01 // ABOUT
History & Founding
FITASC — overview
FITASC was founded on June 4, 1921, making it one of the longest-running international shooting sport federations still in operation — over a century of clay target governance from the same city. Its origins were intertwined with the broader European tradition of shooting sports tied to hunting culture, at a time when the distinction between "hunting sport" and "Olympic shooting" was still being worked out internationally.
Key milestones in FITASC's century-long development from hunting federation to international clay target authority
Early Years (1921-1987)
For decades, FITASC operated in a world where shotgun sports had at least a plausible path to Olympic inclusion. That door closed when the International Olympic Committee removed hunting-style shotgun disciplines from the Olympic program — a decision that fundamentally shaped what FITASC would become.
Rather than chasing Olympic relevance, FITASC doubled down on its own championships and formats, building a structure parallel to the IOC-affiliated shooting world rather than subordinate to it.
The format itself evolved significantly over the decades. What shooters now call Old Style FITASC used a single shooting ring with four positions — a squad of six shooters rotating through, one parcour at a time, maximum 288 competitors at a World Championship. That worked fine until the sport outgrew it.
By the mid-1980s, events were filling up and turning people away.
| System | Era | Shooting Layout | Max Competitors | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Style | 1921-1987 | Single ring, 4 positions | 288 | Squad rotation, one parcour |
| New System | 1988-1999 | Linear layout, 4 stands | ~960 | Independent stands, golf-course style |
| Current System | 2000-present | Linear layout, 5 stands | 1,200+ | Fifth stand added at Durby 2000 |
The New System Revolution
The fix came from an unlikely direction. Field and Game Federation of Australia, hosting the 1988 World Championships in Geelong, proposed what became the "New System" — a linear layout where each of four or five shooting stands operates independently, like holes on a golf course.
Ray McFarlane traveled to La Rabot shooting ground in France to demonstrate the concept to FITASC leadership. They trialed it at the 1988 Worlds, it worked, and they adopted it permanently. By 2000, at the World Championships in Durby, Belgium, a fifth stand was added to parcours. The New System can now accommodate upward of 1,200 competitors at a single event — a fourfold increase over the old cap.
Modern Developments
Compak Sporting was introduced as a separate discipline in 1992, designed to bring FITASC-style shooting to venues that don't have the acreage for full sporting layouts.
02 // SPORTING CLAYS
About Sporting Clays
Sporting Clays
Sporting clays emerged in 1920s England when hunters got tired of trap and skeet not preparing them for real birds. Smart idea. The format puts you through 10-15 stations scattered across 50-100 acres, each presenting different target combinations that mirror actual hunting scenarios.
Course Layout and Format
A full course runs 100 targets shot as singles or pairs. Each station throws you a curveball -- maybe incoming doves at Station 1, followed by bolting rabbits at Station 2, then high crossers simulating geese at Station 3. Course setters change presentations regularly, so even if you shoot the same place monthly, you're constantly adapting.
Types & Variations
What Does Sporting Clays Cost?
$800-2,000
Basic equipment to begin
$3,000-8,000+
Quality gear for serious shooters
Note: Sporting clays uses more ammunition than trap. Budget for extra chokes and a quality shell pouch.
Sporting Clays Choke Selection
Skeet Choke
Wide pattern for close targets (10-20 yards). Most open constriction.
Close crossing targets, rabbits, close report pairsImproved Cylinder
Moderate spread for mid-range (20-30 yards). Most versatile choke.
General use, quartering targets, most course situationsModified
Tighter pattern for distance (30-45+ yards). Longer effective range.
Long crossers, high towers, distant battue targetsPro Tips for Beginners
- Walk the course before competing if possible
- Watch experienced shooters on difficult stations
- Bring multiple chokes and learn when to change
- Hydrate and pace yourself - courses can be long
- Start with smaller courses (50 targets) before 100-bird events
Also in This Guide
03 // FIVE STAND
About Five Stand
Five Stand
You rotate through five shooting positions with four other shooters, taking five targets at each station. Unlike trap where everything goes away from you, or skeet where the presentations never change, Five Stand mixes it up. That crossing shot from station 3 might be a screaming teal one round and a slow-floating midi the next.
Each shooter gets two shells per target--break it with the first shot or the second, doesn't matter for scoring. Dead bird gets you one point, miss gets you zero. Simple math that adds up to 25 possible points per round.
Five Stand rotation pattern - shooters move clockwise through stations
Types & Variations
What Does Five Stand Cost?
$600-1,000
Basic equipment to begin
$1,500-3,500
Quality gear for serious shooters
Note: Same shotgun works for Five Stand, sporting clays, and skeet. Choke selection matters more here than in trap.
Pro Tips for Beginners
- Study the menu card before shooting each station
- Watch other shooters to learn target trajectories
- Focus on the first bird in pairs; the second will wait
- Adjust chokes between rounds if needed
- Do not rush; you have time to process each target