Year-round training for young archers, certified by USA Archery, run by our JOAD director Lin Ó Briain. Eighty-six active members across four levels. Two evenings a week and a Saturday morning. Competitive enough to send archers to indoor nationals, patient enough that the nine-year-olds keep coming back.
JOAD — Junior Olympic Archery Development — is USA Archery's national youth program. We're an affiliated club, which means our archers progress through the official pin system: yellow, green, purple, gray, white, black, blue, red, all the way through Olympic-class achievement scores. Each pin is earned at standard distances on standard targets, scored under normal range conditions.
We've run JOAD on this property since 2012. Eighty-six archers are enrolled this season across four level groups, with a coach-to-archer ratio that doesn't exceed one to six on the line. Our director, Lin Ó Briain, holds USA Archery Level 3 and Level 2 Youth certifications. Two of her archers placed in the top ten at indoor nationals last season; most archers in the program are not aiming at national tournaments and that is also fine.
The program runs September through August with a two-week pause in late August between seasons. Try-outs and intake assessments happen the first weekend of September, January, and May.
Entry-level. Beginner recurves at 18 to 22 lbs, ten- and fifteen-yard targets, full whistle-line discipline from week one. Sessions emphasize safety, stance, and consistent grouping. Most cubs earn yellow and green pins by the end of their first season.
For archers with a season under their bow arm. Twenty- and thirty-yard distances, sights introduced, scoring rounds in the second half of every session. Light weekend mock-tournaments. Equipment progression begins this year — own bow optional, encouraged.
Performance-track. Full equipment kit expected by mid-season. Distances out to fifty yards outdoor, eighteen meters indoor. Indoor 600-round and outdoor 720-round scoring assessments monthly. Travel competition optional but encouraged at this level.
Tournament-bound. Full Olympic-style program: distances out to seventy meters, video review, equipment tuning, peaking schedules, mental-game work. Most senior squad archers compete at state and indoor nationals; some target the JOAD National Championships.
Each level meets twice a week on weeknights, with an optional Saturday combined session for Sprouts and above. Cubs do not meet Saturdays. Indoor barn replaces outdoor December through February.
The first Saturday of every winter month, the barn runs an in-house mock tournament across all four levels. Open to any club archer. Pin scores qualify here. No travel, low pressure, real scoring sheets.
Squad and Senior archers travel four times a season to USA Archery sanctioned state-circuit shoots. We coordinate carpool, hotel block, and on-site coaching. Parents accompany. Most travel within a four-hour drive.
Indoor JOAD Nationals each February, outdoor JOAD Nationals each July. By qualification only. We cover the registration logistics; family handles travel. Two Bowline archers competed at indoor in 2025; we expect three this cycle.
All JOAD tuition includes range access, coaching, USA Archery affiliated club registration, and the official JOAD pin set as your archer earns through them. Equipment is supplied through the Cubs and most of the Sprouts season; full kits are recommended at Squad level.
Twice-weekly sessions, full equipment supplied, USAA youth membership included.
Twice weekly + optional Saturday open shoot. Loaner equipment available; own bow encouraged.
Three sessions a week. Monthly scoring assessments. Own kit expected by mid-season.
Three sessions a week + tournament prep. Video review, tuning, mental-game work included.
Per additional sibling, applied to the lower tuition. Caps at three siblings.
Loaner-bow rental for archers without own equipment. Available through Sprouts; phased out at Squad.
Intake happens the first Saturday of September, January, and May. Bring your archer in closed-toed shoes for a forty-five-minute assessment with our director. No prior archery experience required for Cubs placement; some experience helps for Sprouts and above. We'll place by ability, not just age.