2023 GAA Newsletter (January)
Thank you Ryals Family
As GAA transitions to the new officers, we would like to thank Rhonda Shaner Ryals and George Ryals for their many years of service with the Georgia Archery Association. Rhonda and George have committed their knowledge, skills, and time to so many in the archery community. Without their dedication, GAA would not be where it is today. Thank you Ryals family for everything you have done for GAA.
New 2023 GAA Officers
GAA President - Bobby Slaton, Jr
Bobby has been involved in archery for over 15 years. He started in archery because of his children, and eventually, as they grew up, he became a coach of his own archery team. He is currently the director and head coach of the MWS Smashing Arrows Archery Club in Middle Georgia and holds a level 4 NTS Archer Instructor/Coach & Level 3 NTS Coach Trainer. Bobby is very passionate about archery and is looking forward to the future of archery with the Georgia Archery Association.
GAA Vice President - Thadrick Heaney
Thadrick is the head Coach of the South Georgia JOAD, coach of the Lowndes County 4-H Archery team, and coach for the Southeast region RED Team. He’s a certified Level 2, USA Archery Judge, and one of the originals members of the CJDT He is also one of the first graduating members of the team. He is looking forward to helping grow the sport in the state of Georgia.
GAA Secretary - Cassy Pelton
Cassy began her archery career in 2009. She shoots Olympic Recurve and represented Team USA in the World Archery Championships in Ankara, Turkey in 2016. She is a USA Archery Level 4 NTS Coach and Level 2 Judge. Cassy is currently the Head Archery Coach at the Shooting Sports Education Center on Georgia Southern's Statesboro campus. She is the Head Coach for Eagle Creek Archery and Southern Eagles Archery. She also coaches for RED Team Southeast. Cassy is very passionate about youth development and seeing the sport we all love continue to grow. Here's to another great season!
2023- GAA 25 Meter State
Indoor Championship Results
UPCOMING COMPETITION DATES
The GAA competition dates for 2023 are listed below. Competition dates will not be able to be paid for until 45 days, or thereabouts, before the date of the competition. GAA will send out notices on various sites once registration is open.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message us via the Georgia Archery Association Facebook page or email address listed above.
More USA Archery competition dates are available at the Find an Event link shown below:
Find an Event - USA Archery (usarchery.org)
January
11th-13th Trade Show | Archery Trade Association
26th – 29th Lancaster Archery Classic
February
2nd-5th The Vegas Shoot
11th-12th 2023 GAA State and JOAD Indoor Championship - USA Archery (usarchery.org)
USA Archery Indoor Nationals is not being hosted by any Georgia Club in 2023. You can visit the USA Archery Event page for other hosting venues. The new officers are looking for a venue to host Nationals in 2024.
23rd-26th ASA Pro/AM (Foley, Alabama)
March
3rd-5th S3DA Indoor Nationals (Owensboro, KY)
4th–5th GBAA State 5 Spot (Statesboro, GA)
11th ACE 3D Shoot (Social Circle, GA)
17th - 5th Annual Doughnut Challenge (Explorers, barebow recurve, &Barebow compound only) (Dublin, GA) (Smashing Arrows)
18th - 5th Annual Doughnut Challenge fundraiser (Compound, Recurve, barebow) (Dublin, GA) (Smashing Arrows)
24th-26th NFAA Indoor Nationals (Louisville, KY)
31st-2nd ASA PRO/AM Russell Co, AL)
April
31st -2nd ASA PRO/AM (Russell Co, AL)
15th - ACE 3D Shoot (Social Circle, GA)
15th -16th Arizona Cup | Arizona's Premiere Archery Tournament (Phoenix, AZ)
15th-16th NFAA 1 Arrow 3D Nationals
22nd-23rd GBAA Spring Turkey 3d (Appling, GA)
23rd - 3D Through the Woods (Acworth, GA/Kennesaw Archery Club)
27th–29th ASA PRO/Am (Minden, LA)
May
5th–6th NFAA Marked 3D (Redding, CA)
12th –14th Gator Cup (Newberry, FL)
18th -21st Collegiate Target Nationals (Statesboro, GA)
20th -21st GBAA State Target (Social Circle, GA)
21st - 3D Through the Woods (Acworth, GA/Kennesaw Archery Club)
June
1st–4th ASA Pro/Am (London, KY)
3rd–4th GAA GA Cup (ALC Snellville, GA)
9th–11th Easton Foundation Socal Showdown (Chula Vista, CA)
9th -11th GBAA State Field (Savannah, GA)
15th –18th S3DA 3D Nationals (Rend Lake, IL)
25th-3D Through the Woods (Acworth, GA/Kennesaw Archery Club)
29th–2nd ASA Pro/Am(Metropolis, IL)
July
8th GAA Joad State Outdoor Championship (MWS Smashing Arrows/Dublin, GA)
12th -16th JOAD Target Nationals (Des Moines, IA)
28th -30th Buckeye Classic(Dublin, OH)
September
2nd GAA State Outdoor Championship (MWS Smashing Arrows/Dublin, GA)
October
7th 2023 GAA State Field Championship (Kennesaw Archery/Acworth, GA)
If you see any corrections to any of the competition information, feel free to email GAA at info@gaarchery.org and in the message. state where you see the error.
