A sport rising in popularity across Minnesota has made its way to International Falls.

The Falls School Board Monday agreed to endorse offering a clay target league to students in the spring.

“It is the fastest growing league (among Minnesota schools),” Falls Athletic Director Kevin Grover said.

The activity has been exploding in popularity with about 215 schools across the state signing up. The sport hasn’t been picked up as an official state school sport, but Grover said the possibility exists.

“It’s proposed to be a Minnesota State High School League sport one year from now,” he said. “Whether that will happen, I don’t know, but that is the way it looks.”

The trapshooting program is open to any student in grades 6-12 who has a firearms safety certificate from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Grover said at least five students are needed to make a team and teams can consist of males and females.

“It would be in line with Title IX because it would be co-curricular,” he said of offering an equal number of sports opportunities to boys and girls.

The sport requires shooters to stand 16 yards behind the thrower and shoot five rounds at five different stations on the line. An official scorer marks down each hit target. Each individual attempts 50 shots before scores are tabulated and submitted to mnclaytarget.com. Teams are placed in conferences based on the number of individuals participating on each squad.

Grover told board members Monday endorsement of the league doesn’t carry a cost to the district – yet. If trapshooting is picked up as an official MSHSL sport, board members will have to decide how to proceed in the future.

“Right now there are no costs,” Grover said. “Participants will pay a registration fee...I don’t know how districts would deal with this down the road (if it becomes an official sport).”

Some board members raised question on whether endorsing the league would be the right option if things could change in a year.

“If we endorse this...We’re going to be faced with having to have that part of our program,” board member Gordy Dault said.

Board member Michelle Hebner, however, suggested the league — like the clay targets — be given a chance to get off the ground before being shot down.

“I think we need to proceed and see where it goes...Given the community we live in, this is one of those things that gets kids excited for school,” she said.

Board member Will Kostiuk agreed and reminded his colleagues that they have the final decision to adopt it as a sport when and if the time comes.

“I think this is a good thing,” he said.

Grover addressed a concern he anticipates to be brought up with news of the league forming.

“There have not been issues with firearms on (school) property because nothing takes place on school grounds,” he said. “It hasn’t been an issue anywhere else.”

He added that there will be an adviser for every 10 participants to ensure added safety.

Grover continued that practice would be held at a local shooting range one night per week after practices of other spring sports have concluded to allow those students the chance to participate.

“We don’t want to initiate this and have it compete with other sports,” he said. “This could be a great way to get kids active...I see it as a good thing.”