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The clay target shooting program at the Corinthian Yacht Club (CYC or CYCoP) is designed to provide an opportunity for authorized members, their guests, and guests of the Club to responsibly have access to our facility where they can safely engage in the sport of trapshooting. The clay target shooting program at CYC is a privilege, not a right of membership.
 
Facility for Use
Shotgun Ranges are to be used for Singles, Wobble, and Doubles Trap.
a.  One permanent and two temporary fields are located on the western most portion of the club property. They will be referred to as “Field 1, Field 2 and Field 3”, respectively.
b.  The throwing machines for all Fields will be oriented to throw targets so that the fields of fire for the shooting stations will not encroach on neighboring properties, docks, or boats.
 
Events
a.  Club and Home Competition Shoots. Any shoot that takes place on The Corinthian Yacht Club trap fields. Priority shall be given to those who timely RSVP to each shoot’s e-mail notice. When CYC hosts a competition shoot at CYC with another club, only members in good standing who have a handicap may have their scores counted in such shoots.
b.  Novice Shoots. Novice shoots will be offered to and attended by club members or guests who are learning to shoot and who are not yet prepared to participate in Club shoots. Novice Shoots will be marked accordingly on the schedule and to assure an increased safety presence, they shall be conducted by an insured, certified, non-member instructor. No CYC member shall serve as an instructor. These shoots may also be scheduled when there is an "Away" shoot already on the schedule.

Use
a.  The trap fields may only be used by club members, their guests, or participants in a special event.
b.  No person who is under the influence of any alcoholic beverages, mood or behavior-affecting substances or medications (prescription or non-prescription) of any sort or who demonstrates any physical or mental limitation may participate in any way in the shooting program at the Corinthian Yacht Club. Persons who, in the sole discretion of the Range Safety Officer (RSO), demonstrate any impairment that is deemed to deleteriously affect the integrity of self-control of said person, without regard to the causal elements of such lack of integrity, will be required to cease any and all shooting for the balance of that day’s activity.
c. All shooters are subject to safety check at any time while on Club property.
d. All shooters must be legally able to own, possess and operate a firearm; and not be a “Prohibited Person” as defined by both state and federal laws.
         
Administrative Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
Trap Pavilion
a.  The Trap Pavilion shall be opened for all Trap Shooting events for use as a resting area.
b.  When food service is being offered, it may be served in the Trap Pavilion.
c.  No storage of firearms or ammunition will be allowed in the Trap Pavilion.

Parking
All participants must park their vehicles in the approved areas. Access ways for emergency vehicles must be maintained in an open condition.

Clubhouse & Bathrooms
a.  Restroom facilities are located in the main Clubhouse on the ground level and will be available for all shooting events, Firearms are prohibited in the restrooms.
b.  Firearms are prohibited in the Clubhouse.
 
Staff
a.  The Trap fields and grounds will be run and maintained by the staff of The Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia, with the help of the membership.
b.  Operation of the Trap program, machines, and fields will be carried out by appointed staff, RSOs, and cashiers. The cashier may be a member of the Club and shall be designated by the Trap Chairman. The General Manager of the Club shall appoint the remaining staff.
c.  No less than 4 persons will carry out the operation of the fields at any time. These persons will be at least 2 referees, 1 RSO, and 1 cashier. The duties of the four positions may be intermixed as to best execute the duties required.
d.  It is preferred that at least 1 person has CPR/ First Aid training and access to the medical supplies and defibrillator located in the Club House.
e.  Staff should include at least one NRA certified Range Safety Officer or Chief Range Safety Officer. This staff member will follow the SOP in the best and most efficient way possible to ensure the safety and success of the program.
f.  If a CYCoP staff RSO is not available for any reason, a CYCoP member who is also NRA certified RSO may, from time to time, assume the duties and follow the SOP accordingly.
 
Hours of Operations
a.  Registration for regularly scheduled shoots will begin one half hour before shoot start.
b.     Safety briefings will be given at the beginning of every shoot, and will be immediately followed by squad 1 starting their first round.
c.  The shooting facility will remain open until all squads have completed their rounds.
d.  Hours of operation can be changed at the discretion of the RSO or Trap Chair.
e.  In the event of continued shooting, a second safety brief may need to be performed if the event changes. (Standard Trap to Doubles etc.)
f.  The shooting program and its constituent parts shall be determined by the Trap Committee as the same is appointed by the Commodore, with the consent of the Corinthian Board of Trustees. The shooting season will generally run from October to April of the succeeding calendar year.