This GAA Calendar will be updated throughout the year.
Many of the GAA events are still tentative.
Are you new to archery and want to know what to do next?
Below are a few things to help you on your new archery adventure.
1. Click on the link to find a club near you. Find a Club - USA Archery (usarchery.org) The site will ask you for your zip code to locate clubs in your area.
2. Georgia has a wide range of clubs to try. You enter your zip code into the USA archery link above and try out a club or two, or three, or four. You get the point. Every club has its own unique characteristics, whether large or small.
4. Become a member of a club. GAA does not govern archery clubs or memberships in Georgia (Do your research). You’ll know when you’ve picked the right one.
5. Practice hard at your new craft. There is so much to learn and so much to do.
6. Enter a GAA competition. GAA Competitions are listed above and on the USA archery website. At each competition, you’ll get to compete against other archers in your age division, meet other archers, some maybe perhaps a little younger or older. Gain the experiences of a lifetime. Some of the best memories are made at GAA archery competitions.
And above all, just enjoy the sport. We cannot wait to see you on the line.
Georgia Team Highlights
In 2023, GAA would like to highlight the various GAA member teams, right here on our GAA Newsletter page.
This is not an advertisement to gain students, or funds, instead it is a platform to introduce your team to the archery community and share your positive message about your team.
What do you have to do to highlight your team?
Step 1: Join USA Archery as a club and be in good standings.
Step 2: Your coach or representative must attend two GAA board meetings, which gives you voting rights.
Step 3: Complete the questionnaire.
Highlighted GAA Member Team QUESTIONAIRE
Name of Club.
Age group of archers:
Location: (Archery Address)
Type of archery: Compound, Recurve, barebow, etc
Practice Days and times.
Website or Facebook information.
To be successful, there must be a sense of trust within the team. Therefore, the Georgia Team Highlight should answer the below questions.
As a coach, what values do you teach your team?
Highlights should include, mentoring, motivation, good sportsmanship, etc.
Add a coach picture and a team picture.
“The best teams encourage one another, strengthen one another, and learn from one another”.
GAA RECORDS BROKEN
(Nov 2022 - Dec 2023)
FIRST GAA Record Breaker of the New Year.
(Nov 2022 - Dec 2023)
Archers Name and picture: Briana Moore
Date: December 10th, 2022
Event Name: GAA State 25 Meter Indoor Championship
Division: Female Compound (under 18)
Club Name: Archery Learning Center
A little about Briana’s record.
Briana broke the GAA State 25 Meter Indoor Championship record back in 2021, with a score of 575. 25 meters.
Then on December 10, 2022, she broke her own record with a score of 582.25. Her score has been submitted to USA Archery. At this time her score is considered an unofficial record until it is certified by USA Archery.
Congratulations, Briana
Your name could be NEXT.
We will add all record breakers throughout the year HERE.
(Nov 2022 - Dec 2023)
GAA Member Clubs
(Awaiting photos from GAA Member Coaches)
GAA & USA Archery Quick Links Page
GAA Quick Links
GAA Facebook Page: georgia archery association - Search Results | Facebook
GAA Website: Georgia Archery Association (gaarchery.org)
USA Archery Quick Links
USA Archery Home Page: USA Archery (usarchery.org)
USA Archery Sport 80 Login: USA Archery | Login (sport80.com)
USA Archery Membership Page: Become a Member - USA Archery (usarchery.org)
USA Archery Find a Coach: Find a Coach - USA Archery (usarchery.org)
USA Archery Find an Event: Find an Event - USA Archery (usarchery.org)
USA Archery SafeSport: SafeSport - USA Archery (usarchery.org)
GAA is a volunteer organization that strives to do its best for the archers in Georgia. There are a lot of long nights worked by officers and volunteers to put on an archery meet, keep up with social media sites, answer questions via email, all to keep GAA running smoothly.
When you get a chance, let GAA officers and volunteers know what a great job that they are doing,
It means a lot to know that their hard work is appreciated.
If you see any corrections to any of the above information, feel free to email GAA at info@gaarchery.org and in the message, state that you see a correction in the Newsletter. Also inform us of which Newsletter month, article, and page.