COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Top tier national competitions, which in part make up the United States Archery Team (USAT) Qualifier Series, are fast approaching, and there is still time to get involved.
The Arizona Cup kicks off the outdoor tour in April, continuing with the Gator Cup in May, the SoCal Showdown in June, JOAD Target Nationals and Buckeye Classic in July and ending with the 139th USA Archery Target Nationals and U.S. Open in August.
Categories are offered for recurve, compound, barebow, youth fixed pins and para divisions across age categories ranging from U18 to 50+. Competition at these events includes 72 arrows of qualification followed by head-to-head, bracket style elimination matches.
Archers accumulate ranking points, used in part to who is selected to make the 2024 United States Archery Team, or USAT for short.
For archers looking for their first taste of national competition, USAT events are welcoming, friendly and fun. USA Archery’s Event Reference Guidebook has helpful information for those looking to get started.
Staged in Phoenix, Newberry, FL, Chula Vista, CA, Des Moines, IA, Dublin, OH, and Malvern, PA these events are open to archers who are seeking national competition experience and want the excitement of competing alongside world champions, Olympic and Paralympic medalists.
The Arizona Cup, which takes place from April 14-16, is on course to be the highest attended USAT event in USA Archery history, with more than 800 archers registered. Beginning in 1989 at Arizona State University, the Arizona Cup is celebrating its 34th year in 2023.
World Team Trials for youth, senior recurve, senior compound and para, as well as Pan Am Trials for senior recurve, senior compound and para archers will be held in conjunction with the 2023 Arizona Cup.
This is followed by the 14th annual Gator Cup from May 12-14 in Newberry, on the expansive grounds of the Easton Newberry Sports Complex, which will also serve as host to the final stage of the World Team and Pan Am Trials.
From the south-east, the USAT Series moves cross-country to southern California and the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center with the SoCal Showdown from June 9-11, followed by the USA Archery JOAD Target Nationals July 12-16 and then the Buckeye Classic, celebrating its fourth year on the circuit this July 28-30.
The 139th USA Archery Target Nationals and U.S. Open is the final tournament in the USAT Qualifier Series August 30-September 2.
There is a wait list for the Arizona Cup, while registration is also open for the three other stages of the USAT Series.
Arizona Cup: Phoenix, AZ – April 14-16
Read more about USA Archery Events in the 2023 Event Magazine.
