An exciting new sport is taking over the school systems in Minnesota.

Clay target shooting.

It’s a sport that anyone can do, and it’s not the typical one where there’s a lot of running around.

The United South Central School Board heard a presentation by Jim Moll and Pat Gottberg about bringing a clay target league team to the USC schools.

The league began about 12 years ago, and has started to take off strong in the surrounding school districts.

“What it is is trap shooting,” says Moll. “Trap shooting is where you have a machine that throws a four-inch diameter clay target at about 43 miles per hour and the machine oscillates back and forth so you never know where it will shoot.”

He goes on to say it’s a sport where concentration is key, along with hand-eye coordination.

It is a spring league and the times the league meets can work around existing sports schedules to accommodate anyone wishing to take part in more than one sport.

Moll says that there should be no cost to the school. What the fee to the students does not cover, the Wells Rifle and Pistol Club will pick up.

It is for students in grades six through 12.

In order to officially form this club, at least five shooters must be part of it. And, it must be formed by March 1 of 2014 for that school year’s start.

Each student must have his or her own gun for the team. The guns will not be allowed on the school property, so it will not interfere with current rules that are set.

The Minnesota State High School League will provide the appropriate number of coaches. There needs to be one coach to every 10 students.

Another upside to this sport is that it does not require traveling to other towns for competition. The scores are electronically submitted.

The board approved moving forward with creating a clay target league team for the school district in conjunction with the Wells Rifle and Pistol Club.

A special school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 29 at 7 p.m. to continue going over the strategic plan to make changes.

The next regular school board meeting is set for Aug. 20 but will begin at 6 p.m.