Eagan, Minnesota– October 2024– The Fall Season is underway for 15,823 student-athletes participating in USA Clay Target League (USACTL) programs this fall. Those athletes are competing on 990 high school, college, and homeschool teams nationwide – an increase of more than a thousand student-athletes, and 117 more teams compared to 2023’s fall participation.
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“There are thousands of under-served students that want a sense of team, belonging, and camaraderie without the high costs and limited playing opportunities of traditional high school sports. Parents want school-based outdoor activities for their students. The League’s school-approved programs provide both with safe, fun, and engaging opportunities to participate,” said John Nelson, President of the USACTL.
“This year over 13,000 new athletes joined the League through their school’s teams. In the League there are no benchwarmers – everyone participates thanks to the efforts of the shooting ranges, coaches, and parents that make teams flourish.”
About the USA Clay Target League
With over 52,000 participating athletes in the 2023-24 school year, 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 is the only 100% school-approved clay-target shooting sports 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.
Check out the 2023 USA Clay Target Impact Report
Visit http://usaclaytarget.com for more information.
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