COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The USA Archery Level 4 Coach Certification has continued to grow and adapt, meeting the needs of today’s athletes and coaches. The course now blends a deep dive into the National Training System (NTS 2.0) with the real-world application of modern coaching strategies.
This intensive Zoom-based program offers a mix of whole-group instruction and small-group learning, giving coaches a chance to build both technical skill and practical “how-to-coach” tools. One of the 36 Level 4 candidates described the 2025 course as “well-constructed and wildly informative,” adding that it provided “a clear, systematic, and approachable framework that I can apply across all archery disciplines,” and reinforced “the importance of an athlete-centered approach to coaching.”
Another candidate echoed this, noting how Level 4 “blends structure with a culture of caring and curiosity.”
The curriculum is demanding by design. It helps coaches better understand and apply motor learning and sport psychology concepts, making the content relevant for everyone from brand-new archers to those competing at the highest levels. In addition to the largest Level 4 cohort in years, we also welcomed 20 Level 4 and higher coaches as auditors who joined the course to further develop their own coaching.
Despite the time commitment, the shared enthusiasm for learning was clear. One coach shared, “I feel like my world as a coach has dramatically expanded, and I am even more excited to learn more about how to be a better coach.” Another simply wrote, “I loved growing as a coach!”
The practical course requires a significant investment of time and focus, with twice-weekly large-group sessions and twice-weekly breakout sessions led by experienced facilitators. Coaches consistently described these sessions as highly engaging. One commented that they were “incredibly engaging, well run, and embodied the spirit of coaching that this course is about.”
Throughout the course, candidates work on projects such as NTS slide decks and weekly Shot Cards - key tools for exploring both the physical and technical sides of the shot cycle. This hands-on approach helps coaches leave the program more confident, prepared, and grounded in a clear understanding of how to help athletes improve.
Earning the Level 4 certification confirms that a coach is prepared to develop athletes for national and international competition. To pass, candidates must complete both a written online exam and a demanding Practical Assessment. This assessment evaluates technical NTS knowledge along with a coach’s ability to apply the Athlete-Centered Coaching Model, develop individualized training plans, and use a constraints-led approach in designing practice sessions.
Ultimately, Certification recognizes coaches who can combine detailed NTS 2.0 knowledge with advanced coaching skills - hallmarks of leaders in the USA Archery coaching community.
This year’s course would not have been possible without the dedication of the Level 4 Facilitators. Linda Beck, LaNola Shepherd, Richard Burkett (Trainwreck), Rob Balbuena, Chad Jones, and Education Manager Kyle Bissell provided more than 48 hours of mentoring, feedback, and guided instruction.
USA Archery Education Manager, Kyle Bissell, shared, “I consistently see the Level 4 Facilitator Team simultaneously hold candidates accountable for high standards while also respecting and valuing each learner for where they are in the coach development journey. Without these characteristics, the experience and outcomes would be very different. I’m incredibly grateful and lucky to work with such professional facilitators.”
Candidates felt the same. One wrote, “Having the level of quality from the instructors for both the group and breakout rooms was amazing. We don’t often get the chance to have such a wealth of resources.”
This was also the first year incorporating USA Archery’s new online preparatory course for candidates, and facilitators continue to look for ways to refine and strengthen the program.
Level 4 Facilitator Chad Jones captured the spirit of the course well: “Level 4 continues to evolve, and this year felt like a meaningful step forward, shaped by thoughtful experimentation, reflection, and a shared commitment to learning.”
If you’re interested in becoming a Level 4 candidate in 2026, please review the prerequisites HERE. Level 3 Coaches can begin the Level 4 Online Course at any time, as long as they enroll in the Practical Course within 12 months.
Registration for Level 4 2026 will open in early June. If you have questions about certification, please contact [email protected].
< Back to All News
