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USA Clay Target League

Shoot for your school at a local range. USA Clay Target League teams compete in trap, skeet, sporting clays and 5-stand, then submit their scores online for comparison within a conference. Its high school and college programs put safety, fun and marksmanship first, in that order. [1]

Governing body: USA Clay Target League 

At a glance

Program
School-based shotgun teams; separate high school and college programs. [1] [29]
Weekly event
50 targets. League trap is two 25-target rounds from 16 yards. [19] [22]
High school eligibility
Grades six through twelve, or thirteen in some states. Enrollment at the deadline, school eligibility, safety certification and team capacity are required; state restrictions also apply. [2] [3]
Registration
$40 per season, per sport; team expenses are separate. New-team fee waivers have conditions. [10] [12]
Team scoring
True Team ranks each team’s qualifying scores to award points; individual rankings use season average. [21] [20]

How a match works

  1. “Virtual” describes the standings, not the shooting. Teams shoot real clay targets at their own ranges and submit scores online. Conferences group teams by clay target sport and similar team size. [1] [19]
  2. High school students join school-approved teams. The League encourages eligible athletes to join by registration rather than tryouts, within coaching and range capacity. Most schools treat the team as a club or activity. [4]
  3. The coach schedules a weekly event at the local range. Practice and conference competition events are 50 targets; competition rounds must be declared before shooting, not selected afterward from your best practice scores. [19]
  4. Complete approved safety certification before shooting with the team. A coach and Range Safety Officer must be present throughout a League event. [8] [15]
  5. In trap, shoot in a group called a squad, with up to five athletes. The weekly event is two 25-target rounds from 16 yards. Shoot five targets at each of five stations, then rotate with the shotgun unloaded and the action open. [22]
  6. The scorekeeper records hits and announces “lost” for misses. A dusted target without a visible broken piece is lost. Review and initial your scoresheet before leaving the field; raise a scoring dispute immediately after the lost call. [20]
  7. Team staff submit scores before 9:00 p.m. CT on the Saturday of the scheduled event week. Season averages determine individual rankings, while qualifying scores earn True Team points for the team. [19] [20] [21]
  8. The high school spring schedule has two practice weeks, one reserve week, five competition weeks and one fun week, followed by tournaments. Fall begins in September without practice weeks, fun week or high school tournaments. [19]

Where to compete

Choose your state on Find a League, then contact your school or coach about the team’s actual range and schedule. The finder routes to state leagues, not a street-address directory of home ranges. Weekly shooting is scheduled through the team; high school and college national events have separate entry requirements. [32] [1] [19] [28] [30]

No upcoming events for this sport are listed here. Check the official match finder; our coverage is not a complete schedule.

Your first match

  1. Find the school team. Choose your state on Find a League, then contact your school or the team’s Head Coach about openings. If your school has no team, ask about a cooperative arrangement with another school or use Start a Team. [32] [2] [6] [31]
  2. Confirm eligibility and the season budget. Check grade and school activity requirements, available places on the roster, the event schedule and the team’s actual costs. College students must meet their school’s Registered Student Organization requirements and be enrolled at the team’s school. [2] [29] [10] [19]
  3. Finish safety certification first. Use an accepted state hunter education certificate or complete Student Athlete Firearm Education (SAFE): online first, then the coach-led range certification. Confirm the host range accepts it. Certification and its entry in your athlete profile are required before team shooting. [7] [8]
  4. Register through the coach. Get the Team ID, create or update your Athlete Management System profile in ClayTargetGo!, and wait for the coach’s invitation. Complete registration and payment, if applicable, before the deadline. Confirm the certificate details are in your profile before shooting with the team. [9] [7]
  5. Bring approved gear and follow the range briefing. Bring the compliant shotgun, range-approved factory ammunition and shooting-specific eye and ear protection. Confirm transportation with your coach and family. Carry the shotgun open and unloaded, with two hands and the muzzle in a safe direction. [13] [14] [15]
  6. Shoot the declared event and check the scoresheet. In trap, shoot two 25-target rounds. Competition rounds must be declared before starting. Review and initial the scoresheet before leaving the field; if a lost call is wrong, the athlete must dispute it immediately. [22] [19] [20]

Never fired a gun at a range? Start with your first range visit.

What to bring

Bring eye and hearing protection to your first match, even where a league only recommends it. Check the host’s requirements before you arrive.

