2025-2026 AlaskaYESS Rules & Protocol
2025-2026 AlaskaYESS Rules & Protocol
Not all rules are written. Many rules are taught on the field during practices, to ensure proper protocol is followed during competition. Some rules are simply common sense, but most reflect excellent sportsmanship, integrity, practicing ethical behavior, and making choices that are a positive reflection on AlaskaYESS, the team, coaches, and the athlete.
The most important goal of the AlaskaYESS program is to have fun, make friends and great memories, while training in a sport that may be enjoyed throughout life! When everyone follows proper procedures, everyone benefits!
AlaskaYESS events are governed by most of the rules of the national governing bodies and USAYESS, unless otherwise stated prior to a Flight. These rules include the Code of Conduct, the Code for Living, Substance Abuse, Dress Code, Safety, etc. Every athlete and every coach are responsible for knowing the rules. The current USAYESS Guidebook may
be found on their website at https://cdn.usayess.org/downloads/Guidebook2025.pdf. NGB rules may be found on their respective websites.
The following rules, courtesies, and protocol will be enforced during AlaskaYESS events in addition to most of the NGB, USAYESS, 7th Summit Shooting Park, and BRSP rules:
- General.
a. AlaskaYESS sanctioned events are for registered members of USAYESS. All athletes must be active members in good standing with their USAYESS team and must have attended the five regularly scheduled weekly team practices prior to competition. The only exception to the “team practice” rule is for Collegiate athletes, who come together from various university campuses and teams under our AlaskaYESS Collegiate team for the purpose of competing in our events.
b. Junior Varsity athletes who perform consistently at higher than 80% of targets broken may be promoted to Senior Varsity by the Shoot Administrator. Entry Division athletes may be promoted to JV if they consistently score 65% or higher. Once promoted the athlete may not move back to a lower division. All Intermediate and Novice athletes will compete within their division as determined by their grade in school, with 6th graders being Novice Division. USAYESS has a “Bump-up” allowance for competitions. AlaskaYESS does not!
c. Possession and/or consumption of any controlled substances, including alcohol, tobacco products, vapes, pot, or any illegal drugs are prohibited and will result in immediate expulsion from the program! Adults: Smoking on the fields or in the Walkthrough is not permitted during our events. Please do not smoke in the presence of our youth athletes. This includes vapes. If you wish to smoke, please do so in your personal vehicle. Smoking is not permitted anywhere at 7th Summit outside of the main parking lot.
d. Use of language, hand gestures, etc. that is abusive, foul, or offensive to others is prohibited and may result in suspension or disqualification from an event. Cursing on the competition field will result in immediate disqualification from the event!
e. Theft or possession of stolen property will result in immediate corrective action, including suspension and possible expulsion from the program. A willful act of destruction to the property of others is prohibited. It is the responsibility of the individual and their parents to make immediate restitution and may result in further disciplinary action.f. An act of poor sportsmanship may be grounds for disciplinary action, including throwing spent shells on the competition field. Cheating in any form will result in immediate disqualification! Any behavior that adversely affects another athlete during competition may result in disqualification. Repeated acts of poor sportsmanship may result in expulsion from the program.
g. To clarify, Disqualification may include: All scores zeroed for the event, or for the entire tournament, any awards withdrawn and returned if presented, no refunds for any portion of the event, and removal from the facility for the duration of the event. Reinstatement in the program will be a determination of the Executive Board.
h. USAYESS and AlaskaYESS, its teams and registered volunteers are not responsible for stolen, lost, or damaged equipment, unread emails, texts, daily flight schedules, or lack of attention to rules and policies. - Safety.
a. Every Flight has a MANDATORY Safety & Informational Briefing prior to start of each Flight. If you do not attend the briefing you may be disqualified from that round or that event.
b. Eye and ear protection must be worn at all times on the competition and practice fields. Most Sunglasses do not meet safety standards and are not permitted. Music- or audio-playing ear buds are not permitted. ANYONE not wearing proper safety equipment will be asked to leave the field, and this includes guests.
c. If an athlete covers any part of their body – toe, hands, chin, etc. – with the barrel of their gun, or if the butt of the stock of the gun is on the ground or on their foot, they will be immediately disqualified from the entire event and asked to leave the Park.
d. Athletes should wash their hands thoroughly as soon as possible following practice, competition, or gun cleaning. - Equipment.
a. *Pump shotguns, riot guns, bear guns, open or exposed hammer, release triggers, bolt action, and any other firearms deemed inappropriate or unsafe by a coach, administrator, or Range Safety Officer are not allowed at AlaskaYESS practices, events, or competitions.
