The season is underway for the 34,629 student-athletes participating in USA Clay Target League (USACTL) programs this spring.
The nearly 35,000 student-athletes are competing on 1,625 high school, college and homeschool teams nationwide, supported by more than 9,600 coaches, team staff and other volunteers.
“Parents want safe, school-based, non-traditional outdoor activities for their students,” John Nelson, the USACTL president, said. “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.”
For high school athletes, the nine-week spring season is already underway and will conclude May 20. The USACTL season is followed by State Tournaments in June, leading up to the High School National Championship in July.
Collegiate student-athletes compete in a shorter season in the spring, and then return to compete in fall, culminating in the USA College Clay Target League National Championship in late October.
METEORIC RISE
The USA Clay Target League has continued to grow, adding more than 200 new participating shooting ranges in 2022, along with 260 new teams since 2021.
Additionally, there were 51 USACTL State Tournaments in 2022, boasting 20,200 registered athletes.
“Every year 95 percent of non-graduating students return to participate in the League’s programs, and nearly 9,800 new athletes joined the League this spring through their school's teams,” Nelson said. “In the League there are no benchwarmers—everyone participates thanks to the efforts of the shooting ranges, coaches, and parents that make teams flourish.”
And the shooters in this league are spending more time in the outdoors and participating in shooting sports. According to the 2022 USA Clay Target participation survey and 2020 range survey, 43 percent of parents reported an increase in hunting and shooting sports participation since their child became an active participant in USACTL programs.
Learn more at usaclaytarget.com.
