COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - In 2016, USA Archery introduced a new program into its athlete development pipeline: The Regional Dream Team (RDT). There are two teams: RDT-East and RDT-West. Participation in the RDT is a prerequisite and filter program for the Junior Dream Team (JDT), a next-step training opportunity for young athletes who show competitive potential. RDT teams are comprised of dedicated and promising archers from each region of the country looking to improve their skills and gain access to the best-quality training in some of the most excellent archery training facilities in the world with a dedicated set of USA Archery certified coaches. USA Archery hosted four RDT camps throughout the year - two in each region.
Enthusiastic participant of the camp at the Easton Van Nuys Archery Center, Erin White (Monroe, Washington) shared: "My favorite part of camp was the last day where we shot the team round and one arrow shoot-offs. I loved shooting with and getting to know the other archers. Plus it was a lot of fun!"
She added: "The most important thing I learned was that your mental game, your physical ability, and your confidence in yourself have to be equal in order to shoot well, especially in stressful situations. I would definitely recommend this camp because I learned so much from the great coaches and they helped and encouraged me every step of the way. It also helped me prepare for the Junior Dream Team selection camp that I went to recently. I made a lot of new friends who I look forward to seeing at upcoming tournaments!"
Adam Whitlatch (Beaumont, California) agreed that the camp he attended was a positive experience and a great way to make friends: "My friend Madison Devencenzi invited me to sign up for RDT with her so I thought I'd give it a try. When I first started archery I heard about JDT and didn't know how to get to that point until Madi explained the process and we decided to do RDT together. I gained a lot from the program; it definitely benefitted me and anyone else who is willing to learn in the sport. My favorite part, besides learning and getting better in the sport, was hanging out and making friends."
Parents also raved about the program and its benefits for their children. Kate Atmore (Mountain View, California), mother of Skyler Rosenberg commented: "Skyler is still positively radiating with joy from the incredible RDT training weekend." Speaking to RDT head coach Linda Beck, she added: "Through your caring, acceptance and guidance, you have absolutely fueled the archery fire that burns deep within Skyler. He returned talking about how he can give back to the archery community, and how he can help other kids find their 'place' in the world via archery. You are powerful role models!"
USA Archery looks forward to building on the success of the first year of the Regional Dream Team in 2017. Stay tuned for more information about camp sign up opportunities. For any questions, please contact Linda Beck at [email protected].
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