*Pump shotguns for very small athletes may be permitted by the coach during practice sessions. Inability to properly cycle a pump shotgun is an athlete error and a Lost target(s). Use of a pump during competition must be cleared with the Shoot Administrator.
b. Malfunctions.
1) On the third gun or ammo malfunction the athlete will need to step off the field or station to allow the remaining squad members to continue to compete without distraction. Once the problem has been resolved, the athlete may resume competition with their squad but may not backtrack to reshoot a station. This will be allowed once per round, to avoid delay of flight consequences for the rest of the squad. Missed stations/targets may be made up at the end of the flight provided there is not a squad waiting to step on the field. The Shoot Administrator will be advised of any make-up targets.
2) Any “malfunction” or a shell not firing that is caused by an error on the part of the athlete will be called a “Lost” target, including wrong barrel selection, safety on, trapping the trigger, balking at a target, ammo in wrong barrel, ammo that is not suitable for that shotgun, a dirty shotgun that is not cycling or ejecting shells, etc. Athletes are responsible for having thoroughly cleaned and properly functioning guns with the appropriate ammo for their shotgun. - Dress Code.
a. Tops must have sleeves a minimum of 4” long, no exposed torsos. Shorts must be longer than the shooting vest and at minimum fingertip length. Pants and shorts must be worn at the waist. No undergarments may be exposed. No clothing with designs or messages involving alcohol (Sorry, no Salty Dawg Saloon shirts!), or any controlled substances, political sayings, sexual connotations, etc. Please use common sense, presenting a clean-cut, businesslike style to our shooting program.
b. Shoes must be closed toe and closed back. No sandals, crocs, or flip-flops, etc.
c. Hats must be worn with the bill facing forward at all times. If the bill interferes with the athlete’s view of the target, the hat may be turned around for the shot and then returned to face forward immediately following the shot(s), prior to stepping out of the shooting station.
d. USAYESS does not permit camo in any form or color at any of their events. AlaskaYESS may permit athletes to wear camo winter jackets while competing in temperatures below 40*, however, camo will not be permitted at State Championship on any garments, in any form or color. *(Camo-finish shotguns are permitted) - Protocol/Code of Conduct.
a. There is “No Coaching” during competition. This will be strictly enforced with serious consequences, including disqualification from the event for the athlete and removal from the facility of the person doing the coaching.
1) On-field or at-station coaching will NOT be allowed! All coaches, volunteers and guests must remain behind the bull rail in Trap & Skeet, and at least 10 feet away from a Sporting Clays Walkthrough station.
2) Athletes who walk up to the bullrail for coaching between rounds may be disqualified from the round at the discretion of the referee, trapper or Shoot Administrator. If an athlete has been experiencing gun or ammo malfunctions, they may ask the referee for permission to consult with their coach or a parent to resolve the issue.
3) Non-competitors coaching at the station or on the field, signaling from off-field or off-station, distracting other athletes on the field, or disrupting the flow of competition may result in loss of points or disqualification for the athlete from the round, and possibly the event. The non-squad member (coach, guest, or athlete) will be removed from the competition field and possibly the facility. Further incidents may result in loss of AlaskaYESS and team membership!
b. Athletes may not leave the field during the competition without the express permission of the referee/trapper. They must bring sufficient ammo on the field to complete the required rounds for that event. Athletes must have their bib numbers on their back. No athlete will be allowed to compete without their bib number. Bibs are distributed at
check-in.
c. Athletes must maintain a minimum of 3 feet between any part of their body or their firearm from the shooter in the station. They may not infringe on the athlete in the station in any way and may not do anything that would be a distraction, including talking or gesturing within the athlete’s line of sight.