Required Paperwork for Shooters
a.  Before being permitted to shoot at the Club, all shooters must have current and up to date paperwork filed with the cashier for the day.
b.  Every participant and spectator will sign a release and hold harmless-indemnification waiver at least once each shooting season, and prior to engaging in any activity during that shooting season.
c.  All shooters must have either a CYCoP handicap, or have proper shooting credentials on file with the cashier, or a satisfactory known ability to either the RSO, Trap Chair, or cashier. Refer to the NOIS section, below.
d.  Before beginning to shoot, all shooters must be assigned to a squad by the cashier.
 
Authorized and Prohibited Firearms, Ammunition, and Targets
a.  Rifles and Handguns:  While in attendance at the trap fields, and/or at any event or program conducted under the auspices of these Rules, no person shall exhibit or carry a handgun, holstered or otherwise, or any gun not permitted by these Rules. This prohibition shall not apply to police officers actively on duty at the time that they are on the CYC trap fields, or any area of the Corinthian Yacht Club governed by these Rules.
b.  Shotguns:  May be operated by authorized personnel under the supervision of the RSO. Pump and auto-loaders require the express permission of the RSO or Trap Committee Chair.
c.  Cannons:  Cannon use is at the discretion of the Waterfront Committee and does not fall within the Trap Program or its actions.
d.  Ammunition:  All shooters must only use ammunition provided by CYC. No ammunition received from the Corinthian Yacht Club shall be taken from the premises by any shooter or participant.
e.  Equipment:  Each shooter shall be personally responsible to ensure that their equipment is safe and in good working order, that they are fully capable of operating their equipment and, that they have familiarized themselves with the principles of safe gun conduct and these specific rules of the Corinthian Yacht Club.
f.  All shotguns utilizing release triggers must have a prominent decal or other conspicuous marking on them advising that this gun is so equipped.
g.  Shotguns must be of the sporting type; Barrels, when measured from the rear of the chamber to the muzzle, must be 26 inches or longer, magazines shall only hold 4 or fewer cartridges, and the stocks must be at least 12 inches from the butt to the trigger.

Targets
a.  The club targets to be used in all shotgun shooting sports and events are biodegradable targets.
b.  Hand thrown targets are prohibited regardless of the type. The Club does not have sufficient protection or facilities to protect throwers forward of the firing line.
 
Emergency Action Plan
Equipment
a.  Procedure Cards, as approved by the CYC Board, shall be distributed by the RSO to the referees and the cashier prior to each shoot. These cards outline each holder’s responsibility in case of an emergency.

b.  The Trap House shall have an emergency first aid kit befitting of the activities taking place. It is the responsibility of the RSO on duty to be sure that the kit is in its proper location and is stocked prior to shooting.
c.  If an AED is needed, the pre-designated staff member will retrieve it from the Main Clubhouse at the base of the main staircase.
d.  Emergency communication. The street address of Corinthian Yacht Club is 300 West Second Street, Essington, PA 19029. This information is essential for the 911 operator to have. Staff will move to the entrance to direct emergency vehicles.

Action Plan:
a.  In the event of an emergency, the RSO will initiate the emergency procedure with a long whistle blast. Immediate instructions will be issued, and implemented by available referees, the cashier, and designated emergency officers. One person shall be designated to record the progression of events.
b.  Persons who have been issued procedure cards will follow the instruction printed thereon to the best of their ability, consistent with the instruction of the RSO, or the emergency officer in charge.
c.  The RSO, or the alternate emergency officer shall take charge of the situation & shall direct the securing of all guns & ammunition, and other steps as required by the immediate situation.
d.  If required, the RSO shall give immediate first aid to the victim.          
e.  The RSO and all designated persons shall keep everyone that was at the activity together and shall ask them not to discuss the incident until further notice.
f.  Shooters shall not talk to the media at all, awaiting instruction From Club officials.

Sign in Procedure
a. Upon arrival, all participants will promptly sign in with the cashier for the day. Individual guests must be in the immediate company of their host member(s). Members shall be held responsible for the personal behavior and conduct of their guests, and especially with regard to the safe gun handling by each such guest.

