The largest youth archery competition in Alabama, the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Alabama State Championship, will be held Thursday and Friday, April 9–10, 2026, at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, 220 Hall St., Montgomery, Alabama. The media and public are invited to attend.
This year’s event will feature nearly 2,000 student archers in Grades 4–12 from schools across the state, all of whom earned the opportunity to compete in the state championship after advancing from one of eight regional qualifying tournaments.
These students will compete for the title of state champion and the opportunity to advance to the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) Eastern National Championship on May 7–9, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. The first flight of arrows begins at noon on Thursday, April 9, and an awards ceremony will take place after the last flight on Friday, April 10.
The public is encouraged to attend and enjoy the many fun activities planned for the event. During the awards ceremony, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will be awarding up to $16,000 in scholarships to select archers. Additionally, the University of Montevallo will award scholarships to the top high school male and female archers. There is no entry fee to attend.
The NASP in Alabama is a joint venture between ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division and the Alabama Department of Education. The program uses the lifelong skill of archery to teach discipline, responsibility, and teamwork as part of a school’s physical education course or after-school program. Scoring is based on international-style, target archery in three divisions — elementary, middle, and high school — and competition occurs on both team and individual levels.
The state championship would not be possible without the generous sponsorships of the Alabama Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Alabama Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Bowhunters of Alabama, and the Alabama Conservation Enforcement Officers Association.
For more information about NASP in Alabama, contact Sergeant Katie Burks at (334) 242-3620 or katie.burks@dcnr.alabama.gov. Learn more about the state championship at www.outdooralabama.com/archeryschools/nasp-alabama-state-championship.
