Lorretta Sinclair’s Blog

College Archery Program

Who are we and where are we going?

 The CAP has new adventures on the horizon as the leadership continues to not only promote archery to target archers, but to open the doors to organizations and youth programs across the country. Whether a college student is a bow hunter, target archer, 3D shooter, recreational or competitive, the goal of the current Executive Council is to find a way to be inclusive and offer new competition opportunities. 

We are at a critical point in the history of the College Archery program and it’s time for all college athletes, coaches, advisors, and leaders to look ahead to the future of our program. 

With the interest and support from many organizations around the country, there are questions being asked about the structure and governance of the program as well as what the leadership envisions for the program. 

Our Vision

As outlined in the 2009 CAP Strategic Plan, the vision of the U.S. College Archery Program (CAP) is to establish college archery as an integral part of the campus experience in as many colleges and universities as possible.

Our Mission

The mission of the CAP is to serve as the governing body for both recreational and elite archery competition in college.  Its central purpose and role is to develop and maintain the resources and infrastructure that will support and grow college archery programs across the nation.  The program is responsible for ensuring that the U.S. Intercollegiate Archery Championships are held and also responsible for selecting collegiate archery teams to represent the U.S. at international events in accordance with FISU rules and regulations.  FISU is the International Governing Body for University Sports.

Margaret Klann, Founder of the US College Archery Program

CAP History

Early history of the College Archery Program can be found in volume two of Robert Rhode’s excellent work entitled, ‘History of the NAA.’  While the minutes of the meetings are being compiled to be posted on the CAP website, a brief overview of who we are and how we got started is as follows: 

The College Archery Program is the National Governing Body for college archery in the U.S.  Started in 1963, under the name, ‘College Archery Coaches Association,’ the program was a collective group of archery clubs from universities across the U.S.  In 1967, under the leadership of Arizona State University coach Margaret Klann, the first U. S. Inter-collegiate Archery Championship (USIAC) was held. 

In May 1971, in an agreement with Clayton Shenk, the President of the National Archery Association (NAA), the program came under the umbrella of the NAA as the College Division.  The enabling charter provided the program with autonomy and self-direction and has operated as an independent organization within the NAA ever since it’s final adoption in 1972 by the College Archery Executive Council. 

 The College Archery Program has an elected board that governs the day to day business of the program as outlined in the CAP Rules and Procedures Handbook.  The Executive Council includes a Director, Assistant Director, four Regional Representatives and two student athlete representatives which sets policy and presides over the program.

Each year athletes compete in Indoor and Outdoor tournaments as individuals and teams.  The Collegiate National Indoor Championships are held in conjunction with the NAA’s National Indoor Championships. The finale and highlight of the college season is the USIAC which is hosted by one of the College Clubs each year.  National titles are bestowed on the top college athletes for individual, team, and mixed team championships.  Athletes who have learned archery during the academic year compete for the honor of ‘Best New Archer.’  The titles of All-Academic Archery Team and All-American are two of the highest honors awarded to college athletes.

Bob Ryder Winner of the 2009 Margaret Klann Award, Photo Courtesy of Gary Holstein

In honor of Margaret Klann, her vision and dedication, Coaches vie for the Coach of the Year award.  Each region annually selects a Regional Coach of the Year, from which one of those four are voted by the clubs at USIAC for the national honor.

 Compound archery was included in the College Archery Program in 1996.  The compound archers have provided numerous national and world championships and many top athletes.

2009 World University Archery Championships US Compound Men, Photo Courtsey of Joe Lorenti

While NCAA status was once a part of college archery, universities and colleges across the country cut the program for a variety of reasons in the late 80’s and 1990’s.  While there are a handful of varsity clubs remaining (and all but one of those are co-ed), the vast majority of the clubs are through the Club Sports Departments at universities and colleges.  This allows for both men and women to participate equally and many clubs receive financial support from their universities to help fund equipment and travel.

Universities have rules and procedures for these student-run clubs.  Information on the student athlete’s role and responsibilities are outlined in each university’s handbook.  Find yours and learn what it takes to have a successful student club!  CAP recognizes the new role of the student run clubs and continues to adapt to the changes.  The CAP Rules and Procedure Handbook is updated as needed by the CAP Executive Council.

 Many clubs have excellent, dedicated coaches, while others choose to have student coaches.  Most coaches are not paid and are part of the club at the will of the student clubs.  The CAP is fortunate to have many dedicated people that help guide and advise the student clubs.  When you see a college coach, you know they are there for the love of archery, not the money –

2009 USIAC Mixed Team Round, Photo Courtesy of Gary Holstein

Growth

With the strong support of the Easton Foundations, the USA College Archery Program is in a mode of rapid growth.   Clubs can receive equipment assistance, coaching and athlete training, and other support from the CAP. 

