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2014: The Certified Instructor Program
NFAA supports both the NFAA Advanced Instructor/Master Coach training program and the National Training System (NTS) developed by USA Archery. The NFAA Advanced Instructor/Master Coach Program is a two tiered program for experienced competitive archers. The two tiers are:
· Advanced Certified Instructor (ACI), with three merit levels: Advanced Level II, Advanced Level III, and Expert Level IV.
· Master Coach, with three merit levels: National Level II, National Level III, and Professional Level IV.
The National Training System is a five tiered program managed by USA Archery. The five tiers are:
· Level 1 Instructor
· Level 2 Instructor
· Level 3-NTS Coach
· Level 4-NTS Coach
· Level 5-NTS Coach
NFAA and USA Archery Joint Certification Agreement:
The NFAA and USA Archery have entered into a “Coach Certified Instructor Program Partner Organization Agreement” in which certain instructor level certifications are “common levels” and recognized by both NFAA and USA Archery. The three lower levels of the NTS; Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3-NTS, are common courses available to members of both NFAA and USA Archery using training materials and criteria managed by USA Archery.
Under the Joint Certification Program, the NFAA and USA Archery will design and format their respective programs and hold the copyright and intellectual property rights to their respective program materials for instructor/coach levels above Level 3. The two Programs will be made available to members of both organizations and the NFAA encourages its member instructors and coaches, who are interested in a broader range of archery coaching, to participate in the NTS Program.
Instructor Certification and recordkeeping for the common instructor levels will be managed by the USA Archery Certification Coordinator. Documentation of those students who successfully complete the certification requirements will be forwarded by the course Instructor to the Certification Coordinator, who will accept that documentation along with successful background screening results and enter the newly Certified Instructor(s) into the USA Archery Instructor/Coach database.
Through the year 2023, current, selected NFAA ACIs and Master Coaches, certified prior to 2014, will be authorized to conduct courses and certify Level 1 and Level 2 instructors. NFAA Instructors and Coaches certified after March, 2014, will need NTS Certification by USA Archery to be authorized to present the courses and certify Level 1 and Level 2 Instructors.
Certification of Level 4-NTS and Level 5-NTS will be managed by USA Archery and certification of NFAA Advanced Certified Instructor and Master Coach will be managed by NFAA.
The National Training System (NTS):
The NTS is a system of archery training intended to provide trained personnel capable of instruction and coaching at all levels from beginning archery through elite international competitive archery, based on sound bio-mechanical principles. The program was developed by and is managed by USA Archery.
Re-Certification of NTS Instructors and Coaches:
Under the NFAA/USA Archery Joint Certification Agreements and USA Archery requirements, re-certification for Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3-NTS Instructors is an on-line process through the USA Archery Membership Services System. Re-certification access is managed by the USA Archery Certification Coordinator.
The NFAA Advanced Instructor/Master Coach Program:
The Advanced Instructor/Master Coach training Program has as its primary purpose to provide experienced competitive archers the knowledge and skills necessary for successful performance in the disciplines of Target, Field, and 3-D archery. The training is based on the NFAA Training Principles as presented in the “NFAA Shooters’ School”. Training covers compound bow as well as recurve and traditional bow technique, the mental game of competitive archery, archery tournament technique, archery equipment performance and tuning, shooting in outdoor and field conditions, effective coaching and archery practice, and corrective practice techniques. The levels are:
Advanced Certified Instructor (ACI): The ACI Certification course, based on the “NFAA Shooters’ School”, is intended for the experienced competitive archer and the content refers to competitive tournament experience. ACI Candidates will need competitive experience to fully comprehend the various aspects of the material presented.
· Successful completion of a three day course (20 to 24 hours depending on number of students) presented by a NFAA Master Coach. Course content will include, but not limited to: NFAA Archery Training Principles, coaching, equipment set-up and tuning, the mental game (including the effect of personality and target panic cures), advanced shot sequence, effective practice and tournament preparation, outdoor shooting and teaching youth, as set out in the Certified Instructor Committee approved course outline.
· Prerequisites: Minimum of 18 years of age, with at least one year of competition archery experience in the adult division. Membership in NFAA, successful completion of a background screening and completion of anti-harassment training such as the USOC “SafeSport” program are required for ACI certification.
· New ACI Instructors under 21 years of age will have a one-year probationary period during which they may be monitored by an Advanced Certified Instructor or Master Coach, 21 years of age or older during archery instruction.
· Course Cost: Varies depending on the cost of materials, Instructor fee and cost of facilities. Facilities must include range or safe area for student instructors to practice the steps of shooting.
