WE EXIST TO INSPIRE GROWTH, INCREASE PARTICIPATION, AND PRESERVE THE SPORTS OF ARCHERY AND BOWHUNTING.
This is the mission statement of the Archery Trade Association, and for our organization to achieve that mission, we’ve got to bring together all the players in the industry. While we recognize that product manufacturers and retailers play a major role in getting equipment in the hands of archers and bowhunters, we also value the role of the countless others who guide them along their journey. In many cases, this involves an Archery Service Professional – someone who specializes in offering a service like coaching or bow tuning to help both new and experienced archers get the most out of their abilities and their equipment.
With this in mind, the ATA has created the Archery Service Professional membership category. This exclusive membership opens the door for bow technicians who offer services, certified archery coaches, and others who make a living in the sport of archery to join ATA and take advantage of the organization’s many member benefits. One of the most notable benefits is complimentary admission to the annual ATA Show.
Never been to the ATA Show and wondering what you’ve been missing? The ATA Show gives you access to the products and the people who make the archery industry flourish—all in an exciting and collaborative environment you won’t find anywhere else.
Test new products and talk to the manufacturers. Photo Credit: ATA
Whether you’re making product recommendations for your athletes or determining which bow strings you’ll be primarily installing this year, having all the information is key. As an archery professional, you need to know more than what’s on the packaging or posted on social media. The Show gives you the chance to ask the detailed product questions and get answers from the right people with hundreds of manufacturer exhibitors. This means you can go back to your business with all the information you need to solidify your position as an archery expert in your community. And, of course, there is no substitute for getting your hands on new products and trying them out before you place an order or you’re asked to help an archer with a new setup.
Attend seminars and Coffee Talks to learn from industry professionals. Photo Credit: ATA
The ATA Show is all about learning, and the learning happens in a variety of ways before, during, and after show hours. Before Show hours, attend morning seminars to learn from the experts about coaching tactics and equipment setup that will help you be more effective and efficient in the shop or on the range. If you’ve been working as a professional in the archery world for some time, you may already have your own tried and true methods to getting a perfect tune or helping an archer work through form changes. But taking time to hear thoughts from others gives you the chance to refine your process and, perhaps, the insight to explain things to a customer in clearer terms. Again, this builds customer confidence and opens the door to build better relationships with your archers.
Certifications carry a lot of weight to those looking for an archery pro in their community. While you may have been setting up bows or teaching archers for the last decade, it’s helpful to have the certification to back your experience up. The ATA Show offers industry professionals convenient options to obtain certifications as a coach and bow technician. Both types of certifications have a hybrid format, so you can complete the online work prior to heading to Indy and then knock out the practical portion on your own without any additional travel. We’ve got programs to fit any archery pro’s needs – Level I, Level II, and Level III coaching certifications are offered with an abbreviated practical ideal for coaches with prior experience and the ATA Bow Technician Certification Program offers half-day practicals for compound bows or crossbows right on the ATA Show floor. All of these certifications validate your skills and provide valuable talking points to use when speaking with prospective students and customers.
Have questions about joining the ATA as an Archery Service Professional? Reach out to membership director, Kim Watson, at kimwatson@archerytrade.org or call 507-233-8133.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE INDUSTRY, TO HELP INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES GET THE MOST OUT OF THE INDUSTRY, AND TO HELP YOU.
