More Than a Team. A Standard.
Sarasota Archery Academy exists for one reason: to develop archers who are prepared to compete at the highest level and carry the discipline this sport demands into every part of their lives.
Sarasota Archery Academy was co-founded in 2024 by Rob Gilbert and Chad Henderson, both USA Archery Level 3 NTS-certified coaches. The academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 41-3616783) with four volunteer coaches: Rob Gilbert (Head Coach, Level 3), Chad Henderson (Co-Founder, Level 3), Scott Reed (Level 2), and Tristan Towers (Level 2, national-level competitor). 100% of program funds support the athletes — no coach draws a salary.
The Story Behind the Academy
Rob Gilbert picked up a bow at age nine. By age eleven, he put it down — not because he wanted to, but because he had no real training. Without proper instruction, he developed habits that led to injuries, and without anyone to course-correct him, he walked away from a sport he loved. That experience stayed with him.
In 2019, a hunting opportunity brought him back to archery. This time he was determined to do it right. He sought out real training — through YouTube, local coaches, anyone who could teach him what he never had as a kid. What he found in that process lit something in him. He saw firsthand what proper instruction does for an archer. And he understood, in a way only someone who had been through the alternative could, how much damage the absence of that instruction causes.
When his own kids developed the same competitive fire in 2021, Rob’s direction shifted toward tournament archery. He immersed himself in the competitive side of the sport — the coaching systems, the formats, the development pipeline. After years of building toward something real, he and Chad Henderson formally co-founded Sarasota Archery Academy in 2024 after a lot of prayer — with a commitment that no archer who came through their program would ever experience what Rob experienced as a child. No athlete would be left to figure it out alone. No bad habits would go unaddressed. No one would walk away from this sport because they weren’t taught properly.
That is still the heartbeat of this program. Four coaches. All volunteers. Every archer developed the right way from day one.
Our Mission
Sarasota Archery Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on the belief that competitive archery builds more than skill — it builds character. Our mission is to provide youth and adult archers in the Sarasota area with structured competitive training, meaningful tournament experience, and a team environment that demands their best.
We are not a recreational program. We are a competitive team. Every training session has purpose. Every athlete has a development plan. Every tournament is an opportunity to measure progress and raise the standard.
We run two competitive programs: the X-Ring Program, focused on USA Archery target disciplines, and the Upper 12’s Program, dedicated to ASA 3D archery and the pursuit of Shooter of the Year rankings. Both programs train on Mondays and Thursdays, 5:00–8:00 p.m., with athletes choosing the path that matches their competitive goals.
The Academy operates independently as a nonprofit — and we take that seriously. Every dollar donated or collected through memberships goes directly back into the program. All four of our coaches donate their time and expertise. No one draws a salary. Every member of our coaching staff volunteers because they are invested in these athletes and this sport. Donations are tax-deductible, and they fund equipment, facility costs, and program operations. That is it. No overhead. No payroll. Just archery.
Core Values
Discipline First
Archery rewards consistency, not shortcuts. We train our athletes to trust the process — show up, put in the reps, refine the details, and let the results follow.
Competitive Mindset
We prepare athletes for the pressure of competition, not just the comfort of practice. Mental toughness, shot routine, and composure under scoring conditions are trained, not assumed.
Team Over Ego
Archery may be an individual sport, but our team makes each athlete better. We push each other, celebrate each other, and hold each other accountable. Nobody rises alone.
Precision in Everything
From equipment setup to shot execution, we don’t tolerate “close enough.” The same precision that puts arrows in the middle of the target applies to how we run this program.
Development Over Results
Trophies follow growth. We measure success by an athlete’s trajectory — are they improving, adapting, and building skills that compound over time? Scores are the scoreboard, not the goal.
Integrity Always
We score honestly, we compete fairly, and we represent our team and our sport with respect. The character our athletes show on the range matters as much as the arrows they shoot.