 As of May 2009, there are 80 clubs and more than 1000 athletes participating in the program; the number of clubs has more than doubled in the last four years  The CAP is the fastest growing division of archery in the U.S. with an anticipated 300 clubs in the next three years.  An interesting aspect of college archery is that approximately 50% of the program’s participants learn archery while attending college. 

 Providing input, feedback, and addressing concerns to the CAP Executive Council is the way to help the CAP progress and grow.  Positive discussion is needed from athletes, coaches, and advisors and is always welcomed.  Contact your regional rep, an athlete rep or the Director and Assistant Director with your ideas and don’t hesitate to volunteer.   It’s through the efforts of many that USA College Archery will continue to thrive, grow, and be welcoming to all archers who attend college in the U.S.

 What’s our future? 

There are two attributes of CAP that help ensure our success.  First we are inclusive at all levels.  Our leadership reaches out to archery groups that aren’t traditionally associated with FITA archery.  Our athletes have the ability to include and make friends of their competitors.  It’s this aspect of college archery that makes the tournaments so enjoyable.  The interaction between clubs, individual athletes, and the willingness of coaches to work with each other has provided perhaps the strongest foundation we need – the belief that while we may come from different schools, we are ultimately a single tight-knit group.

 Second, we have been self-governing for over 40 years. This ensures that our clubs and leadership stay engaged and have the freedom to excel.  This attribute isn’t unique to college archery.  I’ve been researching US college sports organizations and I’ve yet to find a college sport organization that isn’t self-governing regardless of whether it is an Olympic sport, NCAA sport, both or neither.  Self-government is what provides us with engaged national leaders, club leaders, athletes and coaches.  This freedom allows us the opportunity to excel and adapt as needed.

2009 Ohio State NASP Championships, Photo Courtsey of Karen Gill

We will continue to thrive.  We will increase our numbers from the youth organizations: NASP, ASAP, JOAD, OAS, and 4H.  And we’ll continue to recruit new archers from the college student population.  Eventually we’ll see resurgence in Varsity archery.  For 42 years, we succeeded, and now with private financial support, the CAP is poised to return to prominence as the premiere archery program in the U.S, where Olympic athletes and World Champions will continue to come from the ranks of the best and the brightest.

It might be a pipedream, but it’s my pipedream, and I’m sticking to it.

Lorretta Sinclair

24 May, 2009

USIAC 2009 is over and the banquet is about to begin as I write this. This year’s event was wonderful. Thank you Cal State, Long Beach; you are great hosts. I’d like to thank the athletes, coaches, and advisors of all the teams. We had one of the best judging crews; thanks to all. The crew was led by Marty Swanson, the COJ, and Tem Mills, the DOS.  The field judges were Joyce Baker-Strader, Linda Collier, and Catherine Sahi. Most of all I’d like to thank Helen Sahi for getting the tournament on its feet and keeping it moving!

USIAC is a great event and every year it just gets better and bigger. This year we had a record number of clubs (40) participating; the attendance (209) fell short of the record (215) athletes set at USIAC 2005.

I’d also like to congratulate the USA 2009 World University Games Team:

Women’s Recurve

• Jennifer Nichols, Texas A&M University
• Amanda Nichols, Texas A&M University
• Erin Mickelberry, University of Washington

Women’s Compound

• Erika Anschutz, University of Nebraska
• Elissa Falconer, Miami University of Ohio
• Brittany Lorenti, James Madison University

Men’s Recurve

• Jacob Wuki,  James Madison University
• Glen Thomas, Penn College of Technology
• Timothy Meyers,  Texas A&M University

Men’s Compound

• Stephen Schwade, University of South Carolina
• Steve Gatto, Atlantic Cape Community College
• Zachary Plannick, Penn College of Technology

And the Individual Champions:

• Jennifer Nichols, Texas A&M University – Women’s Recurve
• Erika Anschutz, University of Nebraska – Women’s Compound
• Jacob Wuki, James Madison University – Men’s Recurve
• Danny Wido, Penn College of Technology – Men’s Compound

The final and full results will be posted later this week on the US College Archery website.  Unofficial scores for the qualification rounds are currently posted at the Long Beach Club’s website.

USIACs are the high point of the college season and mark the end of the school year for many of our athletes.  I hope everyone has a great summer and we’ll see you again next school year!

