OTTAWA, ON – Based on performance objectives, Archery Canada has adapted its development programming to develop and invest in young archers, as the organization looks towards future World Championships at both the junior and senior levels. This change in programming will aim to develop archers to achieve success at the World Archery Youth Championships (WAYC), which, based on data, will hopefully translate to comparable success at the Senior World Championships. The program will invest in athletes under the age of 18  years so that they can continue to improve as they age through the WAYC, the World Archery Championships, and eventually the Olympics.

The original Development Squad was initiated after the 2016 Olympics. The primary objective of this program was to identify and develop athletes from across age groups so that they would be competitive and win medals at a Senior World Cup level in the future. It was identified that the program was needed since it became obvious that success at the World Archery Youth Championships translates to future success at the senior level.

The goals of the program, now called the NextGen program, are to improve performances and field a competitive team at the 2023 and 2025 World Archery Youth Championships and generate top 8 finishes at the 2027 edition of the event. It will also aim to prepare athletes that will finish top 8 at senior international events such as World Championships, World Cups, and Olympic Games. 

Ahead of WAYC 2023, the program will provide U21 athletes with structured, high-quality coaching, enhanced with program elements such as camps and competitions. After this year’s event in Ireland, the program will shift focus to the 2025 Youth Championships hosted at home in Winnipeg. 

The NextGen program has been split up into Centralized and Virtual program streams. The Centralized program will consist of athletes based in central Ontario, training out of the Peel Archery Club, Moyer’s Landing in Cambridge, and Shooter’s Choice in a regularly structured environment. The virtual program will encompass athletes based across Canada and their coaches, all of whom will receive virtual coaching and access to in-person training activities. 

Soha Mahmoud, Junior National Recurve Coach, will be at the head of this new programming, training and coaching athletes with her deep knowledge base. 

Archery Canada is looking forward to seeing this new program take off and lead the way for young archers to succeed at international events. 

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For more information, please contact:

Zoe Meil, Communications & Safe Sport Coordinator

zmeil@archerycanada.ca

(613) 260-2113 ext. 3