Coaching Philosophy
Competition-ready form is not built in a weekend. It is built through structured, progressive training that addresses every dimension of the competitive archer: physical mechanics, shot process consistency, mental game, and equipment management.
Our coaching approach is built on the USA Archery National Training System — an 11-position, biomechanics-based shot sequence designed to produce repeatable, pressure-resistant form. We layer shot process training on top of that foundation: pre-shot routine, subconscious execution, and systematic remediation for issues like target panic. When both layers are solid, we add competitive application — timed ends, simulated tournament pressure, and discipline-specific preparation for USA Archery and ASA 3D formats.
Every athlete on this team has an individualized development plan. We track progress through scoring data, video analysis, and coaching notes. Training is adjusted based on what the data shows, not what feels good.
Want to go deeper? Read our full coaching methodology →
Coaching Staff
Rob Gilbert
Rob started archery at age nine and quit at eleven — not by choice, but because a lack of proper training led to injuries that forced him out of the sport. He carried that experience for years. In 2019 a hunting opportunity brought him back, and this time he was relentless about finding real instruction: YouTube, local coaches, anyone who could teach him what he never had. What he discovered changed the direction of his life. In 2024 he co-founded Sarasota Archery Academy alongside Chad Henderson with one core conviction: no archer who comes through this program will ever go through what he went through. Rob holds USA Archery Level 3 NTS certification and directs both the X-Ring and Upper 12’s programs, from foundational mechanics through national-level competition preparation.
Chad Henderson
Chad co-founded Sarasota Archery Academy alongside Rob Gilbert with a shared vision: a competitive program built on principle rather than politics. As a USA Archery Level 3 certified coach, Chad is the team’s most detail-oriented trainer. He prefers working one-on-one, diagnosing exactly what each athlete needs and delivering precise, individualized correction. His technical depth and patient coaching approach have helped archers at every stage of development sharpen their form and find consistency under pressure.
Scott Reed
Scott has a genuine heart for foundational teaching — the kind that gets new and young archers started the right way. His coaching focus is the early stages of an archer’s development: building the habits, mechanics, and mindset that everything else is stacked on top of. Scott understands that the foundation determines the ceiling, and he takes that responsibility seriously. He volunteers his time to SAA because he believes in what this program stands for.
Tristan Towers
Tristan competes at the national level — and that experience in the arena is exactly what he brings to the coaching line. His path to instruction was a natural one: a national-level competitor who felt the pull to invest in the next generation of serious archers. Tristan knows firsthand what it takes to perform when the pressure is highest, and he coaches from that place — with the credibility of someone who has stood on the line and delivered.
Our Facility
Sarasota Archery Academy trains at a dedicated facility in Sarasota, Florida. Our setup accommodates both indoor and outdoor training distances, giving athletes the ability to prepare for any tournament format they will face in competition — from USA Archery’s indoor 18-meter 3-spot rounds to outdoor 720-round formats and ASA 3D courses.
All team practices are held Mondays and Thursdays, 5:00–8:00 p.m. The facility is equipped for individual practice, group training sessions, and simulated competition scenarios. Training is structured around the competitive season calendar so athletes peak at the right times throughout the year.
Our Sponsors
Sarasota Archery Academy is supported by organizations and businesses that share our commitment to competitive archery and athlete development.
Presenting Sponsor: The Outdoor Group
Industry Partners: Elite Archery • CBE • Altra Arrows • Scott Archery • Vortex Optics
Community Partners: MDRN Capital • DadVantage Men’s Health
Interested in sponsoring SAA? Learn about sponsorship opportunities →
501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status
Sarasota Archery Academy, Inc. is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our EIN is 41-3616783.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Every dollar goes directly into the program — equipment, facility costs, and operations. All four of our coaches donate their time. No one draws a salary. When you support this Academy, you can be certain your investment lands exactly where it belongs: on the athletes.
Want to Be Part of This?
Whether you are an athlete looking to compete, a parent exploring team options, or a supporter who believes in what we are building — there is a place for you.