Students, parents, and coaches will be sporting their team colors, with archery bags in tow as they file into Louisville's Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC), for the 2016 National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) National Tournament.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2263657.jpg> J.R. Absher, The Archery Wire

The highly anticipated tournament will be held on May 12-14, and this year, like every one since 2007, will prove record breaking with nearly 14,000 student archers expected to attend. Students will journey from nearly all 47 participating NASP® states and Washington DC.

To participate in Nationals, student archers will have advanced through their respective regional and or state tournaments. Most who participate will have qualified on a 12-24-person team. However, any of the top 10 boys and girls in each of the Elementary, Middle, and High School divisions who don't come with a team is also invited to represent their school as individuals. Only students whose schools are enrolled in and offer NASP® archery classes as part of the school curriculum may participate in NASP® events.

With the extraordinary amount of students, parents, and coaches that will be in attendance, one might wonder how they will all fit into an indoor range! If you have been at this facility before, you already know, during this event the KEC plays host to the largest indoor range in the world at 1,350 feet long. This allows 540 students in each of the 27 hour-long "flights" to compete. That's a whole lot of space for these eager archers, and one of the reasons these events are held in Louisville.

http://www.theoutdoorwire.com/image_archive/2263659.jpg> J.R. Absher, The Archery Wire

Students coming to the NASP® nationals are also welcome to register and participate in three concurrent events; the NASP® IBO 3D Challenge, Centershot Ministry's National (New), and the Olympic Archery in the Schools championship. Pre-registration is required and ongoing for all the competitions. NASP® National registration for qualified teams and individuals begins on April 11 and concludes, April 15 at midnight EST. Finally, registration for the 3D Challenge and Centershot Ministries will be just one week later, April 18-April 22. All students wanting to participate must preregister. Pre-registration and registration access is available at www.nasptournaments.org

At this year's Nationals, NASP® will be recognizing the winning individuals of six new On Target For Life Awards - capturing positive attributes from those that participate in the program, as well as announcing the results of a random drawing from all registered students achieving NASP® Academic Archer status. Winners will win a free Genesis bow and Easton Arrows.

Both award presentations will take place immediately following the last flight of the day, and prior to the National Tournament Awards.

Whether you are a student competing, a coach offering positive advice, or a parent cheering for their archer, there is something for everyone at a NASP® tournament including vendors from all over the US. So come and be witness to the world's largest archery tournament!

For more information please visit www.naspschools.org.