Lorretta Sinclair

17 May 2009

On 7 May, I will be traveling to the NASP National Championships in Louisville, KY to promote college archery to NASP youth archers.  NASP started in Kentucky almost seven years ago and now is an international organization that promotes archery in the schools for a better education. The NASP National Tournament will host more than 4800 youth archers shooting the Genesis bow.  I attended the Ohio State Championship (850 youth) and the Kentucky State Championship (2400 youth) and thoroughly enjoyed it.  I’ve been looking forward to this event for some time and can only imagine what it is like to watch 4800 youth archers – and hear the arrows flying.

The CAP’s annual finale, the U.S. Inter-collegiate Archery Championship (USIAC) is less than two weeks away!  A gathering of more than 200 full-time collegiate archers will take place on the campus of Cal State University at Long Beach 15-17 May.  Registration numbers are impressive and we may have a new attendance record.

USIAC is the best archery event in the US! Not only will we crown the National Champions in individual, team, and mixed team events at USIAC, we will also announce and honor the All-Academic Archery Team and the 2009 All-Americans.  The USIAC Banquet is a highlight of the tournament.  It is a semi-formal banquet and will be held on the Queen Mary in the Long Beach harbor.  I recommend that you bring some good clothes; most people dress up for the event.

We have a new record for the number of athletes, forty-six, that have been named to the All-Academic Archery team. Congratulations to all!  The complete list will be posted soon on the CAP website, USCollegiateArchery.org.

The Cal State University  staff are keeping a close eye on the Swine flu issue that originated in Mexico and has spread to several other countries.  To date, there have been 16 cases in California, while there are about 109 total in the U.S.  New York has reported the most cases with 48.  The CAP will continue to monitor the situation through information and news from Cal/OSHA.  Any updates will be posted on the CAP website, USCollegiateArchery.org

Coaches and athletes should remember that the CAP Code of Conduct is enforced, not only at USIAC but throughout the year.  Integrity, honesty, and character are some of the most important aspects of being an athlete and coach and the CAP holds its athletes and coaches to a high standard.

An announcement about the West Region College Athlete Leadership, Skills, and Training Workshop has been posted on the college website.  Announcements for the North and East Region will be posted next week.  College athletes are encouraged to attend these workshops and learn more about leadership, archery, and have a lot of fun hanging out with other college athletes.

I look forward to seeing college athletes and coaches from more than 35 universities and colleges at USIAC!

Lorretta

3 May, 2009

The World University Games (WUG) will be held in Belgrade, Serbia in July this year. University athletes from around the world will compete in fifteen sports, including archery. You can find more information at the official website,  www.universiade-belgrade2009.org. The website has information on the venue and city of Belgrade; the pictures of the venue in Serbia are beautiful.

The US WUG team is selected at the World University Game Team Trials which are held in conjunction with USIACs. The U.S. team will be comprised of the top 3 qualifying men and women in both the compound and recurve divisions.

Additional information for potential WUG team members will be sent to Club Presidents, coaches, and advisors this week. If you think that you’d like to make the team, you must fill out some required paperwork prior to USIACs (WUG trials). These mandatory paperwork requirements are necessary in order to meet scheduled deadlines by FISU, the WUG organizing body.

You may recall that last year there was an issue with the traditional dates for holding USIACs and the Executive Council moved the tournament to the next region in the rotation (West Region). The intent was to return the event to the South if bids were received that could accommodate the 3^rd weekend in May. The bids are all in for the potential 2010 USIAC host. I think you all will be pleased with the selection… but you have to wait – because the last announcement at the USIAC banquet is the host for the following USIAC and I’m not going to tell before then!

In March, I was told about some beautiful silver platters that served as a perpetual award for the Individual USIAC Champions. Since I hadn’t heard about them, much less seen them, I assumed that they had been retired long ago. My curiosity was piqued and I began looking into it.  It turns out that the platters are still around.

Helen Bolnick, the recently retired (at 80+ years of age) – longtime coach of ACCC, used to have a connection at Oneida Silver on the East Coast. The platters were purchased through Helen’s gracious efforts to secure outstanding awards for the USIAC Champions. Each year the platters were awarded to the USIAC winners to keep for a year. Their names were engraved on the platters, as well. In 1982, the last name that would fit on the men’s recurve platter, Rick McKinney’s, was engraved and the plaques were retired to the USAA office, where they are currently stored. At this point Helen unfortunately no longer had a connection at Oneida, and plaques succeeded the platters as the USIAC perpetual awards.

