Thursday, September 18, 2025 — The fall season is underway for 16,841 student athletes participating in USA Clay Target League (USACTL) programs. Those athletes are competing on 1,109 high school, college, and homeschool teams nationwide, supported by over 11,200 coaches, team staff, and other volunteers. This is the 31st consecutive season of record-breaking participation since the League was founded in 2008.

“The League provides schools with the opportunity to give their students an place to develop their confidence, sportsmanship, and teamwork without the high costs and limited playing opportunities of traditional sports. Clay target shooting sports are accessible to everyone, and the opportunity to participate on their school’s team influences athlete’s lives for the better.” said John Nelson, President of the USACTL.

“This year over 13,000 new athletes joined the League through their school’s teams, thanks to the efforts of the shooting ranges, coaches, and parents that make teams flourish.”

For high school athletes, their six-week spring season is already underway, and will conclude at the end of October. For College athletes, the League’s Fall Season culminates in the USA College Clay Target League National Championship this Halloween.

“More and more colleges and universities are capitalizing on the growth of the League to find and recruit students looking to further their education,” said Nelson. “By providing clay target sports they’re providing an appealing, well-rounded education experience to their prospective students.

About the USA Clay Target League

With over 55,000 participating athletes in 2025, the non-profit USA Clay Target League is America’s largest clay target shooting organization. The League offers trap, skeet, sporting clays, and 5-stand leagues to secondary and postsecondary schools across the country.

The League the only 100% school-approved clay target shooting sport program in America. Every team must have school approval to participate. Most participating schools have lettering programs as well as yearbook inclusion for the teams. In addition, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships are provided to qualifying seniors by the League and post-secondary institutions each year.

The League’s co-ed and adaptive nature are key attractions to schools nationwide: it’s fully Title IX compliant with both male and female athletes competing on the same team, and it’s an ‘adaptive’ sport, which allows students with physical disabilities to take part.

The League’s priorities are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order. The League is the safest sport in school, with not one reported injury since the inception of the League in 2001. Each athlete must complete firearm safety certification before participation.

Visit http://usaclaytarget.com for more information.