COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In order to advance diversity and inclusivity in the sport, USA Archery is committed to providing coach education opportunities through the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) Coach Education Grant to individuals who represent diverse communities.
In 2024, applicants could apply for one or more of the following grants: Coaches Workshop, Virtual Symposium, or the Level 4 coaching certification.
Those who applied offered an insight into the kind of work being done by members of USA Archery in bringing the sport to under-represented communities and introducing archery to more women, people of color, individuals with a physical disability and those in low income households.
Applicant after applicant stood out as giving, whether to their local club, school or community. It is a testament to the kind of people involved in archery, using the sport for good.
Here are just some of the responses given for reasons to apply for the grant:
I am a very proud USA Archery Coach who is: African American, female, in a lower socioeconomic bracket, a caregiver and a teacher. This grant will allow me to attend workshops to increase my skills, my knowledge and help me to learn about new resources. In my community, I often work with special education youth and students (and archers) from at-risk areas. Increasing my development, helps me to increase theirs.
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With 81% of our archers coming from single/low-income families, this grant will allow for deeper levels of coaching for students who might not otherwise have opportunities to compete at higher levels. Among our archers, females now make up 47% of all participants; while 30% of our students are considered racially diverse or come from racially diverse families; and another 41% come from "special" homes with foster or adopted children, disabled parents, true single parents, etc.
Sixteen percent of our archers have medically diagnosed physical or developmental ‘disabilities’. Still, none of those families have victim mentalities. They all strive to help their children succeed in every area of life and to see their disability as an opportunity. Most of our students are active in multiple areas of life, such as 4-H, church, and sports. With almost 3/4 of our students coming from rural areas around our central community, our families have strong work ethics and values.
This grant would allow higher-quality coaching for some of these budding archers, enabling them to grow in both their archery abilities and life experiences as they leave their hometowns or state for the first time to attend regional and national tournaments.
For those who are learning to shoot for fun or to hunt, it's an opportunity to see what they can accomplish inside of themselves, even if upper-level competition is not a goal. That success that comes from learning how to position the body and the mind in such a way as to actually get the arrow to go where it's ‘supposed’ to go, consistently, produces a joy and confidence that knows no limitations based on income, race, gender, etc...but that does have the ability to forever transform a child's (and sometimes a family's) idea of what is attainable in any area of life where dreams, knowledge, and work come together.
This, coupled with the excitement and wonder that lights up a child's face when they travel outside of their home area for the first time, is truly special. We love welcoming all families, encouraging them to try archery, and introducing them to Explore Archery, JOAD, and more. We delight in watching them embrace new and exciting elements of this bigger life. For the rural communities, there is renewed support and connection. For USA Archery, the result is an increase in ethnically, financially and socially diverse families. It's a win-win-win.
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I am a veteran of the Air Force, and I belong to a very underrepresented group as a 100% disabled veteran. I found archery when searching for therapeutic help with PTSD. I have since discovered the love of teaching and coaching within my daughters, and now my club. As a dual Georgia area, developing 4H through JOAD, and now USAT archers, my therapy as a disabled Vet is coaching. I do not have the financial ability to attend these amazing opportunities and would be greatly appreciative.
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access (DEIA) Coach Education Grant provided much-needed funds for these many dedicated individuals who, in turn, help make the archery community what it is – a place where everyone is welcome.
To learn more about becoming a certified instructor or coach, or advancing your coach certification, click here.
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