d. When an athlete has completed their final shot(s) at a station in Sporting Clays, they must wait quietly at the station until all athletes on that field have completed their shots before leaving their station or the field. During 5-Stand, athletes must wait in their box until all athletes on the squad have completed their series of shots for their station before leaving the box to rotate stations.
e. No political “statements” will be tolerated at AlaskaYESS events. This is not the time or place for political statements (hats, shirts, flags, etc.).
f. SHHHHH!!!!! Observers should be using their eyes and not their voices, please! Respect every athlete by NOT being a distraction by words or actions. Save your cheers for after the flight is completed!
g. Athletes are not permitted on the Walkthrough course once the targets are set for competition, for any reason. Any athlete found in the Walkthrough at any hour for any purpose after the targets have been set and prior to their competition flight will be subject to disqualification from the competition without a refund! - Conducting a Course of Fire/Event.
a. Tournament schedules, squadding, awards structure, fees, etc. are subject to change. Although AlaskaYESS staff and volunteers make every attempt to maintain the published schedule, situations may arise to necessitate program changes. It is the responsibility of athletes and coaches to know the rules and to check the program, flights, and squads prior to flight, at the end of the day’s shooting, and prior to first flight the next day, as well as keeping up with emails and communications from the Shoot Administrator.
b. Every Flight has a MANDATORY Safety & Informational Briefing prior to start of the Flight. Including the Opening Ceremonies at State Championship. There will be no provision or allowance given for any athlete whose scores or participation are affected because they did not attend this meeting or abide by the rules stated during this meeting. Athletes must check their flight times and check in with the Shoot Administrator a minimum of one hour prior to scheduled Flight Time or the time set by the Shoot Administrator. Athletes must be on-deck a minimum of 10 minutes prior to Flight time. Athletes may not enter the field once shooting has commenced for that round. If you miss start-of-flight for the first round we will discuss possible make-up of the round after all flights for the day have been completed.
c. Each flight is set with a standard length of time for each squad to complete their designated rounds on the field. If a squad is taking longer than their designated time on the field they may face penalties or removal from the field with zeros for incomplete stations. Trap is 1 hour/100 targets, Skeet is 1 ½ hours/100 targets. It is the responsibility of coaching staff to train their athletes to complete their rounds within these time ranges.
d. It is the athlete’s responsibility to dispute a call while still in the station. A shooter’s fellow squad members may also challenge a call by a trapper. The Referee’s decision on a dead or lost bird is final. Scores will not be changed once an athlete has stepped out of the station! A trapper should call every bird either Dead or Lost, and loudly enough that every member of the squad can hear the call. Athletes are responsible for requesting that the trapper call the results of each shot clearly.
e. Athletes are expected to take a picture of the scoresheet before leaving the field and count the score themselves before coming to the scoring table to dispute a posted score! Only the squad leader needs to initial the scoresheet.
f. AlaskaYESS Wobble Trap events are one shot only, not two. AlaskaYESS Skeet competitions rule a “Simo” or “Proof Double” as a “Dead Pair” when both targets are broken with one shot, provided that the athlete was obviously tracking the correct target first. AlaskaYESS does not permit calling for an additional target if the shooter balks at a legal target, which is a “Lost” bird. Planes flying over the field are not a distraction.
g. Scoresheets are the responsibility of the squad leader to pick up at the Safety Briefing and take to the field, immediately returning it to the scoring desk following completion of that scoresheet! No other person may handle the scoresheets other than the Shoot Administrator, official Scoring Volunteer, Referee, or a trapper.
h. Breaking ties for the purpose of awards will be by countback. If a shootoff is held it will be conducted as determined by Shoot Administration or as specified in the event program.
NEW USAYESS POLICY! Social Media Disciplinary Actions: Posting inaccurate, detrimental, threatening, or derogatory content about USAYESS or any USAYESS volunteer, affiliate, or sponsor may result in disqualification for both the athlete and parents.
REMEBER ABOVE ALL ELSE TO BE SAFE! Be respectful, be polite, and be coachable. Promote the Positive and Practice Gratitude! Be mindful of your fellow athletes, respecting their right to take the best shot on their target! Congratulate those who win, encourage those who did not. Winning is not necessarily the person with the highest score. Strength of character is far more important, and that’s the bottom line!