PISTOL SHOOTING
I was introduced to competition pistol, living with my uncle, a Marine, shooting in team, and individual matches. He instilled in me the great feeling of a sport in which doing the best you can do, has no bearing on how much money you have, only on your will to do your best. Any kid with some natural ability and the proper coach, can end up in the National Matches, or if he wants to take it that far, the Olympics.
I've been to the Nationals three times. Didn't do as good as I would have liked, but I got to rub shoulders with the best shooters in the world. I've always been told, if you shoot long enough, one day you'll shoot better then average, when everyone else is a little off, and you will win it all. That day came for me in 1991. I won First Master, and Resident State Champion in the Connecticut state match.
This is a sport with a great many rewards. You learn to keep your mind and body in the condition it needs to be in to compete. And, you learn how to lose graciously :) I haven't found any shooting connections on the web as yet, but when I do, you'll see them here. In the mean time, if you have a child that shows any interest in shooting, incourage him or her (girls make the best shooters) you never know, somewhere out there is a World Champion, that never got a chance to try.