Foley is preparing to welcome over 400 collegiate archers from across the nation as it hosts the 10th edition of the HotelPlanner USA Archery Collegiate 3D Nationals. Scheduled for October 15–17, 2026, the three-day championship will take place at the Graham Creek Interpretive Center within the Graham Creek Nature Preserve, with final rounds concluding at the Foley Event Center. The national tournament is hosted by USA Archery in partnership with the Archery Shooters Association (ASA).
The return of the national championship highlights the rapid growth of competitive archery across both youth and collegiate ranks. Student-athletes are traveling from as far west as California and as far north as New York, representing institutions across states such as Michigan, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Missouri.
According to USA Archery CEO Rod Menzer, the collegiate program has seen an influx of top-tier talent, including archers who have earned medals in international competitions. The collegiate ranks draw directly from a growing grassroots foundation in youth shooting sports. Programs like the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) draw roughly 2,000 student archers to state-level championships alone. To support this surging interest, Alabama now boasts 20 dedicated archery parks—more than any other state in the nation.
Foley has established itself as a premier national hub for competitive archery. ASA President Josh Grine highlighted Foley as the association’s premier event site, citing the quality of facilities at Graham Creek Nature Preserve and the Foley Event Center, as well as strong community support from local businesses and hospitality partners.
Reflecting the strength of this partnership, ASA and Foley Sports Tourism recently finalized a five-year contract extension to keep major ASA events in Foley through 2031. The economic impact of these tournaments is substantial; past archery events in Foley earned a Sports Destination Management Champions of Economic Impact Award after generating $1.7 million in local economic activity and filling over 2,300 hotel room nights.
David Thompson, Executive Director of City of Foley Leisure Services, emphasized the unique nature of the collegiate championship. Unlike individual-focused Pro/Am events, the collegiate tournament emphasizes head-to-head team dynamics and camaraderie, offering student-athletes a memorable experience on a national stage.
Tournament Structure & DisciplinesThe competition features four primary archery disciplines:
- Barebow recurve
- Compound
- Fixed pins
- Recurve
Preliminary outdoor rounds will take place on the target ranges at Graham Creek Nature Preserve, while the final shootdowns, awards ceremony, and Saturday evening banquet will be held at the Foley Event Center.Registration & Eligibility Requirements
- Registration Deadline: October 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time.
- Entry Fee: $150 per archer (includes lunch on Thursday and Friday, plus a ticket to the Saturday evening banquet). Refunds (minus processing fees) are available for cancellations made prior to the October 9 deadline.
- Membership & Club Rules: Participants must hold an active Individual USA Archery Collegiate, Adult, or Family Membership. University team members must belong to a recognized USA Archery Collegiate Archery Program Club in good standing. Unaffiliated individual archers may enter; however, if three or more archers enter from the same institution, they are required to establish an official collegiate club prior to registering.
- Documentation: Competitors must have a valid 2026–27 Collegiate Eligibility certificate on file with USA Archery, and participating schools must submit an official Eligibility Form before competing.
On-Site Equipment SalesDuring the tournament, the Archery Shooters Association will offer on-site target sales (payable by cash or check):
- Individual 3D Targets: $250
- Target Cores: $50
- Range Bags: $30 each, or four for $100
For individual target sales, contact Ken White at 404-569-7901. For full- or half-range orders and pre-payments, contact the ASA office at 770-795-0232.Additional InformationFor complete event schedules, rules, and updates, visit usarchery.org.
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