By Gary Anderson, DCM Emeritus
USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Three-Position Air Rifle shooting is the most popular junior rifle program in the USA. Its massive participation base includes more than 2,000 JROTC high school programs, hundreds of 4-H Shooting Sports clubs and several hundred junior rifle clubs.
An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 youth participate annually in three-position air rifle programs, with many of them engaging in some form of organized competitive shooting. The main governing body for this major youth sports program is the National Three-Position Air Rifle Council. The Council’s primary means of governing Three-Position Air Rifle events and programs is its rulebook, the National Standard Three-Position Air Rifle Rules.
The National Standard Rules are revised and reissued on a bi-annual basis. The newest version of the Rules, the 12th 2018-2020 edition, has just been released. An electronic version of the new 3-position rules is posted on the CMP website at http://thecmp.org/air/national-standard-three-position-air-rifle-rules/. Printed copies will be available for ordering on November 1st.
The CMP provides staff support for the National Council’s 3-position air rifle programs. Vicki Donoho is the program coordinator and acts as the Council Secretary. She can be contacted at 419-635-2141, ext. 702, or via email at
The process of developing rules changes starts with the questions and recommendations received at CMP Headquarters or that are received from participants at 3-position championships. Coaches at the 2018 National Three-Position Championships (Junior Olympic and CMP) were asked for their input on rules. Comments received during this rules cycle focused on fine-tuning existing rules, not on any need for major changes. All comments were evaluated and a new rules draft was prepared and distributed to Council members. This draft was discussed in detail during a 4 October 2018