Another historical tidbit: each USIAC Champion used to give one of their winning arrows to the CAP. We tried, but failed (so far) to locate those arrows and, in the process, I realized that maybe we should bring this lost tradition back.

The CAP has been given a generous opportunity to display its history and artifacts in a visible, long-term location. While working to transition the CAP history and other artifacts from long-time historian Mel Leach (former coach for Cal State Long Beach), the CAP will pursue this opportunity. We’ll also look at other ways to bring visibility to the 43 year history of the CAP.

Lorretta

26 April, 2009

We’re entering the college outdoor competition season! The West and North Region Championships will be hosted by Stanford (West) and Purdue (North) this coming weekend!

The tradition of College Archery Regional Outdoor Championships dates back to the beginning of the program. The Regional Championships include Individual and Team Champions as well as the selection of the All-Region teams. It’s also an important meeting for each region to select new regional student athlete representatives, the Regional Coach of the Year, and the host for the 2010 Regional Championship.

You may have seen a lot of new press releases and announcements lately. These are the work of Teresa Iaconi, CAP’s the new publicist. She is very capable and is a major addition to the volunteer staff. Teresa can be reached a teresaiaconi@gmail.com

The College Archery Board of Directors voted in February 2009 to support the new USA Archery Coach Certification program by offering to pay for the course fees for all CAP coaches that were on the CAP roster as of 1 March 2009. This effort will cover approximately 34 coaches and make it feasible to attend intermediate, community coach, or Regional Coach training. Funding is provided by the CAP Grant which was submitted by the CAP and approved by Easton Foundations in Nov 2008.

The current list of courses is on the USAA website (www.usarchery.org). To apply for the College Archery Coach Certification Grants, complete the application form and submit it to CDM Sheri Rhodes. Once you receive approval from CAP, you can register for the applicable course. CAP will ensure that you’re reimbursed for the course fee after you complete the course. We hope this effort will help the College Archery Program coaches in their ongoing efforts to support the teams and clubs that they work with by gaining more knowledge and insight in coaching.

Another event that the CAP approved in February was College Athlete Leadership, Skills and Training (CALST) Workshops initiative. Three universities have offered space and facilities to host the events: UC Berkeley 1-4 July, Michigan State Univ 22-26 July, and UConn 28 June-2 July. More than 50% of the cost of these workshops is supported by the CAP Grant which allowed the CAP to reduce the cost of the workshops to $250 per athlete. For 2009, the CALST Workshops are available to any CAP eligible athletes on a first come, first served basis. More information is posted on the CAP website (www.uscollegiatearchery.org) and more information will be available soon! Assistant Director Helen Sahi is the point of contact: 860.428.5713 or sahi@charter.net

Congratulations to Brittany Lorenti! Brittany won an exciting tie-breaking match in the finals of the Arizona Cup to take the Gold.

And to all of you that competed at the Arizona Cup – I’m proud of you and your dedication to the sport of archery!

Lorretta

13 April, 2009

Hey! It’s Sunday – and College Archer Brittany Lorenti, James Madison University, just won the World Cup (Senior Women’s Compound)  in Santo Domingo!

Brittany also won, along with her teammates, Diane Watson and Jamie VanNatta, the Gold medal for the Compound Women’s team event. Jacob Wukie, also of James Madison, won the bronze medal in the Recurve Men’s team event, along with archers Brady Ellison and Vic Wunderle. Congratulations to everyone!

The ad campaign is on the move for College Archery. You may have seen our ads in the U.S. and International Archer magazine. When you see Arlynne Rhodes, owner of the magazine, tell her thank you for supporting college archery!

One of our critical initiatives over the next few years is to increase CAP club membership. The CAP Executive Council has set a goal of reaching 300 registered clubs by December 2011. We’re off to a good start, between 1 January and 31 March, 14 new clubs were registered.

This growth is a direct result of the efforts of the organization to promote itself. We’ve made CAP visible at youth events where we’ve distributed our brochures and made presentations to youth athletes, parents, youth organizers, and college administrators.

The CAP developed, printed, and distributed 3000 brochures between December and the end of February. Another 1000 brochures were distributed at NASP State Championships in Ohio and Kentucky in March. Funding for these efforts comes from the Easton Sports Development Foundation grant that was written and submitted by the CAP.

Participation of collegiate athletes at tournaments is also growing. The new California Collegiate State Championships, dubbed C3, boasted nearly 60 college athletes from eight universities. The participation at the 2009 C3 almost matched the 2008 West Regional Outdoor Championship where 71 athletes from ten universities competed. There are currently 19 colleges registered in the CAP in California, the strongest representation in the U.S by state.

