egan, Minnesota – The season is underway for 34,629 student-athletes participating in USA Clay Target League (USACTL) programs this spring. Those athletes compete on 1,625 high school, college and homeschool teams across the country, supported by more than 9,600 coaches, team personnel and other volunteers.
“Parents want safe, school-based, non-traditional outdoor activities for their students. They want their youth to have the sense of belonging and camaraderie that team activities provide without the high costs and limited playing opportunities of traditional high school sports.” said John Nelson, president of the USACTL.
“Each year, 95% of students who do not graduate return to participate in League programs and nearly 9,800 new athletes joined the League this spring through their school teams. In the League there are no bench warmers, everyone participates thanks to the efforts of the shooting ranges, coaches and parents who make the teams flourish”.
For high school athletes, their nine-week spring season is already underway and will conclude on May 20. The season is followed by State Tournaments in June, leading up to the High School National Championship in July.
College athletes compete in a shorter season in the spring and then return to compete in the fall leading up to the USA Collegiate Clay Target League (USACCTL) National Championships in late October.
About the USA Clay Target League
With more than 47,000 participating athletes in the 2022-23 school year, the nonprofit USA Clay Target League is the largest clay target shooting organization in the United States. The League offers trap, skeet, sports clay, and 5-tier leagues to high schools and post-secondary schools across the country.
La Liga is the only 100% school-approved clay-target sports program in the United States. Each team must have the approval of the school to participate. Most participating schools have lettering programs as well as yearbook listings for teams. Additionally, each year the League and post-secondary institutions award tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships to qualifying seniors.
The coeducational and adaptive nature of the League are key attractions to schools across the country: it is fully Title IX compliant with male and female athletes competing on the same team, and it is an ‘adapted’ sport, allowing students to with physical disabilities participate.
The League’s priorities are safety, fun and aim, in that order.
The League is the safest sport in school, with no injuries reported since the League’s inception in 2001. Each athlete must complete a firearms safety certification before participating.
See the 2022 US Clay Target Impact Report
Visit http://usaclaytarget.com for more information.