inthemoss,
Are you a lady?
Just asking as I cannot tell if you are male or female by your user name.
I am a male, so here is what I have done to introduce and assist ladies in shooting skeet.
I prefer to have another lady/ladies assist.
Before we go to range, we talk about The Four Rules, and actually try on safety glasses, ear protection and all.
We talk about clothing, such as no sandals, no open toes. Instead shoes with a bit of forward lift, like tennis shoes are better.
Comfortable clothes, and no open tops . Meaning no tank tops, low cut and button the top button on a blouse.
Club, range rules, etiquette and all sorts of things about where we will be going, if club requires signing in, and insurance regulations, we discuss this as well.
We want them to feel safe, have fun and not be surprised at to what to expect.
Guns.
Depends on experience of shooter. For total new shooters, we have shotguns and with them apart, we show them what is what. What parts of a shotgun ar called, how to work them, and safely and everything.
Take away any mysteries, answer and all questions about guns...plus...
Eye dominance ...then...
Gun fit.
I am big into gun fit.
Ladies are built different and do have areas that need addressing.
This is another area where ladies can better address ladies in questions and answers.
If a male is going to assist, the ladies must know / must sense/ must be comfortable with the male assisting them.
They have to know whomever is assisting, is keeping their safety in mind.
I prefer a 28 gauge semi auto for new shooters. O/U is next preferred.
I will demonstrate everything about a gun and how to hold it safely while on the field, how to mount it correctly, and foot position stance and all that too.
Now I have earned the trust of ladies, so often times when I am introduced to a lady, I am some steps ahead of some folks.
I asked permission to put hands in them, to assist them with the gun , stance, feet...
Again ladies, will also ask permission to put hands on if need to assist.
Respect the other person always, especially different genders assisting one another.
If a lady is assisting me, I will leave at times. I respect privacy, and if some things needs to be addressed, none of my business.
IF, If there is a medical concern or some physical limit for safety reasons or comfort of lady - I am made aware.
Respect is the key.
For instance I have had ladies with breast surgeries, from cancer, reduction, cosmetic, and even chest burns that - well these sensitive matters needed to be addressed.
Then again I have a lady we are assisting recovering from detached retina, shoulder and knee surgery.
So medical concerns such as surgeries, physical limits are made known for students safety.
Medicine and Allergies. Bee stings, and Benedryl or Epi kit? One lady was allergic to chocolate for a time due to another medical condition.
Still simple things like some anti-biotics and photo-sensitive, or certain foods make them queasy.
I/we would like to know, so not only is the student safe, they know we are concerned about them being safe in not only shooting - also as a whole person.
Fun.
We usually start with stationary targets. Clays, balloons with a 28 ga or really light loads.
Station 7 and low bird is always fun. Then station 1.
Whatever they want to do, and the idea is fun, building self esteem.
We do not let them tire, fatigue causes sloppy gun mounts, and getting whacked and getting hurt.
We are up front about them tiring.
The students shoot, is all about them, learning, having fun, asking questions.
We do not go out to shoot, only to show or demonstrate.
I have used thousands of primer only hulls to allow a student to get the feel of a gun going bang when the trigger is slapped.
Ladies make better students, they are willing, ask great questions, take notes, and do at home - homework.
I have learned a LOT from assisting students, and especially from ladies.
Fun, serious Fun.
Steve