GEORGETOWN

Talk to educators involved in teaching the discipline of archery to students, and chances are you’ll discover a common thread: This activity affords kids who might not otherwise participate in sports the opportunity to compete.

Talk to Deb Thibodeau, co-coach of the archery program at Georgetown Central School, and she’ll emphasize something else. Archery is, indeed, a discipline, and safety is of utmost importance.

“Kids who play by the rules in class get in,” Thibodeau said Tuesday, as Georgetown hosted Great Salt Bay Community School of Damariscotta in competition. “We think it really reflects on academics. It motivates kids to think about a different area of athletics. There is great discipline. Safety is paramount.”

Jerome Richard, state coordinator of the National Archery in The Schools program, said that kids often left out of the social loop benefit. High-risk children, and even some who have handicaps, benefit.

“Not every kid is going to be able to play football or basketball,” said Richard, who arranges grants for equipment. “These are a lot of kids who can’t play other sports. When you get these kids shooting, they open right up. Everywhere we go, the kids love it. The biggest problem is getting funding for the equipment.”

Pete Lamarre of West Bath, worked with the state Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to help start the schools program five years ago.

The Maine Bowhunters Association is also a key partner.

Lamarre concurs with Richard on the opportunity that archery presents.

“A Phippsburg girl told me a couple of years ago she had finally found something she can compete in,” said Lamarre, who teaches archery at LL Bean. “It’s so much fun watching a child develop these skills.”

It so happens that Georgetown Central students Reid Barabe and Jack McDiarmid do play other sports. But Barabe, McDaniel and the other 11 Georgetown Central students who compete in the activity were all about the archery on Tuesday.

“I signed up immediately,” said McDiarmid, 11, who is in the program for a third year. “It was fun doing it on the Wii, then Mrs. Thibodeau informed me of the program. I wanted to try it for real — like, pull back on a real bow.”

But what’s so fun about archery?

“You can use your mind,” McDiarmid said. “You rely on smarts. The stronger the bow, the lower you have to aim.”

Barabe, 10, is in archery for the second year. He had shot an arrow only once before.

“My friends were into it,” Barabe explained. “I was pretty good that one time, and I wanted to work on it. I’m really competitive.”

Thibodeau and the school’s co-coach, Pete McDaniel, helped students from both schools set up the equipment for Tuesday’s competition. From five stations, students shot arrows across the gym at five low-lying targets, backed by a curtain.

Allen Goodwin, safety officer and instructor, advised the students of the five whistles: 1, clear to fire; 2, go get arrows; 3, stop everything and release bow.

While dozens of students watched the competition, the gym was perfectly quiet as the students went to the stations. Another example of the discipline involved.

Lamarre, who owns Bow String Guide Service, worked with Thibodeau to start the Georgetown Central program.

“She and two others went to initial training in Rangeley,” Lamarre said. “Georgetown Central got a $3,000 packet of training equipment. The program has really blossomed.”

Lamarre said that Jason Carter, a physical education instructor, is heading up an archery program in West Bath and in Brunswick. Mary McCauley is doing the same in Phippsburg, Lamarre said.

“One of the nice things about it,” Lamarre said, “is it puts boys, girls and even some physically-challenged students on an even playing field.”