ShotgunRequired
Smooth-bore shotguns, including semi-automatics, are allowed if they do not exceed 12 gauge. Barrels must not be shorter than 21 inches. Detachable magazines and designs intended for home defense or tactical purposes are prohibited. [13]
AmmunitionRequired
Factory ammunition only; no reloaded cartridges. Load, shot size and velocity must meet the host range’s requirements. [13]
Eyes and earsRequired
Shooting-specific eye and hearing protection are required on the field. Plastic or polycarbonate prescription lenses are permitted. Ordinary earbuds or Bluetooth headphones are not approved hearing protection. [14]
Shoes and ejected hullsRequired
No flip-flops or open-toed shoes. A shotgun that dispenses hulls outside the athlete’s occupied post requires a shell catcher. [14] [15]
Borrowing a shotgunOptional
Athletes normally supply their own. Some teams or ranges may have guns to borrow or rent as allowed by law; availability is local, not guaranteed by League registration. [13]

What it costs

League registration
$40 per season, per sport. It includes administration, awards, insurance and PullUSA magazine, but not optional year-end tournaments. [10]
Team participation
Typically $300–$400, usually including targets, ammunition and other team costs. Gear, uniforms or a shotgun may cost extra. Ask the coach what the local price includes; this is not a guaranteed national season price. [10]
SAFE certification
$25 for the League’s online SAFE course, followed by the required range certification. An accepted state hunter education certificate is the other route; SAFE is not required for every athlete. [7] [8]
Optional high school state tournaments
Published state-tournament fees are $50 for in-person trap or skeet and $65 for in-person 5-stand or sporting clays, excluding ammunition, practice and travel. Virtual state events cost $25, excluding ammunition, targets and practice. These are not National Championship entry fees. [10]
New-team fee waiver
The July 2025 Free Team Initiative announcement offers free registration and safety equipment for up to five athletes on new school-approved teams. Confirm current eligibility and what is covered with the League; do not assume ammunition, range fees or an entire season are free. [12]
2026 college nationals
$100 registration includes 200 targets, a championship T-shirt, awards and earned patches for unbroken runs of 25, 50, 75 or 100 targets. Season registration and local team costs are separate. [30] [10]
Head Coach certification
Coach Leadership And Safety Support (CLASS) certification is required and free for Head Coaches. Assistant coaches or team staff may take it for $25. [11]
Refunds and outside membership
Registration runs through the school team, per athlete, season and sport. The League does not require students or schools to join an outside organization to participate. Refund requests must reach the Head Coach before registration closes. [9] [4] [10]

How scoring works

Your target score, individual average and team points are three different things. Targets are scored hit or lost; individual conference rankings use season average, and team standings use True Team points from qualifying scores. [20] [21]

  • A target is scored hit/dead or missed/lost. Individual conference rankings use each athlete’s season average. [20]
  • The True Team number, or TT#, is how many top athlete scores each team contributes each week. Those scores are ranked across the conference: the highest earns the most points, decreasing to one for the last qualifying score. Tied scores split points. Add the team’s earned points for its total. [21]
  • Every athlete’s score is recorded, but not every score counts toward the team total every week. A score outside the team’s qualifying top scores still contributes to that athlete’s average. [21]
  • Do not pick the best two rounds from a longer practice session. Competition targets must be declared in advance, and using an athlete’s best score from multiple scoring events that week is prohibited. [19]
  • DNP means did not participate. It disqualifies an athlete from overall and conference standings or awards and from the high school National Championship individual competition. Reserve scores are a whole-team replacement, not an individual makeup score. [19]
  • A scoring dispute must come from the athlete immediately after a lost call. Once the scoresheet leaves the field, it is final; only mathematical errors may be corrected off the field. [20]
  • A broken or chipped target coming out of the thrower is rethrown for score, even if the athlete fired at it. That is different from dusting an intact target without breaking a visible piece. [20]

Divisions and classes

Trap
Two 25-target rounds from 16 yards. Up to five athletes occupy the field and each shoots five targets at each of five stations. [22]
Skeet
Two 25-target rounds from eight stations, with singles and doubles from the high and low houses. The first missed target is repeated as the optional shot; with no misses, the 25th shot is at low house station eight. [23]
Sporting clays
A 50-target League event from six to 12 stations, with six to 10 targets per station. Presentations include crossing, incoming, going-away, elevated and ground-level rabbit targets. [24]
5-stand
Two 25-target rounds using five stations and five to eight throwers. Five targets are thrown at each station, generally beginning with a single followed by pairs. The posted station menu determines the sequence; season-ending presentations may differ. [25]

Classification

The four disciplines above are different target formats, not equipment divisions. The virtual National League Tournament uses average hits per 25-target round after Week 5: Novice 0–14.99, Junior Varsity 15–18.99 and Varsity 19–25. These are ability classes, not school grades; athletes with no regular-season scores are assigned Varsity. The page’s header lists June 5–14, 2026, but its score-submission instructions still say 2025. Confirm the applicable deadline with the coach. College nationals use Gold and Silver individual classes based on fall average; the team total uses its top five scores regardless of class. [1] [26] [30]

