Record Numbers In State’s Clay Target League

A total of 1,590 athletes and 71 teams, including Britton-Hecla (25 shooters), have registered for the South Dakota High School Clay Target League this spring, breaking the league’s participation record.

“Parents want safe, schoolbased, non-traditional outdoor activities for their students. 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.” said John Nelson, President of the USA Clay Target League, the program’s parent organization.

“Every year 95% of nongraduating 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 nationwide. In the League there are no benchwarmers everyone participates thanks to the efforts of the shooting ranges, coaches, and parents that make teams flourish.”

For high school athletes, their nine-week spring season is already underway, and will conclude May 20. Britton-Hecla is scheduled to begin its season this weekend. The season is followed by state tournaments in June, leading up to the High School National Championship in July.

With over 47,000 participating athletes in the 202223 school year, the non-profit USA Clay Target League is 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’s co-ed and adaptive nature are key attractions to schools nationwide and it’s fully Title IX compliant with both male and female athletes competing on the same team. It’s also an ‘adaptive’ sport, which allows students with physical disabilities to take part.

The League’s priorities are safety, fun, and marksmanship – in that order.

The League is the safest sport in school, with not one reported injury since the inception of the League in 2001. Each athlete must complete firearm safety certification before participation.