Rules and Requirements

 

1.     Purpose:

The NCGT (Nevada County Gold Team) strives to coach intermediate to advanced archers who have a desire to compete in local or national competitions. Since the team is part of a JOAD club, its main focus is NAA events, specifically FITA target events. Participation and training for NFAA style events is encouraged and will be included as appropriate.

2.     Equipment:

Gold Team members must shoot Olympic style recurve OR freestyle compound bows. This is because those are the only equipment variations allowed for NAA/FITA competition. The Gold Team will focus on FITA style archery.

Mandatory equipment for Olympic Recurve Bow includes a bow stringer, quiver, adjustable sight, FITA style stabilizer, adjustable clicker, sling and finger tab.

For freestyle compound the equipment must include a quiver, release aid, an adjustable sight, sling, and freestyle stabilizer. It is recommended that archers seek the advice of the coaches concerning equipment purchases.

It is recommended that all recurve archers wear chest protectors. For their own protection, chest protectors are mandatory for the young ladies.

For both styles it is imperative that both the archer and parents are committed to matching the correct arrows to the bow. Generally, the coaches can advise as to the most probable combination of spine, weight and length arrow but in many cases due to the many variables involved, testing of the combination may dictate a change in order to achieve proper arrow flight. Without properly matched arrows, the other training aspects of focus, form and execution will not meet the intended goals.

A tackle box with basic tools, spare parts, extra nocks, nock sets and string (tools and spare parts will grow over time).  An extra sling and finger tab, and notebooks to maintain notes and sight-mark information will ultimately be needed.

A spotting scope (FITA target events) or binoculars (FITA or NFAA events) will make practicing or participating in tournaments much more fun and productive.

When preparing for and participating in a FITA target event, archers will need at least 12 arrows. It is the archer's and parent's responsibility to ensure that sufficient arrows are available. It is highly recommended that the archers learn to fletch and repair their own arrows. This will save cost and make them more knowledgeable over time.

 

3.     Team Qualifications:

Gold Team members have generally  been shooting in a beginner program for at least six months and are age 12 years or older. When they have had enough coaching, have the proper equipment, and have the desire to compete in tournaments they may be then considered for the Gold Team if space is available.  Application may be made through the JOAD club administrator and/or the coaching staff.  Candidates must demonstrate that they can listen to and follow coaching instructions and will be a positive influence on the team.  Successful coaching requires that the proper ratio of coaches to archers is maintained.  Generally this means 3-4 archers per coach so unfortunately even if a candidate archer is qualified, space may not be available.  Team members must also join the NAA.  Membership in the NFAA is not required but highly recommended.

4.     Competitions:

Gold Team members will have many opportunities for competing in tournaments throughout the year.  One major FITA tournament is the Pacific Coast Championship, a 2 day FITA held in Discovery Park in Sacramento during the month of September.  To prepare for this several 1 day FITA practice events are held prior to this.  To see the Gold Team's current competition schedule, please visit our schedule page.  Far more frequent are NFAA novelty and field events held nearly every weekend at one of the many ranges in the area.  Generally these are geared towards compound shooting styles but recurve archers may compete as well.  In general, no coaching is provided at these events.  Archers must make their own arrangements for transportation.  The Nevada County Sportsmen’s Club hosts several of these events during the year and for these Gold Team members will shoot together under the direction of a coach.  During the winter several indoor events are held.  The NAA conducts a national indoor event at various locations throughout the country.  In California this takes place in Tulare, about 4 hours south of Nevada County.  The NFAA state organization holds some indoor events at Wilderness Archery in Rocklin.  Other NAA tournaments that aid in advancing the JOAD archer’s ranking are also held throughout the state. It is strongly recommended that members of the Gold Team participate. See the NAA state website for more info: www.calarchery.com.

In the past Gold team members have participated in the JOAD Nationals Outdoor Championships. This is the highest level of national competition available for JOAD archers and a major effort is made by the coaches to prepare for this event. In 2008 the event will be held from July 10th to 13th in Oklahoma City, OK.  It is a combined FITA and OR (Olympic Round) event.

5.     Insurance:

Because coaches are covered for very limited medical expenses of team members, medical insurance is required for each archer on the Gold Team.  Copies of current insurance cards or the appropriate information is required to be turned in to a Gold Team coach before an archer is enrolled in the Gold Team.  If any changes in insurance take place during the season, please inform a Gold team coach.  Current information must be on-hand at all times.

 

6.     Practice Sessions:

The Gold Team has official team practices one day a week from April to October. Sessions are 1 ½ to 2 hours in length.  We hold qualifiers as time permits.  We will often conduct small tournaments trying to simulate different kind of situations that will arise at competitions. We also shoot ½ FITAs, and spend many sessions just focusing on form without shooting for score.  Sometimes archers will have a shot recorded on digital video for analysis.  We like to have archers focused on fixing a single form flaw at a time (if any exists).  We may also shoot NFAA rounds to practice these but these tend to be less frequent.

7.     Team Members Responsibilities:

It is expected that team members will always carry a notebook and pencil in their quivers.  They are expected to maintain sight marks correct for their setup.  The team may go on to the range at any time and they will need sight marks for the distances that they shoot.

8.     Removal from the Gold Team:

A team member may be removed for any of the following reasons:

a) Not attending sufficient practice sessions or tournaments and in the opinion of the coaching staff is not an archer in the stated purpose of the Gold Team.

b) Violation of JOAD safety rules.

c) Not practicing and maintaining equipment necessary to the purpose of the Gold team.

d) Not observing coaching instructions.