USA Clay Target League

The USA Clay Target League is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The League is the independent provider of clay target shooting sports for secondary and postsecondary schools. The League’s priority are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order.

We believe that…

Safe and responsible handling and storage of firearms and ammunition is the first priority.

Everyone should have fun.

Participation is a privilege and not a right.

Sportsmanship needs to have a constant presence.

Students should have an equal opportunity to participate.

Ethical behavior, dignity and respect are expected.

Participants will be chemically free.

Collaborative relationships with schools and students create a positive experience.

Academic priorities must come before participation.

Adults must serve as a positive role model to students.

The success of the team is more important than individual honors.

Gun clubs are critical to the success of the League and are positive business leaders in their community.

Compliance with school, community, gun club and League rules are essential for all participants.

Shooting sports strengthens connections within families and communities for life.

Everything the League does will always be in the best interest of the students.

Our story...

In 2001, a handful of students that were part of the school's community mentoring program came to the Plymouth Gun Club in Minnesota to learn about a sport very different from the school's curriculum… trap shooting. Over the next couple of years, students from two other high schools inquired about this new exciting activity and joined the other school to form a friendly informal competition between these high schools.

Word spread by websites and social media and soon more students and schools wanted to learn how they might become a part of this new and safe high school sport that involved boys, girls, and adaptive students. In 2008, the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League started as a non-profit organization with three teams and 30 student athletes. 

Just 10 years later, the USA High School Clay Target League hosted state high school clay target leagues in 20 states that included more than 28,000 student athletes from more than 800 high school teams coached by more than 6,500 adult mentors. The League is one of the fastest-growing high school sports in America.

With more than 40 million shots fired and more than 70,000 participating student athletes since the League’s inception there have been no reported injuries making the League the safest high school sport.

In 2019 and with your support, the League expects to be the largest clay target shooting sport organization in the world.

Thanks to the tremendous support of volunteer coaches, schools, shooting ranges, parents, and people like you, the USA Clay Target League is stronger than ever. With your help, the League will continue its mission to introduce more young people to the joy and tradition of clay target shooting.

Thank you for your consideration and support!