Instead of participating in high school sports, many young athletes join “travel” teams that travel and compete in nearby states and in some cases, around the country. Whereas public or private schools fund most high school athletic programs, the parents of an athlete cover the costs of travel and competition, which is quite expensive, often including airfare, hotel stays, and meals, not to mention the cost of uniforms and athletic equipment.
The 3-D Archery Alternative
As the National Archery in the Schools Program has proven, archery is the most accommodating sport in which a young person can compete. You don’t have to be tall, as in basketball, large, as in football, or fast, as in track and field. Archery is open to anyone willing to practice and dedicate their time and attention to the sport. In many ways, it helps prepare a young person for life because a person’s success is solely dependent on oneself. Additionally, equipment is relatively inexpensive and easy to practice in a basement or backyard.
Hunter’s Story
At the IBO World Championships in Berkley Springs, West Virginia, I met Hunter, the young man shown above, and his father, who drove from Massachusetts to compete in the 3-D competition. While the 3rd grader practiced, Dad and I struck up a conversation about youth sports. His daughter is a soccer player, a member of a travel team who will be going to California for a national competition later in the month, and we discussed the difference between the two sports as a growth experience for young people. “This is a much more friendly competition,” he said, “and everyone has been very friendly.” That was not the case in his daughter’s competition. Most travel sports involve teams and playing fields, which can be very time-consuming for participants and their parents. Three-D has the benefit of transitioning to hunting with many of the skills that help to feed a family.
A Family Affair
3-D archery may be the most family-friendly of any sport. It’s an excellent way for a father and son or a mother and daughter to bond and share a fun and exciting experience. Many couples participate in 3-D competition, which eventually leads to a family experience where each family member has a chance to shoot a bow. Crazy, engaging, and exciting targets are part of the IBO experience, and who can resist taking a shot at Bigfoot?
