Student Air Rifle (SAR) Program

Bringing the excitement, discipline and safety of target shooting to Arkansas schools.

The Student Air Rifle (SAR) Program is a standard-aligned school curriculum designed to introduce students in grades 4-12 to the sport of target shooting. Using the National SAR framework, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) provides a safe, inclusive environment where students develop marksmanship skills, cultivate a passion for recreational shooting and learn the responsible employment of firearms.

Divisions:

• Elementary: 4th and 5th grade
• Middle School: 6th, 7th and 8th grade
• High School: 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th

Purpose: To increase involvement in shooting sports, enhance educational performance and promote youth development through firearms safety and target shooting education.

Vision: Everyone will have opportunity to participate in shooting sports and target shooting will be universally regarded as safe, universal and fun.

Getting Started: How To Bring SAR to Your School

Launching a SAR team at your school is simple, and AGFC can provide the training and equipment to get you started.

Get BARI Certified
The first step in getting a SAR team started is to have a teacher, coach or school staff member certified as a Basic Air Riflery Instructor (BARI).

• The Format: Training is a blended 8-hour certification split into two sections:
  • Online Phase: Upon registration, you will watch 12 instructional videos (totaling roughly 98 minutes) and complete a required quiz. Instructors must score at least 80 out of 100 points to advance.
  • In-Person Phase: A 4-hour practical skills session to review material, practice range setup and participate in hands-on application.
• Hosting: Training is led entirely by AGFC staff. If your school has a venue to host a training session, it makes logistics even easier.
• Space Requirements: The minimum footprint needed to host a training range is 30′ x 65′. This can easily fit inside a standard gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium, or large classroom.

Once the in-person skills session is completed, you will be fully certified, receive your official BARI number and be authorized to start your school’s team.

Equipment Grants & Team Kits

Once your school has a certified BARI instructor, you can apply for a competitive AGFC New School Equipment Grant to receive a complete team suite free of charge.

New Team Equipment Suite Includes:

• (10) UMAREX Rifles (unless received during pilot year)
• (5) target holders
• (1) 8ft x 30ft pellet curtain
• (1) “Safety Rules” banner and 1 “11 Steps” banner
• (2) rifle racks
• (1) lockable case for pellet storage
• (2) lockable cases for rifle storage
• (2) safety glasses packs (10 each)
• (5) pellet tins (500 each)
• (2) 6″ reactive paper targets (60-packs)
• (4) 8″ reactive paper targets (30-packs)
• (1) air rifle maintenance kit

Tournaments & Resources

Ready to see how your team measures up? SAR offers a clear pathway from the classroom to competitive league events.

Click here to visit the National SAR Tournaments website.

The SAR Target League Model

The SAR Target League allows elementary, middle, and high school athletes to compete virtually from their home ranges without the need for travel.

• Format & Cost: $20/athlete. Weekly events consist of 10-pellet rounds (max score 100).
• Flexibility: Teams shoot on their own range under coach supervision (or join nearby SAR teams). Scores are submitted online weekly between Sunday and Saturday at 11:59 PM CST.
• Rules & Integrity: Rounds must be declared prior to shooting; no “best score” submissions. A simulated “Reserve Week” sets a score used for missing entries or tiebreakers (usable once per season).
• Schedule Highlights:
  • Sept 15 – Sept 26: Registration Window
  • Sept 27: Practice / Reserve Week Begins
  • Oct 4 – Nov 1: Competition Weeks 1–5
  • Dec 5: Awards Presentation at SAR Nationals (or shipped)

Contact the State Coordinator

Have questions about upcoming BARI training sessions, space requirements or filling out your grant application? Reach out to us directly: