Development

Archery is a sport that requires infrastructure, equipment and knowledge.

It is necessary to improve the level of these three pillars within national archery federations around the world to grow the availability of the sport and ultimately increase the number of people participating in archery at both grassroot and elite levels.

This process is known as sports development.

Development now underpins all of World Archery’s activities and responsibility for growing the sport is shared across all departments.

There are several services available to all members and tailored projects are run on a case-by-case basis. Alongside education programmes for coaches, judges and athletes, World Archery offers national federations assistance in strategic planning, support when completing applications for funding from Olympic Solidarity, and donates equipment in partnership with World Archery’s sponsors.

Founding new federations and strategy

World Archery can recognise one national member association in each country around the world.

Organisations that regulate and promote archery in a country that does not already have a national archery federation that is a member of World Archery can apply to become a temporary member. Members must fulfil the requirements set out in the constitution section of the World Archery Rulebook, which include good governance checks, minimum activity specifications and a commitment to work towards the goals of the international federation.

For a temporary member to be granted full membership, the membership application must be approved at congress.

World Archery requires its members to report on their activities at least once every four years and encourages all national federations to developed and implement a strategic plan, covering areas including high-performance programmes, education, membership, facilities, events and promotion. A guide for archery federations to use when creating strategy called Targeting Gold is available for all members.

Additional support is available from World Archery’s member services department and the strategic planning and good governance committee.

Olympic Solidarity

A department of the International Olympic Committee focused solely on growing sport, Olympic Solidarity funding is distributed for development projects through National Olympic Committees. World Archery’s member associations can apply for financial aid for a range of projects including athlete support, coach education and the creation of a national sport system.

Funding is shared through world programmes, which are more generic, and continental programmes, which are more customised for regional needs.

National federations should contact their National Olympic Committee to learn what funding is available and the application process for receiving aid. World Archery’s member services department supports the application process but is unable to process applications or apply for funding directly.

Development centres

The World Archery Excellence Centre and World Archery Partner Centre in Bangkok, Thailand are dedicated facilities that act as hubs for archery development programmes, including athlete training camps, coach and judge education, and competition. Each centre is responsible for its own activity programme.

The World Archery Excellence Centre is located in the Olympic Capital of Lausanne, Switzerland. It is managed by the Foundation for International Archery Development and staffed independently of World Archery’s headquarters, which are located in the same city. The world-class venue, which opened in 2016, has indoor and outdoor ranges, conference facilities, a restaurant and a gym.

The Bangkok Archery Centre in Thailand hosts international coach courses, training camps and events targeted at members in Asia.

Equipment donations

National archery federations that have the greatest shortage of equipment or an inability to access equipment for grassroots or elite archers can apply to World Archery to receive an equipment donation, which are made by possible by sponsors. Targets and facilities are not covered by the equipment donation programme.

Donations are not always granted. Federations that submit an application for a donation must already have an approved strategic plan, detail how the donation will be used and report on the effect of the donation.