Over 110 students from fourth, fifth, and sixth grades at the Allen County Intermediate Center are the inaugural participants in a new archery program at the school.
“This program is through the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP),” explained Kristie Phelps, coach/coordinator of the program at the Intermediate Center. “This program started in Kentucky in 2001. It’s a wonderful program that brings archery to students. It’s a program that teaches kids the proper way to stand, shoot, focus, concentrate, and participate. There are also competitions the students can be in.”
Last fall, Allen County Intermediate Center principal Shawn Holland received approval from the Allen County Board of Education to create the archery program based on NASP guidelines. Phelps along with Amelia McIntrye, Heather Harwood and Mary Carter volunteered to help instruct the students and oversee the program. In addition, parents have also volunteered to help.
“I have had six parents come in and take the certification class,” Phelps explained. “So we have 10 coaches in all.”
The large number of coaches will be needed due to a high level of interest from the students at ACIC.
“The way NASP sets it up it that archery has to be taught in PE before you can start any kind of after school program,” Phelps pointed out. “So, Ms. Michelle Rich (Physical Education instructor) started that in early December. At that time, I sent out interest letters. I had over 200 respond. That’s over a third of the school.”
To meet the interest, the school developed a method to see that all interested students could be allowed to participate in the after school program.
“How are we going to accommodate 200 children was the question,” Phelps said. “It was a great problem to have. So with the 10 coaches available, we have set up three days. We have 68 slots per day so we can take up to 68 kids per day on each of the three days. We want to accommodate as many as we possibly can. I have about 115 students that are ready to start with the program.”
Per guidelines, each student was required to have a physical and parents were expected to attend a parent meeting to discuss the program. The initial after school days last week were basic instruction with actual shooting starting this week.
Students are organized in small groups of no more than eight shooters. The teachers instruct the kids on proper stance, how to load, and hold the bow. Students then fire at the target from a distance of 10 meters. Once each student has fired their allotment of arrows, the range is secured, and the students are asked to retrieve the arrows---with instructors carefully overseeing each step of the process. While one group of students shoot, a second group awaits. Prior to shooting and after their shooting time is complete, parent volunteers are on hand to help monitor kids as they do homework or engage in technology-related activities.
The NASP program is more than just introducing a sport---a sport that is sanctioned by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association----to youngsters.
“NASP’s mission is to promote the teaching of target archery through an in-school curriculum but the reason for this is that educators see this as a way to promote a student’s focus, concentration, attendance, and motivation. If a student is having a bad day, even shooting for 10 minutes can make a difference because the student has to zone-out and zone-in. They have to zone everything else out and focus on what they are doing while they are shooting. The kids are using instincts to shoot. They are no sights, no rest; there are no releases so they are using their fingers. It’s teaching focus and concentration skills.”
For now, students at the Intermediate Center are learning the basics and developing their skills. Competitions will be forthcoming.
“Anyone can be in the program but when we start to go to competitions we will have a shoot-off to determine who will go,” Phelps added, noting that the archery program can lead to students competing at region, state, and national levels. “The students can work toward the goal of getting to a national or even a world level.”
The after school program is being held from 3:30 until 4:45 p.m. on Monday’s, Wednesday, and Thursday’s in the gym at the Intermediate Center. Anyone needing more information can contact the school.