Your First Sporting Clays Tournament: What You Need to Know

Thinking about entering your first sporting clays tournament?

Go for it.

You don't need to be an expert, own an expensive competition shotgun or know everyone at the club. Registered sporting clays tournaments include shooters of all ability levels, and every experienced competitor started with a first tournament.

Here's what you need to know to get started.

Do I Need to Be a Great Shooter?

Absolutely not.

One of the advantages of registered sporting clays is that shooters compete within classifications designed to put competitors of similar ability against one another.

Your first tournament isn't about winning the State Championship.

It's about getting some tournament experience, meeting other shooters and having fun.

If you're comfortable safely handling your shotgun and have shot sporting clays before, you're ready to start thinking about your first tournament.

Do I Need to Join the NSCA?

Most registered sporting clays tournaments are sanctioned by the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA).

You'll generally need an NSCA membership or an appropriate temporary membership to participate in registered competition.

Your NSCA number is used to track your registered targets, scores, classification and other competition information.

If you're interested in registered shooting, joining the NSCA is a good first step.

New Shooter Tip: If you're unsure about membership requirements for a particular event, contact the host club before registering. They'll be happy to point you in the right direction.

How Do I Find a Tournament?

The ISCA website maintains a calendar of upcoming registered shoots and major sporting clays events throughout Illinois.

Start with an event close to home.

You don't have to make your first experience a major championship. A regular weekend registered shoot at a local club is a great way to learn how tournaments work.

VIEW UPCOMING ILLINOIS EVENTS

How Do I Register?

Many Illinois tournaments use online registration systems such as ScoreChaser, while some smaller events may handle registration directly through the club.

The event listing should tell you how to enter.

You'll typically select:

The event you want to shoot
Your shooting date
An available time or rotation
Your squad, if applicable
Any additional events you want to enter

Some tournaments allow walk-in registration, but don't assume that's the case.

Do I Need to Have a Squad?

Usually, no.

If you're attending with friends, you can often register together and create your own squad.

Coming by yourself?

That's perfectly fine.

Depending on the tournament, you may be able to select an open squad during registration or the club may place you with other shooters.

In fact, shooting with people you don't know is one of the best ways to meet other sporting clays shooters.

Tell your squad it's your first tournament. Most experienced shooters will be happy to help you understand the routine.

What Class Will I Shoot?

NSCA registered competition uses a classification system so shooters compete against others with similar competitive experience and performance.

Don't worry about figuring this all out yourself before your first tournament.

New registered shooters begin according to current NSCA classification rules, and your classification can change as you accumulate registered targets and earn punches through competition.

The important thing for your first event is simply to make sure your NSCA information is entered correctly when you register.

What Are Concurrent Categories?

In addition to your NSCA class, you may qualify for a concurrent category.

Concurrent categories allow eligible shooters to compete within additional groups based on categories established by the NSCA.

Depending on the event and current NSCA rules, these may include age-based categories as well as Lady, Junior and other concurrent classifications.

If you're eligible, make sure the correct concurrent information is associated with your registration.

What Event Should I Enter?

A tournament may offer considerably more than one event.

At a larger shoot you might see:

Main Event Sporting Clays
Preliminary Sporting Clays
FITASC
5-Stand
Super Sporting
Sub-Gauge events
Make-A-Break or other games

For your first tournament, keep it simple.

A standard 100-target sporting clays event is a great place to start.

You don't need to sign up for everything.

Get comfortable with the tournament experience first. There will be plenty of opportunities to try the other disciplines later.

How Much Does a Tournament Cost?

Entry fees vary by club and event.

Your basic entry fee normally covers your targets and competition entry. Larger tournaments may offer additional options, side events, purses or other opportunities that increase the total cost.

You may also need to budget for:

Ammunition
NSCA membership
Golf cart rental, if desired
Food and beverages
Optional events or games

Check the event information before registering so you know what's included.

What Should I Bring?

The essentials are pretty straightforward:

Shotgun + Ammunition + Eye Protection + Hearing Protection

You'll also want comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, something to carry your shells and a few other basic items.

We've created a separate checklist to make this easy.

READ: WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO A SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT?

What Happens When I Arrive?

Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled shooting time, and give yourself even more time at a large tournament.

When you arrive:

Park and unload your equipment.
Find tournament registration.
Check in and complete any required paperwork.
Confirm your event, squad and starting station.
Find out where and when your squad should meet.
Get your shotgun, ammunition and equipment ready.
Be at your designated location before your scheduled start.

Don't wait until five minutes before your start time to figure everything out.

A relaxed start makes for a much better first tournament.

What Happens on the Course?

Your squad will move through a series of stations, shooting different target presentations along the way.

Depending on the event format, your squad may have an assigned starting station or use another rotation system.

At each station, you'll establish a shooting order, view the target presentations and take turns shooting.

Your squad will then move to the next station and repeat the process until you've completed the course.

The process becomes very natural after you've been through a few stations.

What If I Don't Know What I'm Doing?

Ask.

You aren't expected to know everything at your first tournament.

If you aren't sure where to go, ask tournament staff.

If you aren't sure about the squad rotation, ask another shooter.

If you don't understand a target presentation or rule, ask the referee or shoot official.

The one area where you should never guess is safety. If you're uncertain about something involving your shotgun or a range procedure, stop and ask.

Learn a Little Tournament Etiquette

Knowing a few unwritten customs will make your first tournament much more comfortable.

Things like being ready when it's your turn, giving the squad ahead of you some space, helping with scoring when necessary and keeping your squad moving are easy to learn.

We've put the most important ones together here:

READ: NEW SHOOTER TOURNAMENT ETIQUETTE

Before You Leave Home

Confirm your tournament registration
Confirm your shooting time
Know where the club is located
Check the weather
Pack your shotgun
Pack enough ammunition
Bring eye and hearing protection
Bring your shooting vest, pouch or bag
Bring your choke wrench if needed
Bring water
Plan to arrive early

Your First Score Doesn't Matter

This might be the most important advice on this page.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Tournament targets may be different from what you're accustomed to seeing during practice. You may be nervous. You'll probably miss some targets you think you should have broken.

So does everyone else.

Your goal for your first tournament should be simple:

Be safe. Learn how tournaments work. Meet some people. Break some targets. Have fun.

When you finish, chances are you'll already be thinking about the next one.

Ready to Shoot Your First Tournament?

There's no substitute for actually doing it.

Find an upcoming Illinois event, register and give registered sporting clays a try.

FIND AN ILLINOIS SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT