JOAD
Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD)
Algonquin Archers Inc.
Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD)
2024/2025
192 Quanopaug Trail, Woodbury, CT 06798
Program Directors - (203) 253-9553
USA Archery - At the core of Algonquin Archers’ youth offering is its participation in the USA Archery Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) program. This nationally recognized program helps archers to enjoy the sport recreationally, progress at their own pace, or pursue the excitement of competition. JOAD offers barebow, recurve and compound archers the opportunity to learn range safety and proper shooting technique in an environment that also fosters focus, increased self-confidence, and team building skills. JOAD is open to any archer aged 8 to 20 and is designed to grow with the youth archer. Introductory JOAD classes teach the fundamentals of proper shooting form; as the young archer develops, they will learn more advanced techniques and earn achievement awards.
Participants in Algonquin’s JOAD program must have USA Archery memberships. There are two levels of membership available. If the participant is interested in earning achievement pins and/or shooting in State or National championship tournaments, the Youth All-Access membership is required. If the participant is not interested in earning achievement pins and/or shooting in tournaments, the Recreational membership is sufficient. When registering with USA Archery, please note your affiliation with Algonquin Archers and retain the participant’s membership number for the JOAD registration form.
Recreational ($20) https://www.usarchery.org/memberships/become-a-member/recreational-membership
Youth All-Access ($50)
https://www.usarchery.org/memberships/become-a-member/youth-all-access
Algonquin JOAD - Key to advancing in the individual sport of archery are many of our core lifetime skills. All participants in Algonquin’s JOAD program will work to develop self-discipline, attention to detail, responsibility, mental focus, physical control, respect for others, and etiquette. Our focus is to teach a solid foundation of archery, anchored in proper shooting technique and consistent, repeatable form and process. All of our coaches and instructors are members of Algonquin who volunteer their time for the passion of the sport and a desire to bring archery to a larger audience. Our program is led by two USA Archery Level 3 National Training System Coaches. All of our coaches and instructors are USA Archery Certified Coaches/Instructors, with current SafeSport training, and up to date background screening.
Equipment - Thanks to the generosity of Algonquin Archers, its members, and former participants in the JOAD program, equipment is offered free of charge to all participants during regularly scheduled JOAD classes. Participants who wish to use equipment outside of the scheduled classes, or in competitions, will need to purchase their own equipment. If you are new to the sport of archery, we suggest that you hold off on equipment purchases until you better understand the participant’s desires, equipment needs, and budget. We are not a retail shop. However, our certified coaches and instructors would be happy to guide you through equipment purchases with local, established, credible retail archery shops.
Dress Code - Upper garments must cover the front and back of the body and the midriff at full draw. Open-toed shoes/flip flops/sandals are not permitted. USA Archery dress code: https://www.usarchery.org/resources/usa-archery-sanctioned-event-dress-code-policy-141222033158.pdf
Competition - Competition is not required as part of the Algonquin JOAD program. Many participants join the program just for the fun of it. We will explore indoor and outdoor target, 3D, and field archery. We will also employ different formats, challenges and games to refine archery skills. If the participant is interested in competition, we encourage it as competition fosters further development of the archery and life skills we promote in class. Most of these competitions are held by outside organizations such as USA Archery, NFAA, ASA/S3DA, by other archery clubs, or by leaders in the sport of archery such as Hall’s Arrow in Manchester, CT and Lancaster Archery in Lancaster, PA. Please be aware that most competitions require advanced registration and fees to the host organizations. Keep in mind that for most indoor competitions, most competitors will need to be able to shoot their own equipment 18M (approximately 20 yards). Outdoor competitions (in the Spring and Summer) will range from 30M-70M depending on age and equipment. We will attempt to keep you up to date with opportunities to compete and their respective registration dates. We will attempt to schedule around competitions when appropropriate. And, we will make reasonable efforts to accommodate make-up sessions for participants who may choose to miss scheduled classes for the opportunity to shoot in these competitions.
Community - Algonquin Archers is one of New England’s premier archery only clubs. Established in 1957, we enjoy an indoor 10 lane, 20 yard range, an outdoor practice range from 10 - 50 yards, a summertime competition range from 30M - 70M, a 14 station field course, and a 3D course. Our private club enjoys the membership of a diversified group of individuals of all ages, who enjoy the sport of archery in many different ways. We have some of the nation’s top ranked target shooters as members. We also have some great hunters among us. We think you’ll find, they all have great stories to share and some (not all) have useful archery insight to offer. We encourage you to become an active part of our club and help us promote the sport of archery in whichever form you choose. Whether or not you choose to join our membership, please be an active, supportive part of our community - respecting our members and guests, and helping to keep our facilities clean and inviting to all.