Safety rules

  • Have the coach check the shotgun and ammunition before buying or bringing them to an event. League restrictions apply, and range safety procedures and product specifications take precedence. [13] [15]
  • No release triggers, attached slings or straps, or attached devices with magnifying or light-emitting effects. Read the full equipment list before choosing a gun. [13]
  • Keep the shotgun unloaded with its action open when not shooting. Carry it with two hands and the muzzle in a safe direction. The rules allow an unloaded break-open shotgun’s action to be closed in a gun rack. Never rest the muzzle on your foot. [16]
  • Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until the shotgun is shouldered and pointed downrange. Do not handle another person’s shotgun without permission or fire test shots. [16]
  • Check the school’s firearm and ammunition policy and applicable transport laws with the coach. The League describes equipment going from the athlete’s home to the range, not an automatic permission to bring it onto campus. [15]
  • A coach and Range Safety Officer must be present during every League event. On-field skill coaching is not permitted during competition events. Follow the range’s safety procedures, which supersede League policies. [15]
  • Complete a state-approved hunter education certificate or both SAFE components before team shooting, and record the certificate details in the Athlete Management System (AMS). Online SAFE completion alone is not enough. [7] [8]
  • Stop the event when lightning is seen or thunder is heard and move to indoor shelter. Do not return to the field until there has been no local lightning or thunder for 30 minutes. [17]
  • Unsafe shotgun handling, cheating, distracting competitors, abusive language and alcohol or drug use before or during events are prohibited. Unsportsmanlike behavior can mean event disqualification, suspension or expulsion from the League. [18]

Match levels and major events

  • Weekly school-team events: Shoot at the team’s local range and compare scores online within your conference. Individual and team standings use different scoring systems. [1] [20] [21]
  • High school state tournament: Every athlete is invited to the optional spring state tournament, called the Championship in Minnesota. An in-person event is held when feasible; some leagues use a virtual event instead. [28]
  • High school National Championship: A separate invite-only event, not automatic entry after the state tournament. Use the event’s qualification and registration rules; do not apply a previous year’s thresholds to a new championship. [28]
  • College National Championship: All current League-registered college athletes are invited to individual competition. Team competition requires at least five athletes and uses the team’s top five scores. [30]

Major events

High school National Championship 
July 7–11, 2027, in Mason, Michigan. The published capacities are 240 teams and 1,800 individuals. Entry is invite-only; confirm the applicable qualification and price before planning travel. [27] [28]
College National Championship 
October 30–November 1, 2026, in Bunker Hill, Illinois. The event uses a cumulative 200-target score for both individual and team competition. Registration is $100; team entry requires at least five athletes. [30]

Common questions

Do you have to be in high school to join a high school trap team?

Not necessarily. Students in grades six through twelve, or thirteen in some states, may join if enrolled by the registration deadline, eligible under school rules, safety-certified and within team capacity. State restrictions also apply: the League’s New York rules require athletes to be at least 12. [2] [3]

How do I start a high school clay target team?

Get written school approval, a school-approved Head Coach aged 21 or older and at least two athletes registered per discipline. The Head Coach must complete Coach Leadership And Safety Support (CLASS) certification; teams need at least one coach for every 10 members. Use Start a Team for presentation materials and a League representative, then arrange range capacity and the budget. [4] [5] [31]

Can I join another school’s trap team?

If your school has no team, the League allows participation through another school with both schools’ Athletic/Activities Director approval. An existing cooperative arrangement may suffice; otherwise the League requires its Cooperative Agreement. The team must be nearest your home school district, and the coach decides whether there is room. The agreement lasts one year. [6]

Can homeschooled students participate?

Homeschooled or online students may join a school team in the district of their primary residence if they meet the other requirements. Where school or district policy does not allow that route, unincorporated homeschool groups may participate in the separate USA Homeschool Clay Target League. [2] [6]

Do beginners have to pass a tryout?

The League encourages registration-based participation rather than tryouts. A place still depends on coaching and range capacity, school eligibility and safety certification. The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) is a separate program that does not require school affiliation; USA Clay Target League school teams do. [4] [2] [34]

Do I need hunter education or the SAFE course?

Either a state-approved hunter education certificate or the League’s SAFE certification is accepted. SAFE requires both the online course and the coach-led range day; online completion alone is not enough. The SAFE certificate is for League participation, not a hunting license. Check the host range’s certification requirements too. [7] [8]

How much does high school trap shooting cost?

