Shoot, Cast and Blast

I like competition.   It creates excitement.   It creates intrigue.   It can also help foster a life-long interest in a particular sport.

Back when I was 11–years old I entered a Punt, Pass and Kick competition that was sponsored by the Ford Motor Company.   I practiced for days leading up to the event…then on one fall Saturday morning I showed up with many of my school mates vying for one of three trophies in the various age categories.   Accuracy and athletic ability were measured and compared with my peers.   Most years I went home emptyhanded with only the satisfaction of competing.   But on this particular year I took third place in my age bracket and went home with trophy in tow smiling from ear to ear.

All of the kids who competed and took first place then moved on to regional competitions…and subsequently the best of the best used to compete at half-time of the Superbowl.   Of course, times have now changed, the NFL would rather have glitzy rock concerts and where sometimes the performers choose to expose themselves just to draw attention.

Be that as it may…the concept of the Punt, Pass and Kick competition has long been one I’ve kicked around in my head.   What if we transformed this once popular competition for football and turned it into a thriving public relations venture to encourage increased youth participation in the outdoors?   What if we held local competitions during The National Hunting and Fishing Day where youth could compete using the various implements of outdoorsmen?   What if these kids could eventually compete at a national level each year at, say the SHOT Show Media Day, where hundreds of journalists from around the world are looking for story material?

My concept of the Shoot, Cast & Blast is really quite simple.   Youth of similar age get to shoot three arrows for score, get to cast a weighted sinker with points for accuracy, and get to fire three pellets from an air rifle also for score.   The point is these kids are getting to see activities commonly done by sportsmen as fun.   The adults helping to coordinate the event are also there to help assist those youth who need a little help.   But more importantly, these children have a reason (albeit in the form of a competition) to get excited about the outdoors rather than just sitting home in front of the tube on a Saturday morning.

I see this also as a way for local sportsman’s clubs to offer up their facilities and perhaps to help sponsor the event.   The bottom line is if our sportsman heritage is going to survive and thrive long into this new Century it’s up to us to find a way to make it happen.   We can bemoan the participation attrition numbers that seem to be connected to our ranks or we can be more pro-active and find ways to turn the tide.

Look, kids are attracted to fun and this fact hasn’t ever changed throughout the ages.   Problem is kids nowadays have way too many options to get their fun fix.   In many ways, the opportunity cost for a kid to develop the hunting or fishing lifestyle is often giving up sports or other after school activities.   This choice won’t be made unless the option competes on a level playing field.

Imagine the sight of kids bragging about taking first place in their age bracket for simply being a good sportsman with demonstrated, honed outdoor skills.   Wouldn’t such a sight make the effort all worth it?   I think so, that’s why the concept you’ve just read about is being proposed by me to The National Shooting Sports Foundation for their consideration and possible support.   We’ll see what happens.

2008 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.