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First NASP World Tournament Draws Raves

Back in 2001, during an early planning phase for the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), one of the program’s “wish list” goals was to attract “Disney” as a partner. NASP officials began talking with Disney in 2008, and a bit more than a year later Disney and NASP joined forces as planned.

The first NASP World Tournament was conducted indoors at the new Josten’s Center on October 9th and 10th — at Disney’s Florida-based ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. A total of 609 archery students from 18 states and Saskatchewan participated in the 2-day event. Proving once again that NASP is an important co-gender activity, 44 percent of the participants were female.

Disney was a terrific host of the event helping to set-up and tear down, providing a facility coordinator, first aid, and ushers throughout the tournament. Nearly all the young archers were among the 4,565 students who participated in the 2009 NASP National Tournament held in May, 2009.

As is NASP’s norm awards were presented to the top three teams in the elementary, middle, and high school divisions. Again, as is NASP’s standard, every archer used the same bow (without sights, stabilizers, or release aids), the same arrow, and shot 15 arrows at both 10 and 15 meters.

More than 300 trophies, plaques, and medals were awarded to the students. Additionally, thanks to the generosity of several NASP supporters, some winners received bows from Mathews Archery, arrows and repair kits from Easton Technical Products, targets from Morrell Manufacturing, and bow cases from the Genesis Outlet.

Nearly 40 states and provinces will conduct annual tournaments among their NASP schools this coming January-April in 2010. They also will be competing to see who will be among nearly 6,000 students at the NASP national tournament scheduled for May 7th & 8th in Louisville, Kentucky.

For more info, including how to be a sponsor, log on to Archery in the Schools.

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