Breaking
● USACTL 2026 Spring Season — Record participation nationwide with 100,000+ student athletes competing ● Mason Smithey (Wapakoneta) — Shoots 25 Straight at spring trap meet · May 4, 2026 · Coaches Award winner ● Beretta launches new 688 competition series — Improved stock, trigger, and barrel options for 2026 ● USA Shooting Youth Nationals — Registration now open for fall 2026 · See details →
🎯 25 Straight Trap USACTL · Ohio Year 1

Mason Smithey

Age 14  ·  Wapakoneta Redskins Clay Target Club  ·  Beretta 688

The tradition: shoot your first perfect 25 straight, and you shoot your hat. That's Mason's hat. May 4, 2026. Year one.

He shot 25 straight. Then he shot his hat.

Read Mason's Story → Get Your Kid Started
🎩 Tradition
Shoot Your Hat: The Tradition Behind the Perfect 25
June 17, 2026 · 5 min read
🛡️
Gear Review
Beretta 688: First Impressions From a 14-Year-Old Shooter
May 28, 2026 · 6 min read
📋
Get Started
How to Join a USACTL Team in 5 Easy Steps
Guide · 8 min read
100K+
Student Athletes in USACTL
4,500+
Teams Nationwide
50
States Represented
99%
Athlete Safety Record
🎩
New · Hall of Fame
Shoot Your Hat Hall of Fame
Shot a perfect round? Shoot your hat. Send us the photo. Your moment lives here forever. Mason Smithey is #1.
See the Wall →

Editor's Picks

All Stories →
🎯
Trap
Mason Smithey Shoots a Perfect 25 Straight at USACTL Spring Meet
Jun 5·3 min
📊
League
USACTL 2026 Spring Season: The Numbers Are In — And They're Massive
Jun 10·5 min
🔫
Gear
Beretta 688 Youth Review: The Gold Standard Just Got Better
May 28·6 min
📋
Guide
Your Complete Guide to Finding a USACTL Team in Your State
Guide·8 min
🏆
Athletes
Ohio's Rising Stars: The Youth Class of 2026 Ones to Watch
Jun 1·4 min

🔥 Hot Right Now

All News →
🏆
EVENT GUIDE
Events
USA Shooting Youth Nationals 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Register
Dates, locations, registration fees, and what to expect from the biggest youth clay target event of the year.
Jun 12, 2026·7 min read
🎯
TECHNIQUE
Training
5 Drills That Will Improve Your Trap Average Before Next Season
USACTL coaches share the drills they give to youth shooters to punch through the 20-bird plateau.
Jun 8, 2026·5 min read
🔫
BUYER'S GUIDE
Gear
What Shotgun Should a 14-Year-Old Start With? We Break It Down
From the Mossberg 500 to the Beretta A300 — the honest guide for parents buying their kid's first competition shotgun.
Jun 3, 2026·6 min read

▶ Watch & Learn

More Videos →

Gebben Miles Clay Shooting Method Explained (Game-Changer)

3× PSCA Tour Champion Gebben Miles breaks down the swing-through method that's taking youth shooters to the next level. Essential watch for any aspiring clay shooter.

Shooting USA: High School Clay Target League Trap Nationals

Go inside the USA High School Clay Target League Nationals — the largest youth shotgun sports competition in the country. See what it means to these young athletes.

New to clay target sports?
Start Your Journey Today
Find a USACTL team near you, learn what gear you need, and get on the line. It's easier — and cheaper — than you think.
Get Started → Find Events

📸 Pic of the Day

Submit yours →
Pic of the Day
📸 PIC OF THE DAY
June 17, 2026
Mason Smithey — The Hat That Started It All
Wapakoneta Redskins Clay Target Club · Ohio · May 4, 2026
📷 Submitted by Mason Smithey via #youngclays
❤️ 142 💬 38
Submit Your Shot

Post your best clay shooting photo on Instagram with #youngclays and you might be tomorrow's Pic of the Day.

#youngclays
Tag your Instagram post
1️⃣
Post your best clay shooting photo on Instagram
2️⃣
Tag it #youngclays
3️⃣
We pick the best one — featured right here every day
What makes a great pic?
✅ Action shots — birds in the air, clays breaking
✅ Team/club photos
✅ Celebration moments (shot hats welcome 🎩)
✅ Range landscapes, early morning sessions
✅ Gear shots, competition days
Free Weekly Newsletter

Down Range Weekly

Results, athlete spotlights, gear picks, and the stories behind the next generation of clay shooters. Every week. Free.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Parents & athletes both welcome.