COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Archery has announced that it has assumed management of the Olympic Archery in the Schools (OAS) program, formerly operated by the Easton Foundations. This program introduces Olympic-style archery to middle and high school students through a unique competition format inspired by the Olympic Games.
By joining their school's archery team, students gain the opportunity to compete against other teams in their region, as well as the opportunity to compete for state and national championship titles while developing critical skills and leadership qualities.
As the national governing body for archery in the United States, USA Archery has a long-standing commitment to developing youth participation in the sport. USAA’s programs, such as Explore Archery and the Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD), are widely recognized for their success in fostering archery’s growth through youth clubs across the country. The addition of the OAS program reinforces USAA’s mission to inspire young archers and cultivate future leaders and competitive athletes.
The Easton Sports Development Foundation (ESDF), which founded and built the OAS program, recognized that with USA Archery’s expertise in managing large, youth-centered sports initiatives, the OAS program would reach its full potential.
Caren Sawyer, Executive Director of the Easton Sports Development Foundation, explained: "Our foundation has always focused on inspiring growth in archery. By partnering with USA Archery, we are entrusting the program to an organization with deep experience in youth sports management.
“This collaboration will allow OAS to grow and further increase participation in archery while we continue working with our partners across the sport to support other key initiatives."
In alignment with its mission, USAA will also continue the OAS “I AM an Archer recognition program” which is based on sixteen of the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets®. This initiative acknowledges students for demonstrating key values such as respect, leadership, honor, and confidence - core principles reflected in USA Archery’s High Performance Ethos.
Mary Emmons, Chief of Sport Performance and Operations at USA Archery, shared her enthusiasm for the transition: "USA Archery is well-positioned to expand and enhance the OAS program. We deeply appreciate the Easton Foundations’ support as we take this next step. OAS will fit seamlessly within USAA’s athlete development pipeline, preparing young archers for collegiate opportunities, national teams, and lifelong enjoyment of the sport.”
For more information on the Olympic Archery in Schools program visit the website, or contact USA Archery at [email protected].
USA Archery is the National Governing Body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of archery in the United States. USA Archery provides the necessary resources to foster strong athlete participation, competition and training in the sport of archery.
Membership in USA Archery is open to everyone involved in all disciplines of archery including target, field and 3-D.
USA Archery sanctions more than 350 events annually and conducts indoor, outdoor and collegiate National Championships as well as the United States Archery Team Qualifier Series. USA Archery also provides youth and adult archery programs and clubs throughout the United States, and certifies archery instructors, coaches and judges.
The Easton Sports Development Foundation (ESDF) is dedicated to promoting archery by developing programs, facilities, and partnerships that inspire growth in the sport. ESDF supports the development of archery venues, community programs, and educational initiatives to foster participation at all levels, from beginner to elite athletes.
