NASP: Frequently Asked Questions

What is NASP?

NASP is an international archery program designed to be instructed by educators to their students in grades 4-12 as an in-school lesson plan.  Most archery activities are being taught as a two-week, physical education unit, but educators from other disciplines, (math, history, art, etc.) find creative opportunities to demonstrate specific concepts through the NASP program.

How safe is archery in a school environment?

The safety record of archery is exemplary and the NASP program has no report of injuries to date (read about the safety of archery) www.archerytrade.org/publications.html.

In addition to the safety record of archery, the NASP program is designed to be delivered to students in a very concise, controlled manner and the students are shooting at stationary targets from a relatively short distance. 

Do I need previous archery experience to teach the NASP program to my students?

No previous archery experience is necessary; although, teachers must attend Basic Archery Instructor training (BAI) of a minimum of eights hours to become certified to teach the NASP program.  Training is $55.  REGISTER

Teachers with previous archery experience may want to become certified as a Basic Archery Instructor Trainer (BAIT) which permits them to train other teachers.  This is three-day training and the cost is $75.  REGISTER

How much does it cost to purchase equipment? 

Equipment is available at below retail cost and one archery kit runs approximately $2200-$2900.  Price is partly determined on the equipment choices one selects (some targets are more expensive than others).

What is in a standard archery kit? 

Eleven Genesis compound bows, five bulls-eye targets, one arrow-resistant net, two bow racks, five dozen arrows and an equipment maintenance kit.  You may visit www.archeryintheschools.org to view and order equipment.  Note:  You must complete training before you purchase equipment through NASP.  REGISTER

How will the equipment be maintained and repaired?

We will cover equipment maintenance in training; however, there may be volunteers in your area that can assist you or local archery shops that may offer support.

Are there archery-equipment grants available to provide equipment to schools?  

There are a small number of grants available per year (made possible by various organizations such as the National Wild Turkey Federation) that make equipment available to schools that cannot afford to buy their own.

Can other types of bows be used in the NASP program? 

Unfortunately, other types of bows may not be used in the NASP program.  In order to ensure all students participating in the NASP program have an equal chance of receiving the same training benefits, we ask that only the recommended equipment be used to deliver the NASP program.  After-school programs are welcome to introduce other types of bows and different techniques other than what the NASP program requires.

My school does not have a gymnasium.  Can the program be delivered on an outside-archery range?

Yes, we will show you how to safely set up both an indoor range and an outdoor range.

What type of additional insurance does my school need to deliver the NASP program? 

Most schools find that no additional insurance is necessary; however, you must pose these questions to your school principal.

How do I run 60 archery students through the archery unit safely?

We will cover all safety aspects of the program during training; however, we suggest that the class be split in two and another teacher instructs a separate activity simultaneously.  The groups will then switch.  You must also provide an adequate teacher to student ratio during the program.

How does the NASP program tie in to California State P.E. standards? 

Currently, the curriculum that NASP provides follows the National P.E. standards.  California is in the process of customizing curriculum that meets our state’s needs specifically; however, until completion there should not be any problem with using available curriculum.  You may visit www.archeryintheschools.org to download the curriculum.

How do I apply for the program?

Please complete the online application.  You will then be notified about a training date.  You must agree to become certified and cannot order equipment until you are properly trained.  Contact L. Johnston at:  (916) 322-8933  or ljohnsto@dfg.ca.gov for more information.