Establishing an Archery Program at Your School

Educational leaders and coaches have to be creative with reaching larger groups of students on campus. Teaching archery as a physical education (PE) unit and developing an archery team for student-athletes is one avenue for getting more students involved in high school sports who may not try out for traditional sports.

Students are generally curious about new ideas and seeing archery targets and cones set out in a gym can spark all sorts of interest and perhaps plant the seeds for a new program.

Whether it’s designing a middle school or high school program, students appreciate opportunities to connect with their school and peers, and archery programs can provide another way for connection.

Generating Interest Through Physical Education Classes
When thinking about high school sports, or even PE requirements, what often comes to mind are more common sports like volleyball, basketball, soccer and running the mile, but not all students and even adult leaders on campus are passionate about these offerings.

Archery provides a unique opportunity for students who may not have found their place in traditional sports; it welcomes every student – regardless of popularity, athletic ability, gender, size or academic background. PE units can also spark competition. Whether it’s one class competing against another or a lunchtime tournament with individual students, creating the opportunity to compete may lead to further exploration of creating a school-site team that can compete against other schools.

Safe Facility Setup
Archery does not require a significant amount of space, but it does requires school staff and coaches to be creative and resourceful with creating a “range.” Furthermore, safety needs to be prioritized as archery does carry the potential of injury.

Coaches and educators who are looking to start an archery unit in PE or competitive afterschool programs may have to retrofit existing spaces. A multi-purpose room, gym, field with 50 yards of clearance, or even a large classroom is enough space for students and athletes to have effective practices or competitions. In the unique opportunity of building a new school facility, sports like archery can be incorporated into the initial design.

Whether retrofitting an existing space or planning a new facility, school leaders, educators and coaches need to prioritize safety, and special attention needs to be devoted to avoiding setting up backdrops near high traffic areas, such as water fountains, restrooms, exits or entrances. Additional safety measures to consider and avoid accidents can include posting signage during practices for no entry, placing blue painter’s tape over door locks during practices or using caution tape, cones and other visuals that will deter non-participants from entering the competition space or wandering into the range.

Equipment Resources
Both equipment resources and entry level training are offered through NASP (National Archery in the School Program). Just as schools outfit athletic teams with safety attire, archery coaches and educators need appropriate gear and knowledge before building out a program. Proper training and certification ensure safety and quality instruction for student-athletes.

Basic archery certifications follow a structured teaching sequence that incorporates safety protocols and commands designed to reduce injury risk and support effective learning. A standard requirement for most states is the Basic Archery Instructor (BAI) Level 1 certification; however, specific safety regulations, coaching certifications and other requirements may vary by state and should be taken into account. Coaches and educators should work with their athletic directors and school leaders to ensure all facility and certification requirements are met when developing their programs.

Proper Storage of Archery Equipment
Ironically, if proper steps are followed, archery can be one of the lower injury risk sports for students. Once a safe facility is designed, the next step is to create norms of how students will transport their own bows to school and store them for safety. As in any other sport, student-athletes may have their own personalized equipment as they become more invested in the sport. Unlike a soccer player’s duffel bag stuffed with cleats, shin guards and a soccer ball, archery poses a concern for students carrying bows if proper routines are not in place.

Allowing students to carry their bows and arrows during the school day creates additional risk that can be minimized with additional safety procedures. Schools may want to explore ensuring all bows are stored in a carrying case and stored in a secure location during the school day. Furthermore, arrows should be stored in a designated space and locked up until use. Such procedures not only promote safety, but prevent theft and potential misuse.

Connecting to Success
With regard to additional policies and liability, school sites can require an extra safety waiver and behavior contract, in addition to their state’s standard athletic clearance process for archers before the start of the season. Language to include on a preseason waiver and contract should be a code of conduct, expectations and assumption of risk; all these components should be enforced by the coach and overseen by site administration.

Given its accessible nature for those who may not typically participate in traditional sports, archery has the potential to build connections within any school community. Not only does archery engage students, but coaches and PE teachers may create an athletic opportunity in their schools that encourages a more diverse group of students to participate who may not try out for traditional sports. Whether it is implementing a PE program, school tournament or even league competition, there is always room to field new sports for students so that everyone can experience the benefits of high school athletic participation.

Monique Paris Anderson is a special education teacher, girls tennis coach and assistant boys tennis coach at Emerald High School in Dublin, California. She is a member of the NFHS High School Today Publications Committee.