Post by Woody Williams on Jan 15, 2007 19:08:26 GMT -5
School's new archery team scores a bullseye
By SARAH BERKSHIRE
The News-Enterprise
Monday, January 15, 2007
VINE GROVE, Ky. - A new team at a Kentucky middle school seems to be right on target, attracting about 90 students to a nontraditional sport.
J.T. Alton Middle School in Vine Grove, Ky., formed an archery team in December to give students at all levels of athleticism a chance to excel in competition.
"It's something anybody can do," said physical education teacher Jeff Lowman, who also has started teaching archery in his classes. "You don't have to be a typical athlete. All it takes is coordination and dedication."
By establishing the team, the middle school has added to the growing popularity of archery in schools.
The National Archery in the Schools Program was launched in Kentucky and has spread across the United States and international borders. It started with lessons in 21 Kentucky middle schools in March 2002. Since then, 40 states and Australia have adopted the program, which now is taught in nearly 3,000 schools. About 600 of those are in Kentucky.
National Archery in the Schools Program officials estimated that 667,000 fourth- through 12th-graders will take the two-week course from their physical education teachers this school year, the program's Web site reports.
A team at East Hardin Middle School has competed in the annual statewide competition since it was established in 2003.
East Hardin physical education teacher Lisa Walters teaches an archery unit in her class and selects students to perform at the competition, she said. The competition has grown so much that district and regional competitions will be held for the first time this year, she said.
A two-week target archery unit covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration and self improvement.
Students shoot at targets set up in front of an arrow-resistant net.
The activity is one of the students' favorites, Walters said, also pointing out that the sport is appropriate for all students.
"It's nondiscriminating," she said. "It doesn't matter how athletic you are. Every student can have success."
Students agreed.
"It's not hard, all you have to do is work hard and put your mind to it," said Anthony Irwin, a seventh-grader at Alton. He and his friends, Colt Trimble and Chris Wilk, were among about 45 students who stay after school to shoot.
The boys are hunters, they said, and have been using bows and arrows on their outings since the third or fourth grade. They were excited to join the team because it's a fun activity and gives them a chance to practice, they said.
They were surprised by the number of other students who were as interested as they were. The school had to set up two practice times, one for each half of the group.
And though the targets will stand up to 2,000 hits, Lowman said, it might not be long before replacements are needed.
The equipment needed to start a class is valued at $4,800. With support from the archery industry, school can purchase the kit for $2,250 to $2,900, depending on the specific equipment the school selects, according to the National Archery in the Schools Program Web site.
The program is a safe one, school officials said.
Lowman, Assistant Principal Greg Sutton and two other teachers attended training, which focused on safety.
Sutton led the students through a strict routine during a recent practice. With a hand whistle, he gave the go-ahead for each move.
By SARAH BERKSHIRE
The News-Enterprise
Monday, January 15, 2007
VINE GROVE, Ky. - A new team at a Kentucky middle school seems to be right on target, attracting about 90 students to a nontraditional sport.
J.T. Alton Middle School in Vine Grove, Ky., formed an archery team in December to give students at all levels of athleticism a chance to excel in competition.
"It's something anybody can do," said physical education teacher Jeff Lowman, who also has started teaching archery in his classes. "You don't have to be a typical athlete. All it takes is coordination and dedication."
By establishing the team, the middle school has added to the growing popularity of archery in schools.
The National Archery in the Schools Program was launched in Kentucky and has spread across the United States and international borders. It started with lessons in 21 Kentucky middle schools in March 2002. Since then, 40 states and Australia have adopted the program, which now is taught in nearly 3,000 schools. About 600 of those are in Kentucky.
National Archery in the Schools Program officials estimated that 667,000 fourth- through 12th-graders will take the two-week course from their physical education teachers this school year, the program's Web site reports.
A team at East Hardin Middle School has competed in the annual statewide competition since it was established in 2003.
East Hardin physical education teacher Lisa Walters teaches an archery unit in her class and selects students to perform at the competition, she said. The competition has grown so much that district and regional competitions will be held for the first time this year, she said.
A two-week target archery unit covers archery history, safety, technique, equipment, mental concentration and self improvement.
Students shoot at targets set up in front of an arrow-resistant net.
The activity is one of the students' favorites, Walters said, also pointing out that the sport is appropriate for all students.
"It's nondiscriminating," she said. "It doesn't matter how athletic you are. Every student can have success."
Students agreed.
"It's not hard, all you have to do is work hard and put your mind to it," said Anthony Irwin, a seventh-grader at Alton. He and his friends, Colt Trimble and Chris Wilk, were among about 45 students who stay after school to shoot.
The boys are hunters, they said, and have been using bows and arrows on their outings since the third or fourth grade. They were excited to join the team because it's a fun activity and gives them a chance to practice, they said.
They were surprised by the number of other students who were as interested as they were. The school had to set up two practice times, one for each half of the group.
And though the targets will stand up to 2,000 hits, Lowman said, it might not be long before replacements are needed.
The equipment needed to start a class is valued at $4,800. With support from the archery industry, school can purchase the kit for $2,250 to $2,900, depending on the specific equipment the school selects, according to the National Archery in the Schools Program Web site.
The program is a safe one, school officials said.
Lowman, Assistant Principal Greg Sutton and two other teachers attended training, which focused on safety.
Sutton led the students through a strict routine during a recent practice. With a hand whistle, he gave the go-ahead for each move.
Most of it though was normal P.E. activities.