For years, the road into the USA Clay Target League ran through a school. That checkpoint is gone. On Oct. 6, the league launched the USA Youth Club Clay Target League, opening competition to students in sixth through 12th grade who shoot for youth organizations and local clubs instead of schools. Groups such as 4-H clubs, FFA chapters and scout troops can now field teams in the same national structure school programs have used for decades.
Requirements are minimal: five athletes, access to a shooting range and a certified coach.
“The mission of the USA Clay Target League includes the belief that all students should have an equal opportunity to participate,” USA Clay Target League President John Nelson said. “Many prospective teams faced challenges getting started through their schools. The new Youth Club League provides the opportunity for these teams and athletes to participate without requiring the formal school-approval process.”
Club teams are joining one of the nation’s biggest youth clay target organizations. USA Clay Target trap, skeet, sporting clays and five-stand leagues serve tens of thousands of students on more than 2,000 teams each year. Club teams will register athletes and post scores through ClayTargetGO!, the same online platform school teams use.
The launch also absorbs an existing program. The USA Homeschool Clay Target League, started in 2021, is being retired, and its teams will move into the Youth Club League.
“The idea to expand the League has been percolating for many years,” said Josh Kroells, USA Clay Target League vice president. “Today’s launch of the USA Youth Club Clay Target League will provide thousands more students the chance to socialize, build relationships and develop a sense of community and teamwork through clay target shooting sports.”
For most new club teams, spring is the realistic starting time. The USA Clay Target Youth Club League’s website lists a 2027 spring season with team and athlete registration open Feb. 2 through March 22, five competition weeks beginning April 18 and a virtual national tournament June 4-13.
Every athlete must complete firearm safety certification before competing, and the USA Clay Target League ranks its priorities as safety, fun and marksmanship, in that order.
The League says it brings more than 10,000 new athletes into clay target sports every year. With the school requirement off the table, that number has room to climb.
Details on starting a team are available at youthclub.usaclaytarget.com.
