Archery: A High School Sport?

Archery is a sport that can be played at the high school level. In fact, there are nearly 400 schools in California alone that offer archery instruction and competition to students from grades 4-12. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a program aimed at improving educational performance among students in grades 4-12. Archery teaches students discipline, respect, and self-control, and also gives them a sense of personal achievement. It is a great option for students who don't consider themselves sporty, as well as those who want to try something new.

How to get your child involved in a school archery program

Archery is a fun and educational activity for young people to take part in. It teaches discipline, respect, and self-control, and it's a great way to improve your child's focus, patience, and physical endurance.

If your child is interested in taking up archery, a good place to start is by checking if their school already has an archery program in place. Many schools offer archery as part of their physical education curriculum or as an after-school activity. If not, here are some steps you can take to get your child's school involved:

• Contact the school: Reach out to the school's administration, specifically the Head of Physical Education or the sports coordinator. Express your interest in having an archery program at the school and ask about the possibility of implementing one.
• Find a certified instructor: For a school to offer archery, they must have at least one certified instructor on staff. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) offers instructor training and certification. This training is typically 6-8 hours long and is included in the purchase of NASP equipment.
• Get approval: For a school to participate in NASP, they will need approval from the school board. A letter of approval on school board letterhead is typically required. Additionally, a letter from the principal stating that the program will be taught during in-class curriculum is also necessary.
• Purchase equipment: Schools in the NASP program will need to purchase a standard archery equipment kit. This kit includes safe, durable, and universal-fit bows, arrows, and targets. The equipment is designed to be used by students of all ages and skill levels, fostering an inclusive environment.
• Connect with local clubs: Many local archery clubs provide taster sessions or beginner courses for schools. Reach out to clubs in your area to see if they can offer introductory sessions or provide further support for implementing an archery program.

By following these steps, you can help bring the joy and benefits of archery to your child and their classmates! Archery is a great way to build confidence, improve focus, and develop essential life skills, all while having fun and staying active.

Benefits of archery for students

Archery is a great sport for students to get into. It is a fun and social activity that can be practised by people of all ages, genders, and abilities. It is also a relatively inexpensive sport to pick up, with many outlets allowing you to borrow equipment when taking lessons. Here are some of the benefits that students can gain from taking up archery:

Physical Health Benefits

Archery is a physically demanding sport that can help students improve their strength and endurance. Drawing a bow requires energy and engages multiple muscle groups, including the biceps, triceps, core, and quadriceps. It also puts tension on the chest, hands, arms, and upper back muscles, as well as the rotator cuffs, which support the shoulders. The repetitive nature of the movements involved in archery helps to strengthen these muscles over time. Additionally, walking to the target to collect arrows can add up to a significant amount of physical activity, with archers walking up to five miles and burning between 100 and 150 active calories every 30 minutes during tournaments.

Mental Health Benefits

Archery has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health and well-being. It requires a high level of focus and concentration, which can help improve mental acuity and enhance students' ability to concentrate in other areas of their lives, such as schoolwork. The calming nature of the sport, which involves setting aside worries and distractions, can also help to ease anxiety and depression, improve mood, and provide a sense of meditation.

Improved Hand-Eye Coordination

Archery is an excellent activity for improving hand-eye coordination. The act of aiming the bow with one hand while pulling the string and firing the arrow with the other hand requires a high level of coordination between the eyes and the body's muscles.

Patience and Dedication

Archery can teach students the importance of patience and dedication. It requires significant practice and dedication to reach a decent standard, and this process can foster a sense of perseverance and determination.

Social and Community Benefits

Archery clubs provide a great opportunity for students to meet new people and socialise. They can connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and build supportive and friendly relationships within the archery community.

Increased Self-Confidence

Archery provides a sense of satisfaction and improved self-confidence as students combine their mental and physical attributes to achieve their goals. Keeping records of scores and witnessing their progress can further boost their confidence and teach them the value of hard work and resilience.

