Junior Shooting Sports
Congratulations to the 2026 Champions!
WATCH: 2026 Championship Recap
The top eight precision and sporter competitors competed in The American Legion's Junior 3-Position Air Rifle National Championship finals July 25 at the John A. Halter Shooting Sports Center at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.
Watch this recap to see highlights from the final day of competition.
About Junior Shooting Sports
The American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program is a gun safety education and marksmanship program that encompasses the basic elements of safety, education, enjoyment and competition. Shooters use the .177 caliber air rifle. Both males and females can participate, through Legion sponsorship; disabled youth are encouraged to join, as competitive shooting is a sport that creates an equal playing field for all competitors. Contact your local Legion post, Sons of The American Legion squadron or Auxiliary unit for information about affiliating as a club or individual.
Air Rifle Competition
The annual 3-Position Junior Air Rifle National Championship is a tournament that begins with postal matches. State and/or regional champions are determined and advance to a qualification round (also a postal match) to determine the athletes who will earn expense-paid trips to compete in the national championship. The national championship is a shoulder-to-shoulder match held each July on the campus of Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich.
How to Participate
In shooting sports, you don’t have to sit on the sidelines. Anyone under 18, or high school seniors up to age 20, can participate in this co-ed skill sport where physical size and strength take a back seat to mental toughness, focus and discipline.
Within this tight-knit community of dedicated competitors, athletes not only sharpen their skills but also build lasting friendships at The American Legion’s Junior 3-Position Air Rifle National Championships.