NSSA skeet is divided into two disciplines: American skeet, and skeet doubles. The games are shot on a standardized field layout. Each field has eight numbered shooting positions (or stations), 1 through 8, and two traps. The traps are located to the left (the high house trap) and right (the low house trap) of the shooting field, where seven stations are located on an imaginary semicircle 63 feet in radius, with Station 8 half way between the two trap houses (Coming soon: click here to see a skeet field diagram). A shooting squad can consist of from 1 to 6 competitors, with 5 in a standard squad.
In American skeet, the whole squad moves from station to station as a group (coming soon: click here to see a picture of a squad of shooters on the skeet field). Each person in the squad, in turn, attempts a set sequence of targets at each station. On Stations 1, 2, 6, and 7, the shooter will be thrown a single target from the high house, a single target from the low house, and a simultaneous pair (2 targets, also called "doubles," one each from the high and low house at the same instant). On Stations 3, 4, 5, and 8, the shooter will be presented only two single targets, one each from the high and low house. If you are counting, you realize that only totals 24 targets. The shooter re-attempts the first target missed during the round, the so-called "Option" target, making a total of 25 targets in a regular round. The more experienced shooters that break all 24 in a row shoot a second single target from the low house at Station 8 to complete their 25.
The same field and squad make-up is used for skeet doubles. Only simultaneous pairs are attempted at each station, and no targets are shot from Station 8. A standard round of doubles is 50 targets, and is shot one pair per station beginning at Station 1, proceeding in order to Station 7, then back in reverse order to Station 1. This is done twice, totaling 50 targets. There are no "Option" targets in doubles.
Skeet can be shot with any gauge of shotgun, typically with fairly open chokes. In competition, there are classifications for 12, 20, and 28 gauge and .410 bore shotguns. To shoot a standard round, either a pump, auto-loader, or double barrel shotgun is needed in order to attempt the doubles (simultaneous pairs). Beginners can shoot only single targets at first to develop their their skill, and so may use a single barrel shotgun.
More to come soon...