College club teams can choose to participate in up to four different clay target shooting sport “virtual” recreational leagues. “Virtual” means that teams shoot at their local shooting range(s), submit the scores online, and then the scores are compared against all other team scores in their respective conference. Event (practice and competition) weeks in September and October begin on Sunday and end on the following Saturday at 9 p.m. CST.
Teams are required to have a minimum of five student athletes. The League has no limit on maximum number of athletes that can be on a team. Only the team and/or the shooting range determines the allowable number of athletes on a team.
In each clay target shooting sport, the conference the team competes in is determined by the team size. Teams will compete in conferences with similar team sizes regardless of the school size or location.
Teams travel to their local shooting range to participate in weekly events. The team shoots their 50-target competition round and then a coach submits all scores through the League’s online management software before Saturday’s 9 p.m. CST deadline.
Scores are calculated using the League’s exclusive True Team® scoring method. Scores and standings are posted on the League’s website on Sunday. Athletes and coaches can monitor scores and standings on the website or via the League’s Shooter Performance Tracker®. High-performing athletes are additionally recognized by conference and gender.
After the season ends, awards are sent to top-performing individuals and teams.
League advantages
- Safe sport – More than 70,000 participants and 40 million shots have been fired and there have been no reported injuries.
- Open to all postsecondary schools – Colleges, universities, community colleges, junior colleges, career schools, technical schools, or vocational schools.
- Sportsmanship is required – Self-refereeing sport and participants agree to sportsmanship expectations.
- Co-ed – Equal participation regardless of gender identity or expressions.
- Adaptive activity for students with physical disabilities – Participate the same as all other student athletes.
- Minimal travel to local shooting range – saves time and money versus tournament travel.
- Fair competition for everyone – Teams are grouped in conferences by team size rather than geography, school size, or athletic conference.
- Inclusive participation encourages participation – About 80% of the members’ scores on a team are used for scoring.
- Beginners welcomed – lowest scores on teams do not count with True Team® scoring.
- All participants are insured – Coaches receive liability insurance and student athletes receive accident insurance.
- Participants can aspire to be an Olympic athlete – Shooting sports have been an Olympic event since 1896.
- No benchwarmers – Every member of a team gets to shoot their designated number of targets.
- Affordable – Typical costs are about $150 to $250 for students who have access to a shotgun.
- Fundraising opportunities – local grants may be available from local business, conservation groups, or national shooting sport organizations.
- Assists wildlife restoration – 11% excise tax on firearm and ammunition sales helps manage wildlife and habitats.
- Lifetime outdoor recreation sport – Unlike most other high school sports.
- Technology savvy – Online management, scoring, statistics, and more at your fingertips.
Choose and clay target sport to participate in
The available clay target shooting sport leagues include: