ND outdoors: National Archery in the Schools Program
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - The National Archery in the Schools Program recently held its state tournament in Minot, where more than 1,000 student archers from schools across the state competed in four different shooting events.
“This is the culminating event for schools that have been shooting for about the last three months at their school’s local tournaments. And this is the qualifying event for the national tournament, which occurs in May and April in Louisville and Salt Lake City,” said Jeff Long, North Dakota Game and Fish education coordinator.
The NASP program is designed so that any student can participate, regardless of experience or athletic background. It’s also an individual sport where archers can focus on developing their skills and improving at their own pace while still being part of a team.
“It’s grades four through 12. So there’s divisions for all the different grade divisions in the schools,” said Long.
Maggie Neameyer, a senior, started in the NASP program when she was in fourth grade.
“I remember being here when I was really little, and it was maybe half as full. And now we got varsity boys, we got varsity 3D and everything like that, and it’s great,” said Maggig Neameyer, archer.
The NASP program has a reputation for being a safe and disciplined program.
“It’s a very safe program in the, in the 20 years, 20 years plus of its running, there’s been so far zero accidents. And that’s all because of the training and the discipline the kids have and the amount of practice they get in the gym after school,” said Long.
While there isn’t a lot of running or jumping in the NASP Program, archers have to stay focused and prepare mentally for these tournaments.
“The hardest part is being able to like overcome your challenges mentally because of the sport is really mentally. You don’t have to worry about like being in shape for running and stuff. It’s just training your brain to do it. The best part about it is the accomplishment of knowing, hey, I did that because it’s all you do it’s all for yourself basically,” said Neameyer.
There were lots of smiles and good times at this year’s state NASP tournament, especially when archers hit the bull’s-eye.
For more information on the National Archery in the Schools Program, visit gf.nd.gov or call 701-328-6300.
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