Supervision on the range

The junior programs and range rules we checked all put juniors under supervision, usually with more than one layer of it, and parents and guardians are part of the picture too. This guide explains who does what so you know what to expect and what to ask.

The layers of supervision

The range officer. The RO is in charge of safety for everyone on the range. The NRAA's range officer handbook goes further for juniors: the RO is responsible for the safety of minors on the range and its facilities until they're back with their parents.

Instructors and coaches. Junior programs pair juniors with trained people. SSAA ACT says its instructors and qualified range officers supervise juniors at all times, and SSAA NSW says juniors are supported by qualified instructors, range officers and experienced club members.

A responsible adult. Many venues also want a responsible adult involved. At the Sydney International Shooting Centre, children must always be accompanied and directly supervised by a responsible adult on site. Sydney Pistol Club makes each junior member the responsibility of an adult club member. A Melbourne clay club's come-and-try sessions take juniors with a parent or guardian.

Before the first session

Expect some paperwork. St Ives Pistol Club, for example, requires a signed parental consent form with a junior's application.

Ask the club:

• Does a parent or guardian need to stay on site, or at the firing line?

• Who will supervise my child while they shoot, and how many juniors does each person supervise?

• What do juniors learn before they handle a firearm?

• What protective gear do juniors need? SSAA Victoria's Eagle Park range, for example, makes eye protection mandatory for juniors.

How juniors learn

One Brisbane pistol club begins junior training with extensive dry-fire sessions, practising with an unloaded firearm before any live shooting. SSAA ACT uses a competency-based coaching program and gives each junior a log book to record their shooting experience.

Juniors follow the same safe handling rules and range commands as adults. Safe handling rules and Range commands and etiquette are good to read together before a first visit.

If you're watching

Parents and spectators near the firing line need hearing protection too. Target Pistol Australia's rules require ear protection for everyone in the immediate vicinity of the firing line, and SSAA Victoria's Eagle Park range also requires eye protection for spectators on the firing line. Stay behind the line, keep clear of the firearms, and follow the range officer's instructions like everyone else.

If something looks unsafe, tell the range officer straight away. For other concerns, SSAA SA's range officer manual sends disagreements to the club's senior range officer first and then the committee.