Venice is not a town that settles for average athletics. Venice High School is ranked the #1 high school for athletes in all of Sarasota County — with 28 varsity sports programs and a state championship record that includes football titles in 2000, 2017, and 2021; baseball championships in 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2019; and volleyball state titles in 1998, 2005, 2012, 2014, and 2018. That’s not a fluke — that’s a community culture that takes competitive athletics seriously, invests in its athletes, and expects results.
There is no competitive, tryout-based archery team within Venice city limits or South Sarasota County. Sarasota Archery Academy in Sarasota — approximately 20 miles north — is the closest competitive program, fielding athletes in USA Archery and ASA 3D circuits at the Florida state level. Venice-area athletes are actively recruited and trained by the team.
Venice is not a town that settles for average athletics. Venice High School is ranked the #1 high school for athletes in all of Sarasota County — with 28 varsity sports programs and a state championship record that includes football titles in 2000, 2017, and 2021; baseball championships in 2007, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, and 2019; and volleyball state titles in 1998, 2005, 2012, 2014, and 2018. That’s not a fluke — that’s a community culture that takes competitive athletics seriously, invests in its athletes, and expects results.
The youth sports infrastructure in Venice reflects that same standard. The Wellfield — Venice’s primary youth athletics complex — hosts organized youth programs across football, soccer, baseball, softball, and tennis year-round. Sarasota County operates 89 athletic fields county-wide, and Venice families have access to some of the most competitive youth programming in southwest Florida. The culture here is: if you’re going to play, play to win.
What Venice doesn’t have is competitive archery. There are recreational ranges and casual programs in the broader area, but no competitive, tryout-based archery team operating at the Florida state level. That gap is what Sarasota Archery Academy fills — and the 20-mile drive up US-41 or I-75 to our Sarasota facility is the bridge between Venice’s athletic culture and state-level archery competition.
Venice has grown 19% in population over the last five years. New families are arriving constantly, many of them drawn by the community’s reputation for quality schools and strong youth programs. Those families are looking for programs that match their expectations — serious coaching, structured training, and real competitive outcomes. That’s exactly what we provide.
Sarasota Archery Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit competitive archery team based in Sarasota, Florida, serving athletes from Venice, Nokomis, Osprey, Englewood, North Port, and throughout South Sarasota County. We field athletes in two competitive programs: the X-Ring Program (USA Archery indoor and outdoor target competition) and the Upper 12’s Program (ASA 3D field archery). Both programs compete at the Florida state level.
Our coaching staff is entirely volunteer — four USA Archery certified coaches, including Head Coach Rob Gilbert who holds a Level 3 NTS (National Training System) certification, the highest coaching credential in USA Archery. NTS is the same biomechanics-based coaching framework used to develop USA Archery’s national and Olympic competitors. You will not find this level of technical coaching at any recreational archery program in the Venice or South Sarasota County area.
Because we are a nonprofit with an all-volunteer staff, every dollar from membership goes into the program — equipment, facility, tournament travel — not salaries. For Venice families who are used to investing in quality youth athletics, the combination of elite coaching and nonprofit pricing is unusual. We exist to develop athletes, not to turn a profit. Practice runs Mondays and Thursdays, 5:00–8:00 PM. The drive from Venice takes 20–25 minutes depending on where in Venice you’re coming from.
USA Archery target — indoor 18-meter 3-spot, outdoor 720-round. Athletes compete at Florida state, regional, and national USA Archery events through JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development).
ASA 3D field archery — Florida state qualifiers, the Florida ASA State Championship in Palatka, national ASA Pro/Am events. Shooter of the Year pursuit for serious 3D competitors.
SAA is about 20 miles north in Sarasota at 7524 Castle Dr. Drive time from Venice is roughly 25 to 35 minutes via I-75 or US-41.
Yes. SAA holds tryouts year-round for archers ages 6 and up. No prior archery experience required.
X-Ring (USA Archery) is $200/month. Upper 12 (ASA 3D) is $300/month. SAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; 100 percent of fees go to athlete development.
There are recreational archery options in the Venice area, but SAA is the nearest tryout-based, state-and-national-level competitive team with USA Archery Level 3 NTS-certified coaching.
Two: USA Archery indoor 18-meter and outdoor 720-round (X-Ring program), plus ASA 3D field archery (Upper 12 program). Athletes can pursue one or both.
There is no competitive, tryout-based archery team within Venice city limits or South Sarasota County. Sarasota Archery Academy in Sarasota — approximately 20 miles north — is the closest competitive program, fielding athletes in USA Archery and ASA 3D circuits at the Florida state level. Venice-area athletes are actively recruited and trained by the team.
Sarasota Archery Academy's training facility is approximately 20 miles north of Venice — a 20 to 25 minute drive on US-41 or I-75 with no toll roads. Nokomis and Osprey are closer; North Port athletes are typically 25–35 minutes away. The team regularly trains athletes from throughout the South Sarasota County corridor.
Sarasota Archery Academy is the only competitive youth archery team in the Venice and South Sarasota County area. The academy offers two programs: the X-Ring Program (USA Archery indoor and outdoor target competition, $200/month) and the Upper 12's Program (ASA 3D field archery, $300/month). Both compete at the Florida state level with Level 3 NTS-certified coaching.
Athletes drive in from across the region. Find your city's page for local details.
Year-round training in Sarasota. Tryout-based admission. All skill levels welcome.