Season
The Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) season starts September 1 each year. In Iowa, while some teams shoot through the fall, most teams begin practice in March, with competitions in April and May. The State Championships are during the last half of May and all of June. National Championships are held each July.
2025-26 Clay Target Leagues
Starting on September 1, 2025, all teams registered with SCTP are invited to participate in the state-wide Trap, Skeet, Sporting Clays, and 5-Stand Leagues. These leagues allow local teams to get together and conduct competition matches. Results from each match will be recorded and posted to the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation website creating a friendly, state-wide competition. Top teams and individuals from the state-wide leagues will be recognized and awards will be presented at each respective state event.
Iowa SCTP League Rules
- All events must be published on the SCTP SHOT system two days prior to the event.
- All events must be between two or more registered Iowa SCTP teams.
- For a Senior Division Shoot, there must be Senior Division athletes from at least two Iowa teams competing.
- Due to fewer teams having Rookie and Intermediate athletes, this requirement does not apply to those divisions, only that there are athletes from at least two different Iowa teams competing.
- All events must be scored by a designee of the venue/host range or a member of an opposing team.
- Scorekeepers must print their name, phone number, and team affiliation on each scorecard they fill out.
- The Main Contact of an event must be able to provide a copy of a scorecard at the request of the DNR at any time through the end of the discipline's annual state championship event.
- An athlete that scratches during a round(decides to stop shooting mid round) will be done shooting for the remainder of the event. You cannot scratch mid round and start a new round.
- All scores for teams and individuals must be posted to the SHOT system within one day of the conclusion of the event.
- Registered Shoots (ATA, NSSA, NSCA) can count toward league scores and be entered in SHOT under the following conditions:
- The registered event is entered in SHOT at least two days prior to the event.
- An athlete must be registered for the event in SHOT in order for the targets to be used for SCTP.
- There must be athletes from at least two different Iowa teams participating at the event.
- The “host” coach must enter the scores into SHOT and is responsible for obtaining copies of the scoresheets from the host club for the SCTP athletes.
- The requirement for Senior Division athletes does not apply to shoots that are registered with the ATA, NSSA, or NSCA.
- Discipline specific requirements can be found in this program for each individual league.
- Iowa DNR, as the SCTP State Advisor, reserves the right to alter or change league rules at any time, for any reason.
- Iowa DNR officials reserve the right to make on site determination of any situation not covered by these rules. Iowa DNR officials' decisions are final.
- Unless otherwise stated a reverse run will begin from the final score in an event, a forward run will begin from the first score of an event, and a longest run can occur anywhere between the first and last score of an event.
American Trap
The course of fire for the league is American Trap (16 yard singles), and the governing rules are that of the national Scholastic Clay Target Program and the Amateur Trapshooting Association. The 2025 Competition Season will end May 26. The league will consist of 200 targets (4 scores of 50 targets), with scores from at least two different facilities. Athletes or teams may shoot as many targets as they wish, with the highest four scores from at least 2 different facilities being selected to determine each athletes’ League Score. All events must be between two or more registered SCTP teams and published on the SCTP Shot system 7 days prior to the event. All scores for teams and individuals must be posted to the SHOT system within 1 day of the conclusion of the event.
Handicap Trap
The course of fire for the league is American Trap Handicap as designated by the SCTP. Rookie athletes shoot targets from the 19 yd line, Intermediate from 21 yards and Seniors from 25 yards. The governing rules are that of the national Scholastic Clay Target Program and the Amateur Trapshooting Association. The 2025 Competition Season will end May 26. The league will consist of 200 targets (4 scores of 50 targets), with scores from at least two different facilities. Athletes or teams may shoot as many targets as they wish, with the highest four scores from at least 2 different facilities being selected to determine each athletes’ League Score. All events must be between two or more registered SCTP teams and published on the SCTP Shot system 7 days prior to the event. All scores for teams and individuals must be posted to the SHOT system within 1 day of the conclusion of the event.
Doubles Trap
The course of fire for the league is American Trap Doubles, and the governing rules are that of the national Scholastic Clay Target Program and the Amateur Trapshooting Association. The 2025 Competition Season will end May 26. The Intermediate and Senior Division leagues will consist of 200 targets (4 scores of 50 targets), with scores from at least two different facilities. Athletes or teams may shoot as many targets as they wish, with the highest four scores from at least 2 different facilities being selected to determine each athletes’ League Score. All events must be between two or more registered SCTP teams and published on the SCTP SHOT system 7 days prior to the event. All scores for teams and individuals must be posted to the SHOT system within 1 day of the conclusion of the event.
Skeet
The Skeet League is open to all athletes and teams registered with the SCTP. The course of fire for the league is American Skeet, and the governing rules are that of the national Scholastic Clay Target Program and the National Skeet Shooting Association. The 2025 Competition Season will end June 8. The league will consist of 150 targets (3 scores of 50 targets), with scores from at least two different skeet facilities. Athletes or teams may shoot as many targets as they wish, with the highest three scores from at least 2 different facilities being selected to determine each athletes’ League Score. All events must be between two or more registered SCTP teams and published on the SCTP Shot system 7 days prior to the event. All scores for teams and individuals must be posted to the SHOT system within 1 day of the conclusion of the event.
Skeet Doubles
The Skeet Doubles League is open to all athletes and teams registered with the SCTP. The course of fire for the league is American Skeet Doubles, and the governing rules are that of the national Scholastic Clay Target Program and the National Skeet Shooting Association. The 2025 Competition Season will end June 8. The league will consist of 150 targets (3 scores of 50 targets), with scores from at least two different skeet facilities. The Rounds for Skeet Doubles consist of a Round of 24 and a Round of 26 and they should be recorded in SHOT as a score out of 50. Athletes or teams may shoot as many targets as they wish, with the highest three scores from at least 2 different facilities being selected to determine each athletes’ League Score. All events must be between two or more registered SCTP teams and published on the SCTP SHOT system 7 days prior to the event. All scores for teams and individuals must be posted to the SHOT system within 1 day of the conclusion of the event.
Sporting Clays
The Sporting Clays League is open to all athletes and teams registered with the SCTP. The course of fire for the league is Sporting Clays, and the governing rules are that of the national Scholastic Clay Target Program and the National Sporting Clays Association. The 2025 Competition Season will end June 8. The league will consist of 150 targets (3 scores of 50 targets), with scores from at least two different sporting clays facilities. Athletes or teams may shoot as many targets as they wish, with the highest three scores from at least 2 different facilities being selected to determine each athletes’ League Score. All events must be between two or more registered SCTP teams and published on the SCTP Shot system 7 days prior to the event. All scores for teams and individuals must be posted to the SHOT system within 1 day of the conclusion of the event.
5-Stand
The 5-Stand League is open to all athletes and teams registered with the SCTP. The course of fire for the league is Sporting Clays, and the governing rules are that of the national Scholastic Clay Target Program and the National Sporting Clays Association. The 2025 Competition Season will end June 8. The league will consist of 150 targets (3 scores of 50 targets), with scores from at least two different 5-stand facilities. Athletes or teams may shoot as many targets as they wish, with the highest three scores from at least 2 different facilities being selected to determine each athletes’ League Score. All events must be between two or more registered SCTP teams and published on the SCTP Shot system 7 days prior to the event. All scores for teams and individuals must be posted to the SHOT system within 1 day of the conclusion of the event.