League registration is $40 per season, per sport. The team sets local costs; the League publishes a typical $300–$400 participation cost, usually including targets, ammunition and other team costs, with gear and a shotgun potentially extra. Confirm what the team’s price includes. SAFE is $25 if needed, and optional tournaments have separate fees. [10] [7]

How many targets are in a high school trap event?

A League practice or competition event is 50 targets: two rounds of 25 from the 16-yard stations. A squad has up to five athletes; each shoots five targets at each of five stations. [22]

Does every shooter’s score count for the team?

Every score is recorded, but only the conference’s specified number of top scores count toward True Team points that week. Non-qualifying scores still contribute to the athlete’s overall average. Teams within a conference use the same number of qualifying scores. [21]

Can I shoot extra rounds and submit my best score?

No. Rounds are practice unless declared competition targets before shooting. The rules prohibit selecting an athlete’s best score from multiple scoring events in the same event week. [19]

Can I use a semi-automatic shotgun or reloads?

A compliant smooth-bore semi-automatic shotgun is allowed if it does not exceed 12 gauge. Reloaded cartridges are not allowed. The shotgun must meet the full equipment rules, including barrel length and design restrictions; ejected hulls outside the athlete’s occupied post require a shell catcher. [13] [15]

What happens if I need an accommodation?

Discuss participation and requirements with the Head Coach before registering. Students with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or mental health concerns may need physician approval. The rules allow coach assistance or apparatuses for special-needs athletes while shooting. [2]

Can I keep competing in college?

College participation is a separate program, open to enrolled students who meet their school’s Registered Student Organization eligibility requirements, have approved safety certification and fit within team capacity. Universities, community colleges, technical schools and other U.S. postsecondary schools may participate. Only students enrolled at the team’s school may participate; Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) students may join if team rules allow it. College nationals are open to all current League-registered college athletes. [29] [30]

Are there scholarships for high school clay target athletes?

The Jim Sable Environment & Conservation Education Scholarship offers forty $1,000 awards to qualifying high school seniors or homeschool equivalents on current spring-season teams. Applicants must plan further education toward an environment, natural resources or conservation-related career and meet school eligibility requirements. The published deadline is May 15, 2027. [33]

Which rulebook should a high school team use?

Use the League’s live Policies & Procedures page and its linked 2026 revision R2 PDF, plus the rules for the specific tournament. The virtual National League Tournament page has a 2026 event header but 2025 score-submission instructions; confirm the deadline with the coach. [35] [26]

Glossary

Virtual competition
Teams shoot at their own local ranges, submit scores online and compare them against the other teams and athletes in their conference. [1]
Conference
A competition group based on clay target discipline and similar team size. [1] [19]
Squad
The athletes sharing the field for a round; League trap permits up to five. [22]
Round
In League trap and skeet, a 25-target session. Two rounds make the 50-target event. [22] [23]
Lost
A missed target. Dust without a visible broken piece is scored lost. [20]
No bird
A scorekeeper call for an invalid target or permitted interruption; a target already broken or chipped as it leaves the thrower is rethrown for score. [20]
True Team
The conference points system that ranks qualifying athlete scores and adds the earned points for each team. [21]
TT#
The conference’s number of athlete scores used for each team’s weekly True Team calculation. [21]
DNQ
Did not qualify among that week’s top team scores. The score still counts toward the athlete’s overall average. [21]
DNP
Did not participate. It affects eligibility for conference and overall awards and high school individual nationals. [19]
Reserve week
A simulated competition before the competition season. Its scores may replace a whole team’s competition-week scores, not a single absent athlete’s score. [19]
SAFE
Student Athlete Firearm Education: the League’s safety certification route, requiring online study and range certification. [7] [8]
CLASS
Coach Leadership And Safety Support: the League certification required for a high school team’s Head Coach. [4] [8]
AMS
Athlete Management System, the registration and athlete-profile part of ClayTargetGo!. [9]
True pair / report pair
A true pair throws two targets together; a report pair throws the second after the first shot. [25]

Watch and read

Sources

Facts checked October 4, 2026 against the sources below. Each bracketed number on the page links to its source.

  11. CLASS certification costsusaclaytarget.com
  25. League 5-stand formatusaclaytarget.com
  27. High school National Championshiphighschool.usaclaytarget.com
  30. College National Championshipcollege.usaclaytarget.com
  31. Start a school teamusaclaytarget.com
  32. Find your state leaguehighschool.usaclaytarget.com
  33. Jim Sable scholarshipsusaclaytarget.com

Inclusion is not an endorsement. Send a source or correction.