MSHSL State Tournament Rules

Team & Athlete Registration

Competing teams and individuals will exhibit the qualities of gracious professionalism and conform to the Minnesota State High School Clay Target League and the Minnesota State High School League’s policies and procedures.

Spectator Admission & Parking 

Admission to the event and parking for all attendees is free. Please park in designated parking areas.

Shotgun Labels

As there are many similar shotguns at events. To avoid lost or misplaced shotguns, the League strongly suggests that student athletes affix a label that includes the name, school team, and contact information to their shotgun.

Spectator Area, Tents, and Chairs

Any and all spectators are welcomed to attend the event. Team setups including tents and chairs are allowed BEHIND the field sidewalk.

If permitted by the host shooting range, vehicles are temporary allowed to drive to the spectator and assigned field area prior to competition to unload gear. The area in front of the spectator sidewalk must remain clear at all times for event officials and maintenance vehicles.

Food and Beverages

Food and non-alcoholic beverages can be brought to the event or purchased on event grounds and consumed in spectator areas. Grills are only allowed to be used in designated parking or camping areas so the smoke is not disruptive to spectators and participants.

Pets

Friendly, obedient and socialized pets are permitted at the event. Pet owners, who bring their pet, are at their own risk and agree to accept full responsibility for any physical damage or personal injury caused by the owner’s pet or to the pet while on event property. Pets brought to the event must be current on all vaccines and must be able to provide proof of a current rabies vaccination upon request. Flexi-leads are not permitted. At all times, pets must be kept on a 6′ or shorter leash while on event property. As a responsible pet owner, please clean up after your pet.

For safety reasons, the owner of any pet showing aggression or disruptive behavior may be asked at any time to remove the animal from the event.

No Alcohol or Tobacco Use Allowed

Please refrain from the use of tobacco on event property during event hours.

Alcohol consumption is not allowed by any athlete, coach, parent, or spectator at any time during the event practice/competition or awards ceremony.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) Use

Drone use is not allowed on event property without prior written approval from event officials. Approved use of a drone must fully comply with all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements and guidelines as well as any other applicable laws.

Roadway Construction

Check the department of transportation’s website for current construction projects that may affect your travel.

Practice is open on the Thursday before the State Tournament from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Practice is not available the day of the tournament.

Scorkeepers

Scorekeepers are provided.

Range Safety Officials (RSO)

The League’s first priority is safety.

Each team will provide a Range Safety Officer for the event. Team RSOs are responsible for ensuring that athletes and teams safely follow all policies and procedures. In addition, team RSOs will ensure that athletes and teams shoot at their scheduled time and field in a timely manner.

The shooting range will have Master Range Safety Officers at the event to oversee athlete and spectator safety. Everyone is expected to comply to all instructions of all RSOs.

In the event of a safety issue, teams RSOs are to take action to correct any safety infractions and notify a Master RSO. Master RSOs have the final say in all safety matters.

Individual competition

All athletes will participate in the “High Score” (highest number of targets hit) competition in their respective division. Each athlete will shoot four consecutive rounds of 25 targets. (100 targets total). If a tiebreaker is required for any places, the longest reverse run of hit targets by the athletes will be used. The longest reverse run score will start from the last target and count backwards until a missed target is reached to determine the tiebreaker score. If there is a tie after the longest run is totaled, then a tie for that place is declared.

Team competition

The team is required to register a minimum of five student athletes (and up to two alternates) to complete a squad. Squads cannot be changed after a registration is completed. Each team will shoot 50 targets in each of two Sessions. If a tiebreaker is required for any places, the team member with the highest round score from each team will be used to break the tie. Subsequent score comparisons will be used if the top score is tied.

Team alternate athletes

Teams are allowed to register up to two alternate athletes. Alternates may substitute for a student athlete(s) ONLY BEFORE the a team’s Session begins.

Targets and ammunition

Competition targets are included with the participation fee. All athletes will shoot 100 targets. All teams and athletes are responsible for providing their own ammunition, which must adhere to shooting range policies. Please contact the host shooting range for questions regarding ammunition requirements.

Voice-released targets will be used on all fields.

Scheduled shooting times and field assignments

Specific time and field assignments for individual teams are posted on the League’s website and at the shooting range during the event. Athletes will only be able to shoot during their team’s scheduled time on their designated field.

Squadding for the individual competition

Individuals are randomly assigned shooting times, field, and squads.

Squadding a team for the team competition

Coaches are provided a scoresheets and two sets (Session 1 and Session 2) of pre-printed student athlete name labels at check-in. Coaches must apply Session 1 labels on the scoresheet(s) for their preferred squad. Do not pre-squad Session 2 until Session 1 pre-squadding is completed and all athletes are checked-in. Scoresheets are then given to the scorekeeper at the beginning of the squad’s competition.

Scoring

Scorekeepers and Range Safety Officers are provided by the shooting range. Scores will be recorded as defined by the League’s policies and procedures.

