BSA Range
Public Range
Private Range
Commercial range
Private Property Range.
Public, private property or
commercial ranges must be
certified using the application
found here:
Click here
or
type this address in browser
https://www.scouting.org/
filestore/
Outdoor%20Program/
Shooting%20Sports/
430-065_WB.pdf
Boy Scouts of America
September 24, 2020
INSTRUCTIONAL SHOOTING SPORTS PROGRAM
Purpose. Teach youth the Knowledge, Skill and Attitude (KSA) of safe handling of a
Rifle by participation in a formal Rifle shooting curriculum.
Examples. Examples of instructional programs are the Boy Scout Rifle Shooting Merit
Badge, Venturing Ranger Award and Sea Scout Shooting Sports Medal. Shooting
programs could be held at a BSA facility, public, private, commercial or club range.
Youth. Scouts BSA members, Venturers, Sea Scouts
Scouts BSA members. .22 caliber rimfire, bolt-action rifle. Either a breech-loading,
single-shot, bolt-action or a repeater bolt action with a box magazine can be used.
Tubular or high-capacity magazines are not allowed. If magazines are used, the range
commands must include “magazines out after firing all rounds” to ensure the firing line
is safe after all shots are fired. This now means a Scout can load more than one round
directly into the box magazine to shoot. The trigger pull will be 3 pounds or greater.
Lever action and tubular magazine rifles are approved for use in the Cowboy Action
Program ONLY.
Venturers and Sea Scouts.Any cartridge-firing rifle with open, scope, or dot sights
Ammunition. Correct ammunition for the rifle being fired. Tracer, armor-piercing, and
explosive ammunition are not allowed.
Reloaded ammunition is not approved for BSA programs.
Range. A BSA-approved facility, public, private, commercial or club range. Note that if
using private property for the range location, you must follow the BSA private property
range approval process, which can be found in the appendix. This information can also be
found at Download Private Property Approval Form.
Instruction for Scouts BSA members: NRA Basics of Rifle Shooting Course (eight
hours), Rifle Merit Badge. Taught only by an NRA Rifle Instructor.
Instruction for Sea Scouts and Venturers: Sea Scout Shooting Sports, Venturing
Ranger Award or NRA Basics of Rifle Shooting Course (eight hours). Taught only by an
NRA Rifle Instructor.
Required for Scouts BSA members: BSA Rifle Safety Briefing in this document.
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Boy Scouts of America
September 24, 2020
Required for Sea Scouts and Venturers: BSA Rifle Safety Briefing in this document.
Instruction References: Boy Scout Rifle Merit Badge Pamphlet; Download Sea Scout
Shooting Sports Requirements; Download Ranger Award Requirements
Safety. ANSI Z87.1-2010 certified eye protection and appropriate hearing protection
is required.
Range supervision. A certified NRA Range Safety Officer is to directly supervise all
live fire on the range. Additionally a currently certified NRA Rifle Instructor must
provide support to the shooters during live fire These must be two separate individuals.
Ratio. One NRA Range Safety Officer (1:8) must be present for each group consisting
of a maximum of eight shooters. One NRA certified Rifle Instructor per eight active
(1:8) shooters is required when loading and firing a Rifle.
Course: Boy Scout Merit Badge: Using a .22 caliber rimfire rifle and shooting from a
bench rest or supported prone position at 50 feet, fire five groups (three shots per
group) that can be covered by a quarter.
Course for Sea Scouts and Venturing: Download Sea Scout Shooting Sports
Requirements; Download Ranger Award Requirements
NRA Basic Rifle Shooting Course: Shooting activities are described in the course
lesson plans. NRA Winchester Qualification Program: Use this program to recognize
success as shooters progress.
Sample Range commands
• "Eye and ear protection on"
• “Shooters to the ready line.”
• "Shooters to the firing line"
• “Is the line ready?”
• “Load.”
• “Ready on the firing line.”
• “Commence firing.”
• “Cease fire.”
• “Remove magazines”
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Boy Scouts of America
September 24, 2020
BEFORE YOUTH ARRIVE AT THE PROGRAM AREA
All Rifles, ammunition, and targets are provisioned in sufficient quantity to run the
program for all shooters without interruption during non-program times by
maintenance and support personnel.
