USA Clay Target League: 39,069 Student-Athletes Participating In Spring 2025 Season

USA Clay Target League shatters participation record again with more than 39,000 student-athletes in 2025.

by
posted on April 8, 2025
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Usaclaytarget Spring2025 1
The USA Clay Target League estimates that in 2023, participants spent an average $2,450 annually on shooting-related purchases.
Photo by Drew Tri

The season is underway for 39,069 student-athletes participating in USA Clay Target League programs this spring.

More than 9,000 student-athletes joined the USA Clay Target League through their school teams to compete in the spring 2025 season. This is also the 30th consecutive season of record-breaking participation for the USA Clay Target League since it was founded in 2008. Participation in USA Clay Target League spring programs has risen 13% since the 2023 season.

The non-profit USA Clay Target League offers trap, skeet, sporting clays and five-stand leagues to secondary and postsecondary schools across the country. There are more than 54,000 athletes participating in the 2024-25 school year.

This spring, student-athletes will compete on 1,973 high school, college and homeschool teams, and will be supported by more than 11,200 coaches, team staff and other volunteers.

For high school athletes, their nine-week spring season is already underway and will conclude May 25. Tens of thousands of athletes will participate in USA Clay Target League State Tournaments conducted around the country in June. Top student-athletes will be eligible to compete at the 2025 USA High School Clay Target League National Championship in July.

College athletes compete in a shorter season in the spring, returning to compete in the fall season and culminating in the USA College Clay Target League National Championship in October. The USA Clay Target League says there was a 19% increase in collegiate athlete participation this season, with a similar increase in the total number of college teams.

“The League provides schools with the opportunity to give their students a 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 athletes’ lives for the better,” John Nelson, president of the USA Clay Target League said.

Learn more about the USA Clay Target League at usaclaytarget.com.

Latest

Desi E Hof Nov2025 1
Desi E Hof Nov2025 1

Desirae Edmunds Takes Her Place in the NSCA Hall of Fame

Desirae Edmunds earns NSCA Hall of Fame induction, capping a sporting clays career defined by dominance and a decades-long rise from Alaska prodigy to global champion.

New: Mantis TitanX Laser Trainer

The new TitanX is an inert laser trainer pairing realistic controls with the MantisX analytics ecosystem for data-heavy dry-fire practice.

Collegiate Rifle: Nebraska Takes Over No. 1 Spot in CRCA Rankings; TCU, Navy Surge into Top Three

Nebraska claims the top CRCA rifle ranking, TCU surges to No. 2 with a big win and Navy jumps to No. 3.

Marksmanship Milestones: 1985 National Matches

The 1985 National Matches featured record scores, historic wins and major facility upgrades at Camp Perry.

Inside the 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

Nils Jonasson claims top title at multi-discipline 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship, held at Camp Atterbury in October.

White Flyer, Winchester Boost South Dakota’s New Shooting Sports Complex with Massive Target Donation

Winchester Ammunition and White Flyer Targets fuel the debut of South Dakota’s new shooting sports complex with a major donation and focus on community growth.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.