Autumn is here, and clay pigeon shards are racing the leaves to the ground. With those broken targets come broken records, as the USA Clay Target League (USACTL) is reporting that 2025 is the 31st consecutive season of record-breaking participation since the League's inception in 2008. The big number this year: 16,841. That's how many student athletes are currently competing in USACTL programs, including 1,109 high school, college, and homeschool teams nationwide. Let's not forget the support--over 11,200 coaches, team staff, and other volunteers helped push participation numbers over the top once again.
If you haven't heard of USACTL, now's a great time to learn! As a nonprofit, it's America's largest clay target shooting organization. The League offers trap, skeet, sporting clays, and 5-stand leagues to secondary and postsecondary schools across the country.
The League is the only 100% school-approved clay target shooting sport program in America. Every team must have school approval to participate. Most participating schools have lettering programs as well as yearbook inclusion for the teams. In addition, tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships are provided to qualifying seniors by the League and post-secondary institutions each year.
“The League provides schools with the opportunity to give their students an 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 athlete's lives for the better.” said John Nelson, President of the USACTL.
"This year over 13,000 new athletes joined the League through their school's teams, thanks to the efforts of the shooting ranges, coaches, and parents that make teams flourish."
For high school athletes, their six-week fall season is already underway, and will conclude at the end of October. For College athletes, the League's Fall Season culminates in the USA College Clay Target League National Championship this Halloween.
"More and more colleges and universities are capitalizing on the growth of the League to find and recruit students looking to further their education," said Nelson. "By providing clay target sports they're providing an appealing, well-rounded education experience to their prospective students.