Types of archery suitable for high school students

There are several types of archery that are suitable for high school students. Here are some options:

Soft Archery/Arrows Archery

Soft Archery, also known as Arrows Archery, is a "mini" version of archery designed to introduce young children to the sport in a fun and safe way. It is suitable for primary school students and can be delivered by teachers and sports coordinators without any formal archery experience or qualifications. Soft Archery provides child-friendly equipment and resources, making it possible to set up in almost any school setting. It offers simple activity and competition ideas that can be incorporated into PE lessons, after-school clubs, and other curriculum areas. Arrows Archery is also the recommended format for primary-level School Games.

Traditional Archery

Traditional archery involves the use of standard archery equipment and follows the traditional rules and techniques of the sport. High school students can learn traditional archery through local clubs and coaches or by setting up an affiliated school archery club covered by insurance, such as an Archery GB club.

Target Archery

Target archery involves shooting at a target from a set distance. It is a type of archery that can be practiced at a range or indoor facility and is suitable for students who want to focus on accuracy and precision.

Field and 3D Archery

Field and 3D archery is set in woodland over rough terrain, providing a challenging and immersive experience. It involves shooting at targets placed at varying distances and angles, simulating hunting or outdoor scenarios. This type of archery is suitable for high school students who want to combine archery skills with outdoor exploration.

Flight Archery

Flight archery focuses on shooting arrows over the longest distance possible. It is a discipline that emphasizes the archer's technique, form, and understanding of arrow trajectory. High school students interested in the scientific principles behind archery, such as physics and ballistics, may find this type of archery particularly engaging.

Clout Archery

Clout archery involves shooting arrows toward a flag, with the goal of landing as close to it as possible. It is a traditional form of archery that was historically used for military training. Clout archery can be a fun variation for high school students to develop their aiming and distance judgment skills.

Competitions and tournaments for high school students

There are a variety of competitions and tournaments available for high school students who are interested in archery. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is one such program that introduces students from grades 4 to 12 to the sport of target archery. NASP offers local, state, national, and world tournaments for students to participate in. In 2023, NASP held its 8th Annual OFAH NASP Provincial Championship, which was a virtual tournament due to COVID restrictions. The program also held an in-person tournament in 2019 with a total of 357 student participants.

In addition to NASP, USA Archery offers a range of tournaments for archers of all levels, from local to national competitions. Some of their notable tournaments include the USA Archery Spring Indoor/Outdoor Virtual Tournament, the USA Archery Colorado State Field Championship, and the USA Archery Pennsylvania State Outdoor Championship. These tournaments cater to different divisions, including youth, adult, senior, and masters categories.

Another option for high school students interested in competitive archery is the Scholastic 3-D Archery (S3DA) Program. This program focuses on providing after-school archery opportunities in 3-D, indoor target, and outdoor target archery. S3DA aims to increase participation in local, state, and national archery events and promotes a respect for natural resources and wildlife conservation.

Funding and grants for high school archery programs

Funding and grants are available for high school archery programs across the United States. The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a popular program used in nearly 9,000 schools, serving 1.3 million students. NASP provides curriculum, training for staff, in-school coordinators, and opportunities for competition.

Some schools rely on federal funding for their archery programs, while others use grants from state education agencies or scholarship grants provided by NASP itself. Grants for equipment are also available for interested schools.

• The Minnesota DNR Archery in the Schools program provides financial assistance for equipment packages to schools and non-profits. The basic archery equipment package, valued at nearly $5,000, is available to participating schools and non-profits for $3,600, shipping included.
• USA Archery offers a range of grants, including the Ann Hoyt/Jim Easton JOAD Grant. Through this grant, clubs can request $2,000 for items such as target butts, stands, archery equipment, general supplies, and coach certifications.
• GrantWatch offers grants to USA nonprofit organizations for archery programs at schools, IHEs, and sports clubs. The purpose of the grant program is to further the sport of archery and inspire more people to take it up.

It is important to note that there have been concerns about the impact of certain laws and interpretations on funding for school archery programs. For example, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, passed by Congress to prevent shootings and address their impacts on schools and communities, has led to confusion and fears of funds being withheld for school archery programs. However, despite the lack of clarity, schools can still seek funding from other federal grants, state grants, and local funding sources.

Frequently asked questions