Thank you for your interest in the Kansas High School Clay Target League.  We compete in four sports: Trap, Skeet, 5-Stand, and Sporting Clays. By completing this form you are only showing interest in your child participating. This is not an official registration & further registration will be required.

• Must be in grades 9-12
• Must meet all of St. James Academy curricular activity eligibility requirements
• Must have completed a League-Approved Firearm Safety Certification
  • Student Athlete Firearm Education (SAFE) OR
  • Kansas Hunter's Safety
• The team must have the capacity to accommodate the student
• These are the primary requirements. The coaches will evaluate maturity, responsibility & safety level of all participants. Coaches can dismiss students for not following League & team guidelines.

• Shotgun
  • 12 gauge
  • Firearms are brought from home
  • GUNS & AMMUNITION ARE NOT ALLOWED ON ST. JAMES ACADEMY PROPERTY AT ANY TIME!!!
• Eye protection
  • Any glasses, prescription or otherwise
• Hearing Protection
  • Shooting earmuffs or ear plugs are acceptable

• $45 to Kansas State Clay Target League each season per sport (there are four possible sports: Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, 5-Stand)
  
  • League registration & payment must be completed online prior to the season.  The date varies each year but is generally mid-March in Spring and Mid-Sept in Fall)
• $0-$25 for Firearm Safety Certification
  • Firearm Safety Certification must be completed before competing.
  • $25 for online SAFE certification provided by the KS High School Clay Target League
  • $0 for KS Hunter's Safety Certification
    
    • Class size is limited & classes fill quickly
    • Find class details & registration information at www.safehunters.com
• Team fees very based on sponsor support.  Generally, fees are in the $150 range per sport in the Fall and $400 range in the Spring.  Generally the fees for multiple sports have some savings as the administrative fees are not duplicative,
  • Team fees are usually paid via Paypal or Square invoices emailed to each participant. 
  • Fees cover targets for team sessions, a jersey, insurance, registration in various clay target organizations, etc.
  • The coaches are working diligently to procure donations to reduce fees. Our team has a 501c3. If you know anyone who would be interested in donating, please notify one of the coaches and we will provide a sponsor packet.
    
  • Ammunition for all sports are paid for directly by the athletes. 
• One team jersey per athlete is also included as part of the registration fee (one-time, not per season). 

• In the Spring, athletes are part of both the Thunder and the Kansas City Crushers to obtain additional instruction.  www.kccrushers.com

Season - Fall

• August  13/27 (dates not final): Info Meetings and Registration Opens
• August 31st (date not final) : Team and student athlete registration closes Noon CT.
• Sept 6 - Oct 24: Fall Season
• Location: Powder Creek Lenexa, KS and/or Cedar Hill Baldwin, KS

• Trap Practice:
  • Tues 4:00-6:00 PM
  • Competition - Three Sundays
    • Cedar Hill, Baldwin, KS
    • KTA Wichita, KS
    • KCTA - Smithville, MO
• Skeet Practice/Competition:
  • Wednesday 4:00 - 6:00 PM
• 5-Stand Practice/Competition: 
  • Thursday 3:30 - 6:30 PM
• Sporting Clays: 
  • Saturday 10:00 - 12:00 PM for some practices.
  • Competition - Three Saturdays or Sundays
    Cedar Hill, Baldwin, KS
    STC Augusta, KS
    Powder Creek - Lenexa, KS

 

• Virtual competition
  • Submit scores online & compete against other teams & athletes across the state in our conference
• Conference
  • Set by the league
  • Typically 5-8 teams per conference
  • Conferences are comprised of teams having a similar number of shooters
• Thunder Clay Target Team Record
  • Numerous State and Conference Championships
  • 2021 USA High School National Championships 2nd Place
  • 2019 USA High School National Championships 5th Place

• Fastest growing KS High School Team sport
• Co-ed
• Lifetime outdoor sport
• No "Benchwarmers"
  • Everyone shoots the same amount regardless of experience or performance
• No special ability required
  • Positive attitude is the only requirement
• Parents are encouraged to be involved
• Lettering & Yearbook
  • Students are able to letter if they qualify
  • Thunder Clay Target team is included in the yearbook
• Scholarships
  • Many colleges have shooting teams & offer scholarships to athlete shooters
• All Athletes & Coaches are insured by the League
• Unblemished safety record
  
  • There have been no injuries since the league formed in 2001

• Athletes must have firearm safety certification
  
  • The only high school sport that requires safety certification
• Safety Range Officer must be present at all shooting sessions
• 1 Coach required for every 10 Athletes
• Hearing & eye protection required at all times
• Published stringent policies & procedures
  
  • Read policies at www.ksclaytarget.com

Trap Field

• 5 shooting stations
• 1 trap house
  • 16 yards from shooting stations
  • Clay targets are "thrown" from the trap house

Rounds

• There is one shooter at each station
• Each shooter takes turns shooting at 5 clay targets from their station
  • Shooters have a single shot to break their target
• The clay targets are thrown from the trap house at one of 5 different angles
• All shooters rotate to the next station after each shooter has shot at their targets
• A scoring official will call "Loss" each time a shooter misses a target
  • Any visible chip counts as a hit
  • Shooters are encouraged to watch as other shooters are shooting & notify the scoring official immediately if they see a chip that the scoring official did not see
• There is a total of 25 targets for each shooter per round
• Scoring
  • The total number of targets broken by a shooter in each round is their score

When is the sign up deadline?

• Deadline to sign up varies - end of August/early Sept
• Online SAFE certification or KS Hunter's Safety must be completed before you can compete.

 

What if I haven't ever shot before?

• No problem!
• Pay close attention during your online SAFE test or your KS Hunter's Safety course
• Bring a positive attitude
• We will teach you how to shoot

Can I join the team & be in another fall or spring school sport?

• Sorry... No. You cannot be in another school sport during the season if you are on the clay target team. 

• It is mandatory to attend at least one practice per week unless you have an excused absence (sick, etc.).

• We teach & practice safety first and foremost at all shooting sessions.

When is the sign up deadline?

• Deadline to sign up varies - end of August/early Sept
• Online SAFE certification or KS Hunter's Safety must be completed before you can compete.

 

How do I sign up?

• Online registration will open very soon
• Provide information below to receive email notifications