Organization · Skills & Sport
National Archery in the Schools Program
The National Archery in the Schools Program brings target archery into classrooms across the country, teaching kids to focus, breathe, and shoot straight during the regular school day. For families, a child's first arrow at school is often the beginning of something longer: weekend range visits, local tournaments, and a shared outdoor sport that grows with the kid.
This page from Outside, the family adventure app, profiles the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), a nonprofit organization that partners with schools to teach target archery as part of physical education. The page covers what NASP does, how children participate through school programs, how families can extend that experience through tournaments and community ranges, and which families and age groups benefit most. Key facts include the program's presence in thousands of schools across the United States and internationally, its focus on grades 4 through 12, and its emphasis on individual skill-building within a team setting.
| Region | Nationwide, with international chapters |
|---|---|
| Season | School year, with spring tournaments |
| Best ages | Grades 4 to 12 (roughly ages 9 to 18) |
| Cost to start | Free through school program |
| Equipment needed | None for school participation |
What NASP is and how it works
The National Archery in the Schools Program is a nonprofit organization that partners with public and private schools to deliver target archery instruction during the school day, typically inside the gymnasium. Founded in Kentucky in 2002, the program has since spread to thousands of schools across the United States and into several other countries.
The format is straightforward: trained teachers lead students in a standardized curriculum using Genesis compound bows, which are set to a low draw weight and require no finger tab or arm guard. Every student in a participating class shoots, regardless of prior experience. The goal is not to produce competitive archers on day one but to teach focus, breath control, and personal improvement over time. NASP reports that the program serves students in grades 4 through 12, making it one of the broadest school-based archery efforts in the country.
What happens inside a NASP class
A typical NASP session runs like a structured physical education class. Students rotate through safety instruction, stance and form coaching, and live shooting at ten-meter targets. The Genesis bow is the same model used by every NASP school, which means a kid who learns in Montana is using identical equipment to a kid learning in Georgia.
Because there are no size or strength requirements to pull the bow, the program works well for a wide range of kids. Students who struggle with team-based sports often find archery refreshing: every round is a personal challenge, and improvement is easy to measure. Teachers track scores over time, and many students become noticeably more self-directed as the season progresses. The program emphasizes that every archer is competing against their own previous score as much as anyone else in the room.
Tournaments and where the school year leads
NASP organizes a structured tournament season that runs from school-level shoots up through state championships and, for top qualifiers, a national tournament held each spring. State tournaments draw hundreds of student archers and are open to spectators, making them a genuine family outing. Many families who attend one discover that watching live archery is quieter and more suspenseful than they expected.
Students compete in the NASP format by shooting a set number of arrows at ten-meter and fifteen-meter targets and totaling their score. Age and gender brackets keep competition fair. Qualifying for a state or national tournament requires consistent practice, but the school program itself requires nothing more than showing up to class. Families do not need to buy equipment or pay tournament fees to participate at the school level; costs increase only if a student advances and the family chooses to travel.
How families get involved beyond school
The natural next step for a child who catches the archery bug is finding a local range. Many NASP schools partner with nearby archery shops or sportsmen's clubs that offer open family shoot times, and the NASP website includes a range finder tool to locate affiliated facilities. Some ranges host NASP-format practice nights specifically for school-program alumni.
Parents who want to go deeper can pursue volunteer coaching certification through NASP. The organization trains adult volunteers to assist certified teachers, and many former school-program parents end up running local clubs or helping organize state-level events. There is no requirement to be a skilled archer yourself to volunteer in a support role. Families interested in joining a broader archery community can also connect with USA Archery, which offers its own club structure and pathway programs that complement what students learn through NASP.
Who this program fits best
NASP is a strong match for kids in grades 4 through 12 who attend a participating school. Because the equipment is standardized and instruction is built into the school day, there is almost no barrier to starting. Children who are methodical, patient, or who prefer individual challenges over team sports often take to archery quickly, though plenty of competitive kids thrive here too.
For families, the program is most valuable when parents follow the child's lead. A kid who comes home talking about their score has opened a door. Weekend trips to a local range, watching a state tournament, or picking up a beginner bow together are all natural extensions. The sport scales well: a family can keep it low-key and seasonal, or a motivated teenager can pursue it seriously through USA Archery's Olympic development pathway. The school program plants the seed without demanding anything of the family beyond interest.
After your first time watching or trying archery, write down what surprised you most about the sport and what you would want to work on if you went back.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need their own bow to participate in NASP?
No. Schools that run the NASP program provide Genesis compound bows, arrows, and targets for every student. Your child needs nothing to participate in the classroom portion of the program. Equipment costs only become relevant if your family decides to practice at home or at a local range outside of school.
How do I find out if my child's school has a NASP program?
The NASP website at naspschools.org includes a school search tool. You can also ask your child's physical education teacher or school administration directly. If the school does not yet have a program, NASP provides materials and training to help teachers get certified and start one.
Can my whole family shoot archery together, or is this just for kids?
Many ranges affiliated with NASP welcome the whole family during open shoot times. The Genesis bow used in the school program is appropriate for adults as well, and most indoor ranges carry rental equipment. USA Archery, a related organization, also offers family membership options and club-based programs open to all ages.
How competitive does NASP get, and do kids need to qualify to shoot in tournaments?
The school-level program is noncompetitive in the sense that every student shoots and scores regardless of ability. Organized tournaments exist for students who want to go further, ranging from local invitational events to state championships and a national tournament each spring. Advancing to higher levels requires qualifying scores, but entry-level tournaments are open and low-pressure, and families are welcome as spectators at most events.