"to promote and govern the sport"
The Amateur Trapshooting Association serves as the governing body for the sport of American style trapshooting. The ATA's mission is to promote and govern the sport throughout the world.
As the faithful protector of trapshooting, the ATA not only governs the sport's rules and regulations, but also seeks ways to enhance the sport and stimulate participation. The ATA provides trophies, financial assistance and event management support to the state and provincial associations. The ATA has also been instrumental in developing programs to increase interest in the sport with its creation of National Trapshooting Day, Satellite Grand Americans, Achievement Recognition and other valuable programs.
The ATA was founded in 1900 as the American Trapshooting Association and later changed to the Amateur Trapshooting Association in 1923. The ATA is composed of individual members, with two classifications of membership - life and annual. Only life members can hold office within this organization.
The governing body of the ATA is its Board of Directors, composed of one delegate from each state and province. The delegate is elected at the respective state and provincial shoot and is voted upon by all members of the ATA. (State officers are elected either by individuals or club delegates, depending upon the particular constitution of the state or province).
All delegates meet once a year, during the Grand American tournament. At this time, delegates from each zone elect a zone vice president. From these five men, one is selected as president of the ATA to serve for one year. The five vice presidents make up the Executive Committee of the ATA.
The Executive Committee appoints a secretary, treasurer, auditor and full-time headquarters manager. They also appoint a Central Handicap Committee of five men, who review shooters' records throughout the year. The Chairman of the CHC assigns yardage to new shooters as they qualify for permanent handicap cards. The delegate of each state and province acts as chairman of that state or province handicap committee, making recommendations to the national committee for yardage assignments or changes.
During the 1998 target year, 54,208 ATA members participated in one or more of the 6,275 registered tournaments contested throughout North America. In total, 82,480,480 registered clay targets were thrown by over 1,200 gun clubs.
The administrative offices and national headquarters, are located in Vandalia, OH and the ATA homegrounds are located in Sparta, IL at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex which hosts the Grand American Championships each August. The 2007 Grand American will mark the 108th year of this notable event.