General Range Rules

a.     Once a firearm is brought onto Club property, it is subject to all of the rules of the Corinthian Yacht Club.
b.     Operation of a firearm is strictly prohibited except under staff supervision and in the ways consistent with the standards described in these Rules and SOP.
c.   Protective glasses and ear protection must be worn while on the trap field and while near any designated shooting areas.
d.     Firearms must be carried with actions open or disassembled to and from vehicles as well as to and from shooting stations.
e.   No other firearms besides a shotgun will be permitted to be shot at the Club. No shotguns with a bore larger than 12 gauge will be permitted. Only Club supplied shells may be used.
f.    Be mindful of the gauge you are shooting and make sure you are carrying only that gauge shell.
g.   A shotgun should only be loaded when a shooter is on station and the target area is deemed safe. Shooters shall not close their action until it is that shooter’s time to shoot and their gun is pointed downrange.
h.   At no time will any shooter’s finger be within the trigger guard until the shooter’s shotgun is pointed downrange and the shooter is prepared to call for the target.
i.    All shots must be taken from on station. Shooting from off station is strictly prohibited.
j.    At no time will a shooter load more than one shell in a shotgun when shooting singles; or more than two shells if shooting doubles. 
k.   It is forbidden to shoot at any live game, or to shoot at any targets other than regulation “trap thrown” clay targets. It is also forbidden to shoot at the target of another participant, except when shooting protection.
l.      Before walking between stations, all shooters will open the actions of their firearms, clear, and show safe before proceeding. This action is at the direction of the referee or RSO for the field. This action will be prompted by the command: “Shooters all change.”
m.   When not on station, the gun shall be unloaded and placed on a designated rack. When entering and exiting the shooting areas the shooters must ensure that the shotgun is pointed in a safe downward direction, unloaded and the action open.
n.   Stop shooting immediately upon the command “Cease Firing!”
o.   Hygiene Guidelines
i.    Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking or placing your hands in proximity to your mouth or nose while on the range or cleaning a gun.
ii.   Wash hands with soap and warm water and change and wash clothing after a shooting or gun cleaning session to minimize exposure to particulate chemical elements, or to solvent and cleaning product residues.
p.   Physical contact – always ask permission before touching any shooter or their firearm.
q.     There will be no buying or selling of firearms or parts of firearms on Corinthian Yacht Club property.
r.      All non-shooters and/or observers must remain behind the trap field at all times; only individuals that are shooting are permitted on the trap field, unless they have the express permission of the range officer and/or cashier before the round begins. Additionally, only authorized personnel are permitted forward of the 16-yard line.

Operation of Trap Fields
a.   The RSO shall arrive at least one hour before the commencement of the shooting event. He/she shall instruct the persons designated as referees and RSOs on safety and operating procedures and any special needs for the day, shall insure the placement of all needed equipment at each shooting field so that the referee can properly guide activities on that field and shall insure that each referee can execute the supervision of each shooting field.
b.   The RSO shall supervise the hoisting of the open range flag, loading of targets in each trap house, the opening of ammunition and the placement of the same in the designated restricted ammunition area(s), the electrical activation of the trap houses and the placement of orange safety cones in each trap, the placement of sign-in sheets and activity waiver forms in the sign-in area, the designation of general assembly and maintenance areas, the placement of gun racks and benches and the placement of such other items as will be required for the successful conduct of the event of the day.
c.   The RSO shall supervise the person designated as the cashier. The cashier shall execute all functions required to register shooters and establish handicaps, to review shooting qualifications of the intended shooter, to obtain waivers from shooters and guests, dispense hearing and eye protection as necessary, assign persons to squads, as well as collect and calculate scores and award prizes as the case may be.
d.   At the beginning of each day’s activities the RSO or designee of the RSO shall present introductory remarks to the assembled shooters which will include any specific safety issues for the day.
e.   At the conclusion of every day’s event the cashier shall collect all forms generated by the cashier’s function from that day’s activities and shall deliver them to the RSO, who shall create a summary of the day’s event. The RSO will then cause the activity sheets and the summary to be filed with the Club Manager, with copies to the Trap Chair.
f.    In the event that a “Cease Fire” has been called on any field and the cause of the cease fire requires the attention of the RSO, shooting shall not re-commence on that field until clearance is given by the RSO.
g.   Shotgun sighting, dry firing, fitting or other activities necessitating the shouldering of a shotgun in a position theoretically preparatory to shooting may ONLY occur when on station, or in an area designated for such purpose by the RSO.
h.   Each shooter must lift their gun off of the ground and point it down range before closing the action of said gun in preparation for shouldering the gun. After the preceding shooter has fired the shooter may close the action of their gun, shoulder the gun, and call for and engage his/her target. Each shooter will, in rotation, engage five targets at each shooting position unless otherwise instructed.
i.    When instructed to change positions shooters shall only move when their guns are open and unloaded. Shooters will ONLY move off of their stations when directed to do so by the referee on that shooting field.
j.  In the event that ANY safety issue becomes apparent to ANY shooter they shall immediately call ”cease fire”. The referee and squad leader will assess the situation and if necessary, will summon the RSO. Upon hearing the call to “cease fire” each shooter shall unload their gun, secure the shell and await further instructions. No one shall reload their gun until so instructed by the referee and/or squad leader.
k.   In the event that a shooter demonstrates any conduct that, in the sole opinion of a squad leader or RSO, poses a risk to persons or property, that person, upon consultation and affirmance by the RSO, will be required to cease participation in the activities of that day, and may be subject to additional remedial, disciplinary or protective steps deemed appropriate under those circumstances before being allowed to subsequently participate in any shooting activities. The decision of the RSO in this regard shall be final.
l.    In the event that a person attempts to shoot and the gun does not fire the shooter should hold the muzzle pointing down range for thirty seconds, and then may proceed to open the action. If the primer has been visibly struck, or not, the shooter may reload the shell and attempt to fire it once more. The shooter may alternatively request a replacement shell from the referee. If a shell does not fire on the second attempt, the shooter shall again wait for thirty seconds before opening the action. This defective shell shall then be given to the referee who shall place it in an appropriate receptacle marked and designated solely for this purpose.
m.  If a shooter has a shell that fires but does not fire with full force and velocity, the shooter shall perform a visual inspection of the barrel of his gun to check for obstructions. Inspections shall be conducted from the breech end of the barrel only. In the case of a slide or auto-loading action the inspection shall be performed from the breech end of the barrel, or by the use of a clearing rod or dowel run through the barrel. This activity will necessitate a call of “cease fire” on that field, with all shooters then unloading their guns, and awaiting further instructions.
n.   In the event that a gun mechanically fails to perform in its designed fashion, the shooter shall immediately ensure that the gun is unloaded and that it is removed from the firing line.
o.   Auto-loading shotguns may only be used when they are equipped with devices that will prevent the ejection of spent shells in a fashion that will enter the area surrounding any other shooter.
p.   While not prohibited, participants are urged not to rest opened guns on the toe of their shoe but rather are urged to use the muzzle rests provided at each station.
q.   If any shooter has a question about the application or meaning of any rule set forth here, they shall make a prompt inquiry to the RSO in charge of the facility for that day. All interpretations of the RSO shall be final.
r.  If any shooter has a protest concerning any element of the shooting program of that day, the protest will promptly be filed with the RSO who shall conduct an appropriate investigation and reach a determination, which shall be final as to the issue presented.

