Cal Archery Academy

Sessions are sold in blocks of one 2-hour session, five 2-hour sessions, or ten 2-hours sessions.

All levels - beginner through advanced - begin at 1:30 p.m. and may continue shooting until 5:30 p.m.

There are some Saturdays when there are no lessons. We do run year-round, including the summer. Here is a link to the JOAD Archery Calendar so you can see the Saturdays when there are no lessons.

Please email us at youth@berkeley.edu for a special registration code to register and for time assignment. All levels are archery are taught on Saturdays.

The 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. & 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Intermediate/Beginner Level of the CAL Archery Academy, JOAD weekend program is designed specifically to introduce and improve on the major concepts of the National Training System (NTS) to archers with beginner or intermediate archery skills. Participants are not required to bring their own equipment. They must be able to be still when others are shooting, listen to instructional lectures, and follow directions. Mature and calm behavior is required on the archery range for everyone’s safety.

Beginners have practiced archery for less than one year; do not shoot with the National Training System (NTS); have no competition experience; have a State or National tournament score of less than 1150 for: FITA 1440 Round (4 distances) score, or Double Rounds (1 distance of max for your age group). Intermediate archers have more experience but are not yet shooting at the national / advanced level.

These archers will be encouraged to purchase their own equipment after 10 sessions. The bows provided are practice bows with light poundage to learn the NTS shooting technique, and are not suitable for competition (long distances). The Coaches will make equipment recommendations. As Beginner archers develop their archery skills, they will be assessed for promotion to the Intermediate/Advance lessons.

The 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. National/Advanced Level of the Cal JOAD weekend program is designed for those archers who have advanced skills or are shooting at the national level. This session is for students who wish to try out for the JDT, make the National team and/or want to compete in 3 or more State and National tournaments a year. Archers must have their own equipment and typically practice 4-5 days a week. Archers must be evaluated by Coach Chia to participate at this level. National/Advanced archers must have scored 1100+ in a sanctioned FITA competition. They will be evaluated for their teamwork, motivation, work ethics, grasp of National Training System, potential and maintain a positive attitude.

Once approved, a registration permission code is issued so you will be able to purchase National/Advances sessions. Major concepts of the National Training System (NTS) are taught and archers at this level must have their own equipment. Intermediate and advance classes will shoot distances up to 70 meters.

The program will consist of lectures and practice with stretch band and light poundage practice bows. We will break down the KSL shot cycle and practice each step, commonly referred to as “chunking.” Once we have mastered the NTS technique we will practice and shoot with your own bows. You are not required to attend consecutive Saturdays.

Archers must be able to be still when others are shooting, listen to instructional lectures, and follow directions. Mature and calm behavior is required on the archery range for everyone’s safety. This program is for recurve archers only.

The archery field is a grassy field that can be muddy from the sprinklers. Wear close-toed shoes. Weather in Berkeley can get warm in the afternoon if the fog lifts. Dress in layers and make sure you don’t wear clothing that has anything that can catch on the string as it moves past your chest. Bring your chest guard. Jackets with zippers, bulky pockets, anything that sticks out is not advised. Necklaces, long earrings, or facial jewelry can interfere with shooting. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a reusable water bottle. Many participants also bring a snack that is easy to eat while shooting. Parents or guardians are welcome to stay and observe. Parents may want to bring their own folding chair.

Equipment Availability

There will be practice bows and equipment available for those who have not purchased their own equipment. If you would like to purchase your own equipment this Cal JOAD program is for you as it will review beginner, intermediate and advance archery equipment.

If you are bringing your own equipment, bring everything you normally bring to your tournament, including your outdoor chair (and shade or umbrella).

Difference Between Recurve and Compound Bows

A recurve bow looks much like a traditional bow except at the very ends the tips curve forward. A compound bow has a series of off-round pulleys or cams at the ends of the bow limbs that stores energy in the string itself as well as the limbs. The cam or cams (in a double cam) create far more power than the same length limbs in a recurve. The arrows from a compound bow therefore penetrate deeper into the target bale than from a recurve bow.