ASA 3D Archery in Florida — Compete at the State Level
Shooter of the Year Rankings. Florida State Championship. Real Competition.
Sarasota Archery Academy’s Upper 12’s Program trains and fields ASA 3D archers competing in the Florida circuit — including state qualifiers and the Florida ASA State Championship. Based in Sarasota, Florida, drawing athletes from across southwest Florida.
Sarasota Archery Academy’s Upper 12’s Program is one of Florida’s competitive ASA 3D youth archery programs, based in Sarasota and serving southwest Florida. Athletes train year-round and compete in 4 Florida ASA state qualifiers plus the Florida ASA State Championship in Palatka, pursuing Shooter of the Year rankings. Practice is Mondays and Thursdays, 5:00–8:00 PM. Monthly investment: $300. Open to ages 8 and up.
What Is ASA 3D Archery?
The ASA Format
ASA 3D archery—sanctioned by the Archery Shooters Association (ASA), headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia—is a competitive field archery discipline that uses foam animal targets positioned at unmarked distances on outdoor courses. Archers walk a course, face foam silhouettes of wildlife (deer, elk, boar, and other animals), and shoot from varied terrain and angles. Unlike indoor target archery, 3D events test judgment, fieldcraft, and adaptability in real-world shooting conditions.
The ASA is a national organization with regional circuits. Florida’s ASA 3D community is active and competitive, hosting multiple qualifier events throughout the season that feed into the Florida ASA State Championship. The format appeals to hunters transitioning into competitive sport, youth archers seeking an outdoor challenge, and any archer who wants to move beyond the predictability of marked-distance target ranges. For a deeper primer on the discipline itself, see our guide: what is 3D archery?
Unmarked Distances: The Key Challenge
The defining feature of ASA 3D is that target distances are not marked. Archers must estimate yardage visually—a skill that mirrors hunting conditions and creates legitimate competitive variation. A shot at an animal 25 yards away is fundamentally different from a 35-yard shot. This yardage judgment separates 3D archery from USA Archery target competitions, where distances are known and constant.
Scoring in ASA uses a 12-ring system (10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, and a 12-ring “dot” in the center of the vital zone). The highest-scoring zone—the 12-ring—is narrow and demands precision. Hitting the 12-ring consistently is the aspiration of every serious 3D archer, which is why Sarasota Archery Academy named its competitive program the “Upper 12’s.”
How the ASA Circuit Works
The ASA operates a Pro/Am tournament series. Throughout the competition season, local and regional “qualifier” events are held where archers compete, earn points, and build standings toward Shooter of the Year rankings. The top archers from these qualifiers advance to major championship events. In Florida, this culminates in the Florida ASA State Championship—typically held in Palatka—where the state’s best 3D archers compete for state-level titles in their respective divisions (youth, young adult, adult).
Top competitors at the state level can qualify for national ASA events, such as the ASA Pro/Am Championships held in Foley, Alabama. This structure gives athletes a clear pathway: train locally, compete in state qualifiers, pursue Shooter of the Year recognition, and aim for the state championship.
How the Florida ASA 3D Circuit Works
Florida hosts multiple ASA 3D qualifier events each year, feeding into the Florida State Championship. Here’s how the competitive season is structured.
State Qualifiers
Multiple events are held around Florida each season, including the Ocala, Lakeland, Tampa area, and other southwest Florida locations. Archers earn points and build their Shooter of the Year rankings through these qualifier events. Each tournament is an opportunity to score points toward the year-end standings and earn qualification to state-level competition.
Florida ASA State Championship
The Florida ASA State Championship is held annually in Palatka, Florida—the premier event on the Florida ASA calendar. Athletes who accumulate points through the circuit compete for state-level titles in their respective divisions. The State Championship represents the culmination of the Florida season and is the benchmark event every serious Florida 3D archer targets.
National ASA Events
The ASA Pro/Am series includes national-level events where top Florida archers can compete against the best in the country. The annual ASA Pro/Am Championship in Foley, Alabama is the pinnacle of ASA competition. Athletes who excel at the state level have the pathway to qualify for and compete at national events, representing Florida against elite archers nationwide.
Key Facts About ASA 3D Archery in Florida
The Upper 12’s: Our ASA 3D Competitive Program
Named for the pursuit of the 12-ring — ASA 3D’s highest-scoring zone — the Upper 12’s program is built for archers who want to compete seriously in Florida’s 3D archery circuit.
What Is the Upper 12’s Program?
The Upper 12’s is Sarasota Archery Academy’s competitive ASA 3D archery program. We train archers 8 and up who are serious about competing in the Florida ASA circuit. Athletes attend twice-weekly structured practice sessions (Mondays and Thursdays, 5–8 PM in Sarasota) where they develop the skills, judgment, and consistency that ASA 3D demands.
Our program philosophy centers on athlete development and real competitive opportunity. You’re not just practicing—you’re training for Florida qualifier events, pursuing Shooter of the Year rankings, and targeting the Florida ASA State Championship in Palatka. Our coaching staff includes Level 3 and Level 2 USA Archery certified coaches with deep field archery experience. Rob Gilbert serves as head coach (Level 3 NTS), supported by Chad Henderson, Scott Reed, and Tristan Towers (all Level 2 certified).
Sarasota Archery Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with an all-volunteer coaching staff. That structure means more resources flow directly to athlete development, better facilities utilization, and genuine community focus. You’re joining a team, not just signing up for a service.
The Upper 12’s monthly investment is $300, which covers coaching, team affiliation, and access to our practice facility. Athletes compete through the Florida ASA circuit at their own expense (entry fees and travel), but the training foundation we provide ensures you’re ready to succeed at every event. For a full breakdown of program fees, equipment, tournament travel, and how Upper 12’s compares to other youth archery paths, see our competitive archery cost guide. For help choosing the right bow and arrows to start, our archery equipment consultation walks you through it.
If you want to learn ASA 3D archery, build competitive confidence, earn points in the Shooter of the Year rankings, and potentially earn a spot on our team at the Florida State Championship, the Upper 12’s is the program for you. We’re located in Sarasota and draw athletes from across southwest Florida, including Bradenton, Venice, Lakewood Ranch, and North Port.
Program Specs
ASA 3D Archery Training in Southwest Florida
Sarasota Archery Academy serves archers from Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Lakewood Ranch, North Port, and throughout southwest Florida. Our practice facility is located in Sarasota, and we welcome competitive archers of all backgrounds who want to train for ASA 3D competition in Florida.
If you are looking for ASA 3D archery coaching, expert field archery training, or a competitive 3D archery team in the Sarasota or Bradenton area, we invite you to reach out. Contact us to learn about the Upper 12’s program and how to join.
ASA 3D Archery in Florida — Questions & Answers
Join the Upper 12’s Program — Train for the Florida State Championship
Sarasota Archery Academy trains ASA 3D archers from Sarasota, Bradenton, and throughout southwest Florida. We provide expert coaching, structured practice, and a pathway to Florida’s competitive archery circuit. Whether you’re new to 3D archery or an experienced field archer, the Upper 12’s program is built to help you compete at your best.