If I am correct, and I expect that I am, the program about which you are speaking is the National Archery in the Schools Program,
www.NASParchery.com. As much as I love trad-gear, there are specific reasons for the choice of equipment. The Mathews/Brennen Industries Genesis Bow, www GenesisBow.com, was specifically designed to fit the greatest number of people with the least amount of fuss. It is a single cam / idler wheel bow, with 0% let off, an adjustable draw weight from 10# to 20#, and an auto adapt draw length from 15" to 30". It has a physical mass of 3.5#. The program is available for 4th graders up to 12th graders. The arrows are Easton Genesis 1820 aluminums @ 30". Aluminums are a much better choice than the old yellow fiberglass arrows and safer than the new carbons. When a metal arrow is broken you know it, no guessing. Another nice thing about all of this gear is that it gives the advantages of a NASCAR type environment. It helps eliminate people getting ahead by having more cubic dollars than the next guy. It's all about how you drive it. In this case it really does come down to the ability of the individual shooter. Recurves can't compete in this arena, with this level of competence, at the price point these bows can come to schools. This means that any student that leaves an NASP school and moves to another NASP school knows exactly what to expect. Everything is identical.
Not only is the equipment NASCAR consistent, the training is as close to that level as the organization can make it. The instructors are trained with the best possible training that can be provided. Every single movement is detailed, and every answer has a reason that makes it the right choice.
As for "allowing weapons in school", the NASP has had zero, 0, accidents, to my knowledge, since it started in 2000. There are over 4 countries - USA, Canada, Mexico, and Australia, 45 States in the USA involved, over 4000 instructors, teaching over 500,000 kids per year, with a total number of students exceeding 2 million. There are only three, 3!, sports that can claim a lower National Bureau of Statistics incident of injuries in schools than archery. Those would be bowling, ping pong, and badminton. Archery is way cooler than any of those. That's right, archery is safer than, baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, track, golf, football, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby, swimming, and everything else your local PE teachers, parents, and principals are encouraging your kids to attempt, even my beloved fencing.
Archery is doing for kids in school today what no other sport has done. Archery doesn't require the kid be the biggest, strongest, fastest, prettiest, most popular, or any other 'est'. It requires self discipline. This is a chance for every student to get a 'shot' at being number one, against his or her own last performance. Every one of us here knows that once hooked on archery, always hooked on archery. The survey numbers are bearing this out, kids involved in the NASP are buying equipment for themselves and their families.
For those of you who would like to take up the cause of bringing archery to your local school, and this is a part of the PE curriculum program, you can order a promotional DVD from the website at, NASParchery.com Be sure to tell them that Jerry Duffey sent you.
I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you may have on this issue.
-Jerry Duffey
NASP BAITrainer
PS: For those of you with even more gumption, the NASP has a sister program that uses the training techniques of the NASP combined with scripture to create a Christian outreach program, Centershot Ministries, www CentershotMinistries.org. I'd be happy to get you info you might want on starting one through your local church or other organization.
Sorry Jerry but there's no posting of links to companies that are not advertisers with PA, see rules for message board