Novice and Inexperienced Shooters (NOIS), and Guests
a.   It is the intention of the Corinthian Yacht Club trap program to make the sport of trapshooting available to all interested persons through a comprehensive orientation to the proper methods of safely and courteously handling a shotgun.
b.   At the time of signing in with the cashier, all shooters will present their qualifications and experience with shotguns, and the trap discipline. The cashier, under the supervision of the RSO, will identify novice or inexperienced (NOIS) shooters and shall place them in a separate group. These persons may be deemed inadequate to shoot in the scheduled program, and may be required to complete NOIS training at one of the Novice Shoots, as scheduled.
c.   Shooters who present adequate qualifications prima face will be allowed to shoot under the direct supervision of an experienced person appointed by the RSO or cashier to observe this shooter, and to report to the cashier and RSO as to the apparent ability of said person.
d.   Any guest or new shooter who has brought their own gun with them will be examined to determine their knowledge, skill and attitude with respect to said gun. The gun will be similarly examined for integrity and appropriateness. After a person has been cleared with regard to the shotgun to be used and their sufficiency with the gun, they will be permitted to shoot with a squad, under circumstances to be determined by the RSO. In all circumstances, each person must, unless the Cashier and/or ROS determine otherwise, have one approved person, or RSO, or the cashier stand behind/beside them on the firing line for a minimum of three rounds, and for as many rounds as the RSO shall deem necessary, to establish the possession of the requisite knowledge, skills and attitude by the person to allow shooting by said person without such immediate supervision.
e.   No NOIS shall be cleared for shooting with the general group until the RSO has signed off on their successful completion of the full orientation program, which may include attendance at one or more mentored Novice Shoots.
f.    No person who has been cleared to shoot with the general group shall be a squad leader for their first shooting season, unless first expressly so authorized by the RSO.
g.   Guests, accompanied by Host Members, are welcome at the Trap fields. Each member is limited to bringing two guests per shoot to Corinthian, in a manner that is consistent with the Guest policy of the Corinthian Yacht Club, and further subject to the examination of the qualifications as set forth in the NOIS section, above. A person may not be a guest at CYC more than two times in each non-calendar shooting season.
 
Safety Briefing Outline
 a.  Purpose of the Event & Introduction of Range Staff & Roles:
 b.  Range Layout & Limits:
i.  Event Staff, referees and cashier
ii.  Ready Area, rest areas
iii.  Firing Line, observation areas
iv.  Target Area
v.  Impact Area
vi.  Left & right range limits
vii.  Firearms to be used
viii.  Other elements specific to our range and the program of the day