CHARLOTTE, NC - As USA Archery pushes to increase athlete access to world-class facilities, the sport’s national governing body has partnered with the United States Performance Center (USPC) in opening a new high performance training site on the campus of UNC-Charlotte.
The training site will offer elite recurve and para athletes access to both indoor and outdoor ranges, as well as sport performance personnel specializing in strength and conditioning, mental performance, dietary services and medical and recovery services. The program will also provide a pathway for compound and barebow athletes looking to transition to Olympic recurve.
The USPC will serve as the home of USA Archery’s National Elite Program and will aid in the identification and development of competitive international team athletes. In addition, USPC will serve as an additional host site for USA Archery Regional Elite camps, short-term training opportunities and other future events.
“We are very appreciative and proud to partner with the United States Performance Center,” said Rod Menzer, CEO, USA Archery. “In opening this new center, we are building an additional comprehensive national team program to help facilitate sustained competitive excellence for years to come.
“This partnership with the USPC is a foundational piece in evolving our sports performance offerings as we look to achieve and surpass our high performance goals.”
Athletes interested in applying for the National Elite Program should review the National Elite Program Guide for program eligibility criteria and submit an application form online by September 15, 2023. Applications may be submitted year round, however, applications received after September 15 may be ranked and placed on a waiting list, as applicable.
Those who apply will be ranked according to the National Elite Program Guide and select athletes will then be invited for a Program Try-Out. Athletes formally selected to the program will be provided a stipend to assist with off-site housing and other expenses and may continue to work or attend school while participating in the training program.
“The United States Performance Center is extremely excited to partner with USA Archery,” said Ike Belk, Co-Founder of USPC. “More and more, athletes seeking to make it on the biggest competitive stage in the world, are coming to North Carolina to prepare because our United States Performance Center facilities are among the best in the world.
“USPC is excited to partner with USA Archery as these elite athletes compete on the international stage. And it is great to have these athletes and coaches strengthening and investing in our communities as they move here to train.”
Assistant Head Coach Chris Webster who will serve as the program coach stated, “I see so much potential to build an incredible new program here, allowing USA Archery the opportunity to develop even more future Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
“In this program we are going to focus on finding the right balance between archery and life outside of archery to sustain life-long competitive athletes who win on the world stage.”
About USA Archery: The mission of USA Archery is to enable United States athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic, Paralympic, World Championships and international competitions and to promote and grow the sport of Archery in the United States. Visit www.usarchery.org for more information.
About USPC: The United States Performance Center, located in Charlotte, NC, is dedicated to research-based athletic development, injury prevention, and overall health and wellness. USPC utilizes an integrated approach to performance training, supported by proper nutrition protocols and state-of-the-art technology, to offer customized training programs scientifically developed to help each individual athlete reach their full physical potential.
Their life-long development offerings range from youth, middle/high school, collegiate, and elite/professional, including young adult through later adulthood. All programs are backed by a research-based training protocol developed in conjunction with motor development models to provide safe and effective training, regardless of age and activity level. USPC’s long-term mission is to create a community of athletes united in the common goal of reaching their full potential in human performance, health and wellness.
