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.

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posted on April 8, 2025
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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.

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