More students in Missouri giving archery classes a shot

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- More students are taking aim at a new activity.

Archery is becoming a popular sport among children and teenagers all across Missouri, thanks in part to the National Archery in the Schools Program and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

As the coordinating agency, the Conservation Department has brought archery to students in grades four through 12 at 43 schools since March 2007.

There is an interest group in Jefferson City that would like to bring the program to students in the public school system as part of the physical education curriculum or as an extracurricular activity.

"The blend of brain and body is different than many other sports," said Kevin Lohraff, outdoor skill education coordinator for the Conservation Department.

Athletic ability is not a requirement to be successful at archery.

In fact, the sport requires more self-discipline and the ability to want to improve more so than athletic talent. There is only one step of the 11 used that involves aiming. The rest is mental preparation, body motions and muscle relaxation.

The equalizer sport must be taught during regular school hours and be available to all.

Interested schools may apply for a $500 grant from the Conservation Department and the Conservation Foundation of Missouri that will help buy archery equipment at wholesale prices.

Bows, arrows, targets, bow racks and a backstop netting to place inside the gym as a safety precaution are needed.

Students use a compound bow that does not have sights. Lohraff notes the program's focus is on methods and procedures, not accuracy, although he says it will come with time.

The standard equipment used is flexible enough to fit students even as they grow.

Teachers are trained and certified during an eight-hour class by a Conservation Department outdoor skills specialist, offered free of charge.

The course includes a focus on safety, the curriculum and methodologies used in the classroom, and an exam. Most of the schools teach archery as part of a physical education class anywhere from two to six weeks.

The program that runs in 46 states and five countries has become so popular with students that many schools have formed after-school archery clubs.

"Twenty-seven percent of students that participate go on to buy their own archery equipment," Lohraff said.

Skills they learn as a result of archery can spill over to other classes, including math and science.

In a physics course, trajectory, speed and motion are all loose ends that can be tied up by picking up a bow and arrow.

This year's NASP national competition in May drew that largest archery event in archery history with more than 3,000 students in attendance.

According to Lohraff, archery is safer than any other ball sport with the exception of table tennis.

The first state competition is expected to be in January, although all the details have not been finalized.