ON THE RANGE
• Eye and ear protection should be cleaned between each shooter.
• Range staff will assist the NRA RSO and Instructor by preparing rifles,
ammunition to the preparation table, and setting up shooting positions on range.
• General staging areas for shooters and those waiting their turn are clearly
marked and safe gun handling
rules posted.
People in program areas adjacent to the firing line must wear ear protection if
measured sound levels are 85 dB (decibel) or above.
WHEN YOUTH ARE PRESENT IN THE PROGRAM AREA
Welcome youth to the area and begin the gun handling safety briefing. NRA Range
Safety Officer(RSO) is responsible for all activities on the range.
RANGE INSPECTION CHECKLIST
Inspected by___________________________ Date ______________
√ = Yes Date
____Controlled access/fencing/gates closed _______
____Flags or signs displayed _______
____Range limits identified _______
____Backstop/impact area inspected _______
____Ready line/area marked _______
____Spectator area designated _______
____Supplies available _______
____First-aid kit filled/accessible _______
____Range rules posted _______
____Bulletin board available _______
____Rifle racks available _______
____Empty trash receptacles available _______
____Lockable storage _______
____Throwers available and loaded _______
____Eye and ear protection available _______
____Hand washing Station Available _______
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Boy Scouts of America
September 24, 2020
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• Other Safety Rules
o Know your target and what is beyond
o Eye and Ear Protection
o No alcohol or drugs
o Proper hygiene
o Clean up after shooting
• Range Commands
• "Eye and ear protection on”
• “Shooters to the ready line.”
• "Shooters to the firing line"
• “Is the line ready?”
• “Load.”
• ”Ready on the firing line.”
• “Commence firing.”
• “Cease fire.”
• “Remove magazines”
Before running a program check out the Shooting Sports
Webpage for updates to this program guide and find other
resources.
Download the Rifle Briefing by clicking here
or
typing this address in your browser
https://www.scouting.org/Home/OutdoorProgram/
ShootingSports.aspx
For questions or additional information, contact the National
Service Center at [email protected]
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Boy Scouts of America
September 24, 2020
SAMPLE PERMISSION FORM
Scouting Participation and Hold-Harmless Agreement
_____________________ (Unit, District or Council) is conducting a shooting sports program.
Scouts will be instructed how to handle, maintain, and shoot a Rifle safely and be provided
instruction to increase their shooting skills. Scouts will have classroom instruction and range
instruction in which they will fire a rifle under the supervision of a trained NRA Range Safety
Officer and NRA certified Rifle Instructor.
Scouts will be required to wear eye protection and hearing protection always while on the range.
Scouts are expected to abide by all safety rules and the instructions of the Range Safety
Officer(s) and Rifle Instructor(s).
I, the undersigned, give my child, _________________________, permission to participate in
this program. I understand that participation in the activity involves a certain degree of risk.
I have carefully considered the risk involved and have given consent for my child to participate in
the activity. I understand that participation in the activity is entirely voluntary and requires
participants to abide by the rules and standards of conduct. I release the Boy Scouts of America,
the local council, the activity coordinators, and all employees, volunteers, related parties, or other
organizations associated with the activity from all claims or liability arising out of this participation.
For safety, my child and I agree that he/she will do the following or he/she will be removed from
the program. I understand that any additional cost associated with participation in this program will
not be refunded if my child is removed due to behavioral problems.
1. Complete the training offered as part of the program.
2. Wear all safety gear always while on the range.
3. Follow all safety rules provided in the training class.
4. Follow the instructions of the NRA Range Safety Officer(s) and Rifle Instructor(s).
5. Do not handle any Rifles until instructed to do so by the NRA Rifle Instructor(s).
6. Follow the instructions of the NRA Range Safety Officer(s) always.
7. Is a registered Scouts BSA member, Venturer, or Sea Scout
Participant signature _____ __________________________________ Date: _________
Parent/guardian signature _____ ______________________________ Date: _________
Parent/guardian printed name _________________________________ Date: _________
Home phone _________________________Cell phone _________________________
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