Hosting a Tournament Can Boost Foot Traffic

Partner with an Organization

Partnering with an archery organization is beneficial, especially when hosting your first tournament. Organization representatives can provide you with rules and regulations, advice and guidance along the way.

“Any shop that is licensed with the National Field Archery Association can host a sanctioned tournament,” said Erika Jones, the outreach project manager at NFAA. “The support provided by the NFAA for hosting sanctioned tournaments depends on the event. In the past, we have provided rebates for registered archers, target faces, scorecards and more for virtual events.”

By partnering with an official organization, you agree to host the tournament based on that organization’s rules. This is beneficial as it can attract archers who seek out these events, but it also means you’ll need to be prepared to understand the required target size, how to score each target, range layout and more.

To start, learn more about these national organizations by visiting:

• USA Archery
• World Archery
• NFAA
• S3DA
• ASA
• IBO

Analyze Your Resources

“Hosting events is a great way to bring new and existing archers into your storefront, and advertising for the event in your community even brings awareness of your offerings to potential customers,” Jones said.

Hosting a tournament brings in money, but you will also need to spend money to make that happen. Before committing to the size and type of event, take a look at your resources. It’s also important to address your goals.

“Is your goal to make money, drive sales, attract new customers, increase brand awareness, provide a fun opportunity for community members or a combination of the above?” asks ATA’s Event Planning Workbook.

Understanding your “why” will help you take the next steps, like considering your capacity. If hosting an indoor event, how many archers can you accommodate comfortably in the shop and range? Is there a nearby outdoor venue that would be suitable? You will also need to make sure your range size follows the organization’s regulations. Also, consider different divisions, such as youth shooters or varying equipment that may shoot from a different distance. Any adjustments to the range will take time to execute.

Understanding your capacity limitations will guide you in setting limits on the number of participants. Capping the number may be necessary but can ensure a smooth shoot. It also allows for a safe and stress-free experience for everyone.

Consider the costs associated with the size of the event. You might need to buy permits, trophies, scorecards, targets and target faces, as well as print flyers/invitations and hire judges. You might also have to pay a fee if you work with an organization. The Event Planning Workbook has a sample budget guide that can help.

Calculating the costs will allow you to set an appropriate registration fee. Smaller competitions typically cost less for participants than larger events that require more resources. It’s never a bad idea to do a price check with other area competitions to make sure your fee is comparable. Also, check with organizations to see what they recommend or if there are rules for what can be charged.

You’ll also want to start looking for volunteers. USA Archery recommends speaking with club leaders, coaches, judges and parents. However, be sure to do this early because people have busy schedules.