US Collegiate Archery has announced that on December 5, its Executive Council voted to extend the organization’s eligibility period from four years to five. The vote, which passed with an overwhelming majority, means the new eligibility rule will be effective as of May 2009. If an athlete has used four years of eligibility prior to May 2009, they are not eligible for the additional year.

The goal of the new rule was to reach out to students who otherwise might be discouraged from continuing with archery if they are taking an extra year to finish school, or starting in a graduate program, explains Lorretta Sinclair, Program Director for US Collegiate Archery. “We want to continue to reach out to as many college archers as possible. Our goal is to bridge the gap between youth archery programs and adulthood, and we feel strongly that adding an additional year of eligibility will encourage archers to stay involved in the sport.”

College archers with questions about this or any other eligibility issue are encouraged to contact Chadrick Mansfield, Membership Manager for US Collegiate Archery.