At Collegiate Indoor Nationals, which is held in conjunction with USA Archery Indoor Nationals, the total participation was 303 for all college divisions. The college athletes are also included in the Senior Division for USAA Indoors. Roughly 50% of the Senior Division’s competitors were comprised of college athletes. Of the 94 Senior Compound Women 48 were college archers; 73 of 118 Senior Recurve Women were college archers; 71 of 203 Senior Compound Men were college archers; and 111 of 200 Senior Recurve men were college archers.

What’s next? The Executive Council approved the College Basic Bow division in an effort to reach out to archers who currently do not participate because their equipment isn’t covered by our divisions. The College Basic Bow Division includes Genesis, traditional, and barebow archers. Tournament hosts are encouraged to use this division at local and state levels so that these college athletes can compete.

We’re also looking into the feasibility of including a division that would include collegiate compound bow hunters. At the East Regional College Championships, a test event is being conducted that will allow archers with limited compound equipment to shoot in a division. If this is successful, the board will consider how to include a compound limited division for specific events.

We have just started looking into the opportunities to hold 3D College Archery events. I know that there are many college archers who shoot 3D and I’ll keep you posted as we receive more information.

It’s an exciting time for College Archery as we reach out to NASP, ASAP, OAS, JOAD – and archery organizations throughout the U.S. The CAP looks forward to more competitions, more opportunities, and more participation.  We invite everyone to come shoot with us!

Lorretta Sinclair     5 April, 2009

Hey! 

Well, I don’t have Facebook,

I can’t use the ‘track-changes’ function on Microsoft word,  

and my family won’t let me touch the DVD remote

 — but I’m going to start a Blog! 

So think positive thoughts for me, who knows how this will turn out?

I’ve started this blog so that I can inform the College Archery Program’s (CAP) athletes and coaches about the latest events in the college archery community.  I’ll post new entries on Sundays, with the latest information on the CAP program.  This will include news on the phenomenal growth we’ve experienced, upcoming special US events, and a new international event.

Many of you know me, but we have had a large influx of archers into the CAP ranks this year, and I’d like to introduce myself.  I started in USA College Archery in 2004.  That was my son Dakota’s first year in college, and once we attended our first USIAC (US Inter-Collegiate Archery Championships), our entire family was hooked; not on archery (we were addicted to that in 2002) – but hooked on COLLEGE archery. 

I started out on the board as the publicist and, along with my husband, developed the first-ever college archery website.  We also were able to regain the long-lost corporate equipment sponsorships for the All-Americans.  In that same year we brought back the All-American poster.  These posters were distributed, and continue to be distributed for free, across the country to JOAD clubs, Pro Shops, universities, and anywhere else that we can help promote college archery. 

My other positions have been registrar and Assistant Director. In 2008, I became the CAP Director when our leader at the time, Bob Ryder, stepped down due to health reasons. 

It has been a lot of work to help grow this program, both on my part and with the knowledge, support, and effort of all those who volunteer as part of the College Archery board.  At times when I’m mired down with the latest hurdle, I’m energized by an email from a student, or a call from a new coach, or a jacket/shirt from a team in appreciation — and all the frustration melts away.  I keep working for CAP because I believe that USA College Archery is the most important archery community in the United States.

We are the bridge between all youth organizations and college.  And we are the bridge from College to Senior Division for IBO, NFAA, and USAA.  What we develop, as a community of college archers and coaches, will extend archery for years to come.  What you do at the club level, by continuing from your youth program, or if you start archery as part of college life – that is an integral aspect of growing archery in the United States. 

The thing I love most about college archery is the inclusive nature of our athletes!  I have watched entire teams ‘adopt’ a one-man team who showed up alone at an event.  I have admired the fun that our teams have with each other, and I have laughed as we all learned the ‘skipping rule’ at the 2005 Western Regional’s where the Dine’ College Warriors got the entire field to skip down the field. I have watched opposing teams cheering each other through team round and observed coaches helping out other clubs and athletes. 

We are a community, as well as a program.  We are a group of coaches, advisors, and athletes who come together not just to participate in the great sport of archery, but to laugh with each other, sometimes at each other, and often at ourselves as well.

I hope you’ll visit my blog often – I intend to use it as a means to get information out quickly and as a way to find out what direction that you, the college students and coaches, would like our community to take.

Lorretta Sinclair

29 March, 2009