About Ithaca Archery

We Are:

Ithaca Archery is a unified community of dedicated, and collaborative coaches and archers.

USA Archery Adult Achievement and Junior Olympic Archery Development Affiliated. Once archers commit to our Program, they must join USA Archery.

We are committed to:

  • Innovation – Using new and cross disciplinary ideas and methods to teach and learn.
  • Contemplation – Deep practice to organize movement in meaningful and effective ways demonstrating competence with consistency and precision.
  • Curiosity and exploration – Desire and initiative lead to mastery.

The purpose and vision of our range is guided by research-based coaching methods combined with the collective experience of our members all of which informs our training protocol and approach to competition.

In the words of one of our archers

“In the end, it is what is in our hearts that sustains us, helps our mindset, and, coupled with the joy, the commitment, and of course, the fantastic people and teammates with whom we share this discipline and its ups and downs – it is a portrait of moments and arrows, smiles and tears, jelly beans and conversation, and determination to learn from this event and make better the next.” (Jenni Kivisild – Level 4 NTS Coach and Gator Cup Gold Medal Finalist 2022)

Our Values, Vision, and Purpose:

Our Values

  • Unity
  • Community
  • Creativity

Our Vision

  • To collaboratively foster a group of curious archers in an innovative and thoughtful community that values one another and the collective pursuit of mastery and balance in the sport of archery.

Our Purpose

  • Advance an environment that supports our vision and values; always striving to maximize the intersection between our resources, community, and contribution to the sport of archery.

How it Works

 Our program begins with a four-week introductory period in which we assess your skill development and alignment with our program. Alignment is a critical component to success at every level, and we want you to feel aligned with our community as well as with our expectations. This is a time for you to evaluate us as much as for us to evaluate you.

We are looking for the following characteristics in our archers:

  • Commitment
    • Commitment to our mission and goals through regular attendance at coaching sessions
  • Proficiency
    • Proficiency through practice at least once a week as a beginner and minimum twice a week to gain mastery. Practice guidelines are best determined in consultation with your coach.
  • Autonomy
    • Autonomy in owning your own equipment when your coach feels the time is right and based on their advice on the type of equipment appropriate for your level and aspirations. Owning equipment is an important step once an archer begins unsupervised practice.

How we do it

Archery is a form sport. We teach the movements and positions that facilitate stable and still shot execution. Our best approach is one on one coaching with one or two archers at a time. We meet for one hour once a week.

  • Our late beginner archers combine weekly coaching with practice.
  • Intermediate to advanced archers combine coaching with focused training sessions modeled after competition standards and technique.

Our Coaching Philosophy is based on:

  • Ongoing professional development and attention to research-based pedagogy.
  • Adherence to the principles of the National Training System – the shot cycle developed by USA Olympic Archery Head Coach, Kisik Lee.

 Please contact us for information about joining our coaching program.

ABOUT COACH RENDLEMAN

Charles Rendleman is a certified USA Archery Level 4 NTS coach, teaching the National Training System developed by Olympic Head Coach Kisik Lee — a shooting form that relies on alignment, skeletal stability, and mental management. Level 4 coaches are certified by Coach Lee at the Olympic Training Center, receiving guidance on coaching techniques (including Safe Sport certification) and undergoing background screening.

Prior to relocating to Ithaca, Coach Rendleman taught at The Archery Program at the Bull Run Shooting Center in Fairfax, Virginia, working with Olympian Ruth Rowe. While at The Archery Program, he developed a series of classes (now called Learn to Shoot) that help students quickly learn the basics of archery and NTS.