Individual Competition Check-In

Athletes must check-in with event staff inside the clubhouse at least 45 minutes prior to their scheduled event to obtain event materials.

Team Competition Check-In

A team coach must check-in with event staff inside the clubhouse at least 45 minutes prior to their scheduled event to obtain event materials. Team athletes are not required to check-in with event staff. They can report to their assigned field. Coaches will receive scoresheets, athlete name labels, and other event items.

Suspension of competition due to hazardous weather conditions

In the event of inclement weather before or during the event, the League will make safety the first priority. When lightning is observed or thunder is heard, the event must be suspended. The occurrence of lightning or thunder is not subject to interpretation or discussion. Lightning is lightning; thunder is thunder.

Everyone will be asked to take shelter either inside of a building, shelter or vehicle. If, after lightning is seen, and it does not reoccur for 30 minutes, the event committee will review weather reports and the event committee will decide if/or when the event will resume.

If severe weather is forecast, and time or darkness is expected to become a factor to complete the event on the same day, a lesser number of targets may be used as determined by the event committee.

Postponed event

If the day’s event gets cancelled entirely or partially, the event will get rescheduled for the following Saturday.

Refund policy

USA Clay Target League and Minnesota State High School League reserves the right to cancel an event or reduce the number of competition targets due to inclement weather or any other unforeseen circumstances which would make the event non-viable.

Registrants will be refunded the registration fee less credit card fees. Refunds will be issued within 14 days after the scheduled event.

A registered athlete or team that does not to participate for any reason in an event will not receive a refund.

Emergency preparation

Coaches should bring emergency contact information for all their athletes for reference if needed.

Stay informed

Check the League’s website and Facebook page for current updates.

Awards

Awards are presented after each competition is completed.
Individuals: 1st – 8th place for each gender.
Ties are broken by using the longest reverse run. In the event of an identical reverse run, a tie will be declared.

Team: 1st – 3rd place.
Ties are broken using the highest individual scores for each team.

25-50-75-100 patches

Patches will be awarded to those student athletes that achieve 25-, 50-, 75-, or 100-straight target hit at the event. Event practice rounds are not eligible.

Official Event Wearbles

An on-site vendor will be present offering event-specific attire and gear.

Media Policy

Working credentials for League events are issued by the USA Clay Target League (League) to media/organizations for the sole purpose of providing sporting event access to an individual who has a legitimate working function on behalf of said media/organization, subject to the following conditions:

• • Credentials are for use solely in connection with news and editorial coverage of the event.
  • Any non-editorial, commercial, or other unauthorized use of transmission, film, picture, videotape, audiotape, writing, drawing or other depiction or description of any participant, event, event information, standings, or other activity, is prohibited without prior specific written approval of the League.
  • The League is the sole arbiter in determining the nature of, and legitimacy, of an individual/organization’s use of League-related content, including transmissions, film, picture, videotape, audiotape, writing, drawing or other depiction or description of any participant, event, event information, standings, or other activity,
  • Any non-editorial or commercial use of any team school name or logo is prohibited without prior specific written approval of the League and/or the school administration.

Working credentials are not transferable, and may be revoked at any time at the sole discretion of the League, and will automatically terminate if any term hereof is breached.  Organizations should contact the League at support@usaclaytarget.com to arrange credentials for League events.

Solicitation Policy

The USA Clay Target League and the Minnesota State High School League prohibits third-party solicitation without express written permission at our events nationwide.

Non-Approved Solicitation:
To provide a distraction-free competitive environment for our athletes, team, coaches, and spectators, the League prohibits solicitation and petitioning by any non-registered entity, representative, or individual at League events, regardless of the cause being represented, to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Approved Solicitation:
The League values its relationship with all of its sponsors, vendors, and exhibitors.

The League takes steps to maintain a quality exhibition area with ease of access to booths and displays for all guests. Out of fairness to all, and to provide a distraction-free competitive environment for athletes and spectators, sponsors, vendors, and exhibitors are not allowed to solicit customers, spectators, or competitors outside the confines of their registered booths/areas.

All organizations that wish to solicit – regardless of cause, product, or service – must be pre-approved by the League. Existing approved sponsors, vendors, or exhibitors may not provide non-registered organizations, or their representatives thereof, space and/or access to event services without the express written permission of the League.

Enforcement:
To ensure a distraction-free competitive experience at our event, the League takes the following steps:

1. • The League asks non-registered solicitors and petitioners to respect the League’s policy by ceasing their activities.
   • If compliance is refused, violators will be asked to leave the League’s event premises.
   • The League will partner with local law enforcement agencies to assist the League in having unwanted solicitors and petitioners removed from event premises. In addition, the League may prosecute trespassers.
   • Previously approved sponsors, vendors, and/or exhibitors that violate the League’s solicitation policies, or act in a manner that assists others to circumvent or violate the League’s solicitation policies, may have their own access revoked, all fees forfeited, and be asked to leave the event premises.