Schedule - Each JOAD session consists of 10 scheduled 1 hour classes. Classes will usually be held in our 10 lane indoor range. At times, weather & curriculum permitting, we will explore our outdoor practice ranges, 3D course and field course. Each session/class will be limited to 10 participants. This is a change from prior years so … for our returning participants, please note this change. It will have an impact on individual learning opportunities, and in-turn, make-up classes available to participants who choose to miss classes.
- Fall Session - Start Date - 9/22 & 9/23
- Winter Session - Start Date - 12/8 & 12/9
- Spring Session - Start Date - 3/30 & 3/31
Anticipated Schedule Changes - We expect to change dates based on Holidays and events hosted by Algonquin. We find that our Fall schedule runs pretty smoothly. As you will note, our Winter session is elongated given holidays, events at the club, and an extensive list of competitions during that time-frame. As coaches, our primary focus will be on Algonquin JOAD classes at the club. When appropriate, we will try to have coaches available at tournaments to assist archers. There will be times when coaches are not available. Please actively communicate your tournament timing and preferences to our staff so that we may help when possible.
- Class Times - We will have classes at:
- Sunday 10 AM (new and/or less-competitive)
- 11 AM (intermediate/advanced)
- 12 PM (intermediate/advanced)
- Monday 5 PM (intermediate/advanced)
- 6 PM (intermediate/advanced)
Classes are limited to 10 participants. Registration is on a first come, first served basis. Classes fill quickly so please communicate your preferences with our program directors as soon as possible.
Price/Payment -
For members of Algonquin Archers, the price of each session is $100 per session (e.g. $10 per class) per participant. If you believe you are a member, please note that membership dues were due in May - please make sure that you are a member in good standing.
For non-members of Algonquin Archers, the price of each session is $185 per session (e.g. $18.50 per class) per participant. If you are not a member but are interested in becoming a member, please communicate your interest to the program directors and we will help you through the membership process at the subsequent monthly meeting (1st Tuesday of each month at 7 pm).
Payment is due before or at the first class of each session.
All payments should be made to “Algonquin Archers.” Please note “JOAD” & the term (Fall/Winter/Spring) in the notes section of the check.
Adult Achievement Program - With sufficient interest, we would offer an Adult Achievement Program. This program would be structured like the JOAD program, with a similar number of classes and cost structure for each participant. If you are interested, please let us know about your interest and days/times you might be available to participate. If we have sufficient interest, we will take it to the Board of Algonquin Archers for approval. However, in the meantime, we suggest that there may be less formal, less expensive, more inclusive ways for you to learn the sport of archery, shooting alongside your youth and our diverse membership of experienced archers. Adult Achievement pins will not be issued outside of a formal Adult Achievement Program.
Private Lessons - Private individual and group lessons are available at Algonquin Archers for Algonquin members, prospective members, and their guests.
Additional Resources - Whether you are looking for additional information regarding competitions, club activities, other shooting opportunities, or retail outlets in the area, there are several websites and social media pages that you might find helpful. Some of these available on Facebook are; Algonquin Archers…Official Club Page, Hall’s Arrow, Newbury Archery, USA Archery, National Field Archery Association, Scholastic 3-D Archery, CAN: Connecticut Archery Network, CT 3D Archery Co-op, and NFAA CT
If you’re looking to study archery … we also have a selection of books we can recommend.
Questions/Communication - If you have questions or wish to talk to our staff, please reach out to them via email at AlgArchJOAD@Gmail.com or via phone/text (203) 253-9553. All registration forms and payments should be mailed to Algonquin Archers, ℅ Jennie & Ric DeFazio, 41 Slab Meadow Road, Morris, CT 06763. We look forward to working with your archers.
JOAD Registration -
- Participant’s Name _______________________________
- Participant’s Date of Birth __________________________
- Participant’s USA Archery # _________________________
(Required)
- Session (Fall/Winter/Spring) ________________________
- Class Day/Time (1st choice) _________________________
- Class Day/Time (2nd choice) ________________________
- Algonquin Membership Yes or No
- Algonquin JOAD Fee _________________________
(Check Payable to “Algonquin Archers”, Note “JOAD”)
- Parent/Guardian’s Name(s) _________________________
- Parent/Guardian’s Cell/Text ________________________
- Parent/Guardian’s Address _________________________
- As a parent/guardian, I am expected to sign a waiver in the book of waivers on the counter at Algonquin Archers. If I am a member of Algonquin Archers, I understand that I need only sign a waiver once. If I am not a member of Algonquin Archers, I understand that I need to sign a waiver each session. I have read, executed and agree to the waiver,
- Parent/Guardian’s Signature _________________________