Shooting Sports Coach Trainings

Becoming a Certified Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Coach:

Welcome to the Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Program! For there to be a 4-H Shooting Sports project in any county, there MUST be a 4-H Certified Coach in the shooting discipline being offered. For youth members to be eligible to participate in the 4-H shooting sports project, they MUST be participating under the supervision of a 4-H Certified Coach in that discipline. To be certified, prospective coaches will need to attend a Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Coach training event (certifications from other 3rd party organizations will not replace this certification requirement). The trainings are designed to help prospective coaches learn  about the discipline from experienced instructors, understand the rules & procedures used in various shooting events and comply with the rules and standards of the Texas 4-H program.

Coach Certification

  • 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Certifications offered include: 4-H Certified Coach and Assistant Coach.
  • A volunteer must be 21 years of age or older to be a 4-H Certified Coach.
  • Assistant Coach Certification is offered to those 14-20 years of age who attend 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Training. This certification changes to a 4-H Certified Coach certification on the date of the holder’s 21st birthday. A replacement certificate may be requested by contacting the Texas 4-H Natural Resources Program Office.
  • A 4-H Certified Coach must be currently enrolled as a 4-H volunteer and have an updated YPS background check on 4HOnline. Annual enrollment is required to maintain certification.
  • A 4-H Certified Coach must be 4-H certified in the specific discipline (Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol, Archery, Muzzleloading, Wester Heritage, Hunting & Wildlife) in which a shooting sports project is being conducted. A 4-H Certified Coach may be trained and certified in multiple disciplines.
  • Only one discipline certification (archery, pistol, rifle, shotgun) is obtainable per participant per regular training.
  • Training’s occur around the state in various locations and throughout the year. Please contact your local County Extension Office for upcoming trainings near you!
  • Equivalent certifications through other entities (NRA, USA Shooting, USA Archery, etc.) are not allowed to replace 4-H Coach Training at this time.
  • 4-H Coach Certification is transferable across the state & may be transferable from other states with the approval of the Texas 4-H Shooting Sports Coordinator.

Presence of a 4-H Certified Coach

  • A 4-H Certified Coach must be present at the time of any shooting practice and must remain on the range within control of the shooting practice. Non-certified volunteers may assist at the coach’s discretion but cannot act without the certified coach present and in control. Assistant coaches are also able to assist the coach but also cannot act without the certified coach present and in control.
  • Any 4-H Shooting Sports project must have at least one 4-H trained and certified coach in each of the disciplines (shotgun, rifle, pistol, archery, muzzleloading, western heritage, hunting & wildlife) offered within that local project. This includes home based projects.

Re-certification

  • There is no re-certification requirement for a 4-H Certified Coach. If a coach has been inactive for a period of several years, a county may require attendance to additional training.

Upcoming Training(s): DOWNLOAD 2025 La Vernia Training Information

District 10 will be hosting our annual 4-H Shooting Sports Coach Training in La Vernia, TX on November 15-16, 2025 (Sat. & Sun.)!  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at Natalie.cervantes@ag.tamu.edu or at (830) 988-6149.

  • Date: November 15-16, 2025 (Saturday & Sunday)
  • Location: La Vernia Chamber of Commerce (12201 US Hwy 87 W, La Vernia, TX 78121) *Participants will need transportation to travel off-site to shooting ranges on Sunday.
  • Lodging: Lodging is on your own. Various lodging options are available in and around the La Vernia/Floresville area.
  • Registration: Via 4HOnline at https://v2.4honline.com/#/user/sign-in *NOTE: All participants must be actively enrolled in a County 4-H program to register on 4HOnline.
  • Registration Period: October 6, 2025 (Monday) – October 28, 2025 (Tuesday)
  • Late Registration Period: October 29-31, 2025 (W-F). Fee will increase to $150. No late registrations will be accepted past October 3rd.
  • Disciplines Offered: Archery, Shotgun, Rifle, Pistol, OR Muzzleloading. *NOTE: Space is limited to 30 slots per discipline and may close before the deadline if the discipline has filled.

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