Ava Castrogiovanni, March – Like many archers, I am a perfectionist, and archery tournaments make me anxious. I put immense pressure on myself to shoot perfectly, even though only a…
Why I Encourage Others to Try Archery
Alayna Musson, March – If you had asked me this question in third grade, my answer would have been very different. Back then, I would have said, “Ummmm, to make…
Archery is a Sport for Everyone, Even Those Who Don’t Like Sports
Adleigh L, March – Before discovering archery, I had never participated in sports. I tried many different ones, but none felt like the right fit. Sometimes, I didn’t enjoy the…
Confidence in Archery
Alayna Musson, February – Confidence can take you far—both in archery and in life. While confidence in archery may seem different from everyday confidence, the two are closely connected. In…
Archery in Physical Education Courses
Lydia Windell, February – Incorporating archery into physical education courses would benefit both students and schools alike. Archery, particularly through the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®), is an…
Should Your Parents Keep Track of Your Score at Tournaments?
Adleigh L., February – Imagine you’re at an archery tournament, waiting patiently for everyone to finish shooting. Suddenly, you hear three whistle beeps, signaling that it’s time to retrieve your…
The History of Archery: From Survival to Sport
Regina Diamani, February – Archery, the art of propelling arrows with a bow, boasts a history as rich and varied as the cultures that have embraced it. Far from being…
Live like Doodle
Sophie Huff, February – This month, I chose to write about someone who was very special to me. His name was Darrin, but almost everyone knew him as Doodle. On…
What to Expect at Your First Tournament
Morgan Christensen, February – A first tournament can be both scary and exciting, but it’s a big step for any archer. Here are some tips on what to expect at…
Cupid Debunked
Savannah Tovar, February – Cupid is ready to shoot, but will he strike? Well, if you find Cupid flying around with his bow and arrows, that sounds dangerous enough to…
All great athletes have habits, even archers.
Robert Hamilton II, February – All great athletes have habits or rituals they go through every time they compete. They may have a pair of “lucky” socks they wear all…
How an Arrow is Designed and Constructed
Reagan Trent, February – An aluminum arrow starts as a carefully crafted piece of sporting equipment designed for precision and performance. Manufacturers begin by selecting high-quality aluminum alloys, typically high-end…
Shoes on the Archery Range
Makayla C, February – Hey Archers! I have a kinda silly question for you today—do you think footwear on the archery range really matters? Now, I’m not talking about the…
Tournament Downtime & Team Bonding
Madison Evans, February – As many archers know, archery tournaments can last from an hour to the entire day. Staging and shooting might take an hour and a half but,…
Watch and Learn
Mack S., February – I remember my second year of archery. I was at one of our home tournaments, and two of my team’s best archers—the ones who shot 295s…
Target Panic and How to Deal with it
Ellen Chaney, February –Did you know that 95 percent of archers struggle with target panic at some point in their archery career? Target panic is when you release your arrow,…
Tournament Etiquette
Eden Van Zante, February – In my time in archery I have found ways to be respectful to others and to show kindness, not only to your partner that you are…
What it means to be an Archer
Daniel Ebner, February – Archery means a lot to me, but what does it mean to be an archer? There are many things that come with being an archer and the…
Your Unofficial Tournament Checklist
Brecken Lee, February – Picture this, you just arrived at your tournament feeling ready and excited to shoot with your teammates, you get out of your car and open your…
Staying Positive
Bella Nottnagel, February – We’ve all had days when we shot lower than expected, which can quickly make us feel discouraged. I recently participated in a regional tournament and scored…
The Importance of a Team
Ava Castrogiovanni, February – While team scores are important, a team is so much more. My team is my second family. People look at me like I am crazy when…
Regina Diamani
January – My journey into the world of archery began as the simple curiosity of a sixth-grader who wasn’t interested in joining any other sport at my school. Little did…
Alayna Musson
January – What do people value most in life? Some people might consider this a simple question; others, not so much. There are just some things that people consider to…
Sophie Huff
January – Hey archers! My name is Sophie Huff, and this is my first year as a NASP® student contributor! I’m so excited to share my story with archers everywhere….
Savannah Tovar
January – Happy New Year, archers! Savannah Tovar here, back for my second year as your NASP® Student Contributor! I’m currently a sophomore in Louisville, Kentucky. I began my archery…
Robert Hamilton II
NASP® is an amazing program that starts in fourth grade, where students can learn to shoot target archery, even if they have never picked up a bow before. Or, if…
Reagan Trent
January – Hello everyone! My name is Reagan Trent, and I am a senior at Howell High School in Michigan. This is my third year as a student contributor to…
Makayla Cardwell
January – I started homeschooling four years ago, and now I’m in 9th grade. In January of last year, I joined a homeschool archery team, and it has been one…
Madison Evans
January – The world of archery is where I truly flourish. Lined up on the ten- and fifteen-meter lines, I watch as bows are raised from bow-on-toe, arrows are nocked,…
Mack S.
January – I’ve been participating in NASP® (National Archery in the Schools Program) archery for four years now, and this is my third year as part of the Student Contributor…