Shooting ranges are important partners for college clay target teams and play an vital role in providing student athletes a safe, fair, and competitive environment to participate in the League.
Because teams compete in a “virtual” competition, shoot at their local club, and submit scores to be compared online, it is essential that all participating shooting ranges follow the below recommendations to the best of their ability to all participants and teams.
Policies and procedures
Shooting ranges that host League teams should familiarize themselves with the League’s Policies and Procedures. This document is the first resource that clubs, teams, and coaches should refer to if there are any questions.
Additionally, we recommend that shooting ranges set clear expectations with teams and athletes regarding shooting range rules and safety procedures. In all cases, shooting range safety procedures and product specifications supersede any League policies and/or procedures.
The League also recommends shooting ranges should provide each team a copy of their emergency management plan before the season begins. This emergency management plan should contain local emergency services contact information, inclement weather requirements and evacuation procedures, and shooting range contact information.
Shooting range ammunition requirements supersede League ammunition requirements.
Teams, families and student athletes must follow all federal laws on the purchase, sale, storage, and transportation of ammunition.
Alcohol and tobacco use
No alcohol or tobacco will be used during League events at the shooting range.
Field and target recommendations
Ensuring a consistent and fair shooting experience throughout the state and the League is important to the enjoyment of the sport for all participants. The League encourages shooting ranges to adhere to the best of their abilities to standard field, target, and target flight specifications as defined by the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA).
Click here to view Trap Field-House-Flight Specifications
Trap field
The Amateur Trapshooting Association has provided a set of complete specification diagrams for the layout of trap shooting ranges, including trap house design, walkway specifications, and shotfall areas.
Trap machine
A trap machine, which throws targets randomly at various predetermined angles, shall be used for all League events. These trap machines shall assure the unpredictability of the flight of substantial all targets thrown.
Traphouse
Traphouses must adequately protect the trap machine, loaders, and targets.
Trap shooting target flight
A target should be set so that when thrown from the straightaway position it reaches a height of between 9 to 10 feet when measured at a distance of 30 feet from the center point of the trap house. The target should then fly and then land at a distance between 49 yards to 50 yards – but no further than 51 yards. Distance measurements should be on level ground during still air.
If using a radar speed gun to set targets, a speed of 42mph at a target height of 9 feet to 10 feet (measured 30 feet out from the trap house center) should reach the desired distance.
Target throwing angles shall be adjusted that within the normal distribution of angles as throne by the trap machine, the right angle shall not be less than 17 degrees measured to the right of center, and not less than 17 degrees measured to the left of center, with a total angle between outside target limits on not less than 34 degrees.