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

• $40 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 for "Trap" very based on sponsor support.  Generally, fees are in the $250 range in the Fall and $400 range in the Spring.
  • Team fees are usually paid via Paypal or Square invoices emailed to each participant. 
  • Fees cover ammunition & targets for team sessions. Ammunition will be handed out at each session.
  • 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.
  • Team fees will be waived for any student who locates a sponsor who donates $500 or more to the Thunder Clay Target Club.
    
• Team fees for Skeet are $75, Sporting $125, and 5-Stand $100.  The ammunition fees for these 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). 

• We recommend that athletes competing in Skeet, Sporting Clays, and 5-Stand also consider joining the KC Crushers in the spring seasons to obtain additional instruction.  www.kccrushers.com
• KC Crusher practices are generally held on Saturday mornings at Powder Creek in Lenexa, KS.
• Contact one of the coaches for more information.

Season - Fall 2024

• August 24: Team and student athlete registration opens.
• Sept 6: Team and student athlete registration closes Noon CT.
• Sept 11: Practice Week 1 begins
• Sept 18: Reserve Week begins
• Sept 25: Competition Week 1 begins
• Oct 2: Competition Week 2 begins
• Oct 9: Competition Week 3 begins
  
• Oct 16: Competition Week 4 begins
• Oct 23: Competition Week 5 begins
  Location: Powder Creek Lenexa, KS

• Skeet:
  • Wednesday 4:00 - 6:00 PM
• 5-Stand: 
  • Thursday 3:30 - 6:30 PM
• Trap: 
  • Friday 3:00-5:00 PM and
  • Saturday 9:00-10:00 AM
• Sporting Clays: 
  • Saturday 10:00 - 12:00 PM for some practices.
  • Two or three competitions involve travel to sporting clay parks up to 3 hour drive each way.  

 

• 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 is Sept 6, 2024 (Fall 2024)
• 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.

Who are the coaches?

• Head Coach: Arron Heinerikson jheinerikson@gmail.com  
• Club Sponsor: Jackie Heinerikson jheinerikson@sjakeepingfaith.org
• Trap Coaches
  • Dave Hutchison david.hutchison@brightmarks.com
  • Todd Winchel twinchel04@gmail.com
• Skeet Coaches
  • Wade Willson wwll3129@gmail.com
  • Dave Berck dave.berck@levelfivesolutions.com
  • Emersyn Berck 
• 5-Stand Coaches
  • Bart Lowen bartlowen.mail@gmail.com
  • Dave Hutchison david.hutchison@brightmarks.com
• Sporting Clays Coaches
  • BJ Powell bjpowell10x@gmail.com
    
  • Bart Lowen bartlowen.mail@gmail.com
  • Dave Hutchison david.hutchison@brightmarks.com
• We are always looking for additional coaches!

How do I sign up?

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