· ACI Instructor certification is valid for ten years; however, a current successful background screening is required to maintain certification. ACIs may need to renew their background screening to maintain certification
· The primary purpose of this course is to prepare ACI instructors to teach, coach and develop intermediate to advanced archers and to aid in the archers’ development in the sport of competitive archery. AC instructors are certified to present individual or group archery training.
· To reach the Advanced Level II, the instructor must teach 25 students; to reach level III, the instructor must teach 50 students; to reach the Expert Level IV, the instructor must teach 100 students.
Master Coach: The Master Coach Certification course is intended to increase the candidates’ expertise in the techniques of advanced competitive archery and develop the knowledge and skill to pass those techniques to future elite archers, advanced instructors and coaches.
· Successful completion of a four to five day course (minimum of 32 hours) presented by a minimum of three Master Coaches approved by the NFAA Certified Instructor Committee. The course presenters may also include other archery coaches or sport instruction experts of major repute approved by the Certified Instructor Committee. The course of instruction is based on the NFAA Archery Training Principles and further develops all of the material of the Shooters’ School/ACI Course to provide in-depth understanding and expertise in competitive archery. Successful completion is determined by the team of Master Coaches presenting the course.
· Prerequisites: Minimum of 21 years of age, with at least five years of archery experience including competitive archery experience. Master Coach Candidates must be ACI Certified for a least one year prior to the Master Coach certification. Membership in NFAA, successful completion of a background screening and completion of anti-harassment training such as the USOC
“SafeSport” programs are required for Master Coach Certification.
· Certification of Master Coaches will be granted by NFAA Headquarters. Documentation of successful completion of the certification requirements must be provided by the course presenter team to the NFAA Headquarters Office.
· New Master Coaches will have a one-year probationary period, during which time their performance may be monitored.
· Course Cost: Varies depending on the presenters’ fees and travel cost, and if required, fees for approved guest expert presenters and the cost of materials and facilities.
· Master Coach Certification is valid for 10 years; however, a current successful background screening is required to maintain certification. Master Coaches may need to renew their background screening to maintain certification.
· The primary purpose of the Master Coach course is to raise the level of knowledge, coaching skill and proficiency to the level that prepares the Master Coach to coach archers at the highest level and to pass on that knowledge, skill and proficiency to future coaches and instructors. Master Coaches are certified to present ACI training and to certify Advance Certified Instructors.
· To reach National Level II, the Master Coach must teach 100 students; to reach National Level III, the Master Coach must teach 250 students; to reach Professional Level IV, the Master Coach must teach 500 students.
Re-Certification of NFAA Advanced Certified Instructors and Master Coaches:
Advanced Certified Instructors and Master Coaches will maintain their certification for ten years following certification as long as their NFA membership remains current. Lapse of NFAA membership will cause the loss of instructor/coach certification. Re-certification will be managed by the NFAA Certified Instructor Committee through the NFAA Headquarters Office.
Advance Certified Instructor:
· Advanced Certified Instructor may re-certify by auditing an Advanced Certified Instructor Course at the reduced fee of $50.00 ($20.00 to the NFAA for record keeping), or by applying to the Certified Instructor Committee for recertification and paying a $20.00 re-certification fee, providing that they have been active instructors/coaches during their certification period.
· Re-certification will not be unreasonably withheld.
Master Coach:
· Master Coaches may re-certify by auditing a NFAA Master Coach Course at the reduced fee of $100.00 ($30.00 to the NFAA for record keeping), or by applying to the Certified Instructor Committee for recertification and paying a $30.00 re-certification fee, providing that they have been active coaches during their certification period.
· Re-certification will not be unreasonably withheld.
Re-certification after NFAA membership lapse:
If at any time an individual lets his/her NFAA membership expire, his/her certification as a Certified Instructor or Master Coach will also expire, and re-certification will be required. To re-certify his/her Instructor or Coach certification, the individual must first renew his/her NFAA membership and follow the re-certification process as described above.
2014: Certified Instructor and Master Coach Certification Requirements:
The certification of all NFAA Advanced Certified Instructors and Master Coaches received after February 1994 and prior to January 2014 will expire 10 years from the date of issuance. Advanced Certified Instructors and Master Coaches certified prior to February 1994 shall retain their certification for as long a they remain NFAA members; however, to receive instructor/coach insurance coverage, those instructors, coaches will need a successful background screening and to complete anti-harassment training such as the USOC “SafeSport” program.