The USA Clay Target League’s 2022 Fall Season kicked off earlier this month with 13,214 student-athletes registered on 761 high school, college and homeschool teams.
Regarding the more than 13,000 competitors registered for the 2022 Fall Season, the USA Clay Target League President, John Nelson, said, “The League continues to break records each year.”
The six-week Fall Season started Sunday, September 18 with a week of practice to get competitors warmed up, as well as to record reserve scores in the case of inclement weather or other issues. Weekly competition begins on Sunday, September 25. The top scoring teams and athletes will be recognized at the conclusion of fall competition in October.
All team scores are calculated using the USA Clay Target League’s TrueTeam scoring system. After each match, student-athlete scores are ranked from highest to lowest with same number of athletes used for each team. After the scores are tallied, scores and rankings are published online. “Athletes of all types are able to participate in clay target shooting,” said Nelson. “The League has a ‘no benchwarmers’ philosophy, and the League’s TrueTeam scoring system is designed so that everyone’s score matters, not just the top athletes on a team.”
Tournaments and championships for USA High School Clay Target League participants are held in early summer, while the USA College Clay Target League National Championship will be conducted the first week of November, after the conclusion of the College League’s Fall Season.
“The high demand for outdoor activities that are an alternative to traditional sports proves that young people want to get outside and enjoy safe and fun activities with their peers. Thanks to the efforts of volunteer coaches and parents, these teams are possible,” said Nelson.
What is the USA Clay Target League?
The non-profit USA Clay Target League provides trap, skeet, sporting clays and five-stand programs to secondary and postsecondary schools (and homeschoolers) in the United States. According to a recent press release, there are approximately 45,000 athletes participating in USA Clay Target League programs this year.
Each student-athlete must complete a firearm safety certification course before they can become a team member.
A co-ed team sport, joining a USA Clay Target League team is also an option for students with physical disabilities.
Every team must have school approval to join USA Clay Target League programs. In addition, scholarship funds are provided to qualifying seniors every year from the USA Clay Target League and other institutions.
As for next year and beyond, the USA Clay Target League hopes to have 100,000 participants by the year 2025.
Go to usaclaytarget.com to learn more about the USA Clay Target League.
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