getting started in archery

7/29/2019 getting started in archery

1/6

Archery GB A Guide to: Getting Involved in ArcheryGuide 2 / Updated May, 2012 www.archerygb.org

Getting Involved

in Archery

A Guide to:


2/6

Archery GB A Guide to: Getting Involved in Archery

A beginners guide to ArcheryArchery is a sport where

competitors use bows to

shoot arrows at a target. It is

an Olympic sport that has

been enjoyed throughout

the ages and since 1988,

British archers have won 10

medals at the Olympic

Games. Alison Williamson,

who won a bronze at Athens

in 2004, has representedBritain at the last five

Olympic Games. Team GB

has also won 23 Paralympic

medals since 1980, including

four in Beijing.

Forms of Archery

Target Archery is the current Olympic form of the sport. This popular form of archery

takes place on flat terrain and consists of shooting a given number of arrows, known as a

round, at targets over distances of up to 100 yards for men and 80 yards for women.

Juniors have their own special shorter distances depending on age. Indoor archery with its

smaller target faces and closer distances is very popular during the winter months.

Field Archery - takes place on a course of targets set out in rough country (often

woodland). The shooting distances are frequently unmarked so that archers have to rely on

judgement and instinct, particularly if they elect to shoot without sighting aids or with the

traditional longbow.

Clout Archery - Similar to target, except that the archer attempts to drop arrows at long

range (180 yards for the men and 140 yards for women) into a series of circular scoring

zones on the ground surrounding a marker flag.

Flight Archery - A form of archery that can only take place where space permits since

archers compete by shooting for sheer distance.


3/6


How do I get involved?

Anyone interested in taking up archery can contact their local club, by using Archery GBs

Club Finder. With over 1,100 clubs in the UK, there will be one not too far away. Some clubs

specialise in particular types of archery such as 'Target' or Field and many have access to

indoor facilities over the winter season for practising and shooting in competition at closer

distances.

Another way is to look to have an archery experience as part of a holiday or leisure break,

or to experience archery through a "come and try" at places like game fairs or county

shows. A come and try is often run by a local club and they will also be able to give

information on the club and how to join.

Instruction

In order to join an archery

club typically you are

asked to take part in

beginners course run by

the club. This usually

consists of four to six

introductory lessons,

covering a basic

understanding of

technique and disciplines

for shooting in safety and

with relative accuracy.

Courses will be organisedand supervised by

experience archers and

could be in or outdoors.

Archery GBs insurance covers beginners for the first six lessons that they receive at a club

but if they wish to continue shooting after that, they must become members of Archery GB

and/or a club. The cost of a beginners course varies from club to club and costs start from

around 30.


4/6


What equipment will I use?

Clubs will provide all equipment for the

beginners course and may lend

equipment for up to 3 months after

joining. Most archers choose to shoot the

Recurve bow, the modern version of the

traditional Longbow (which still has its

admirers in club archery).

Rapid technological developments over

the last few years have led to an

increasing popularity with the

'Compound' bow, distinguished by itsmuch shorter length, pulley wheels,

cables and telescopic sights.

Although wooden arrows are still shot by longbow archers most are produced from

aluminium, carbon or a combination of both. They are extremely light and vary

considerably in price depending on their toughness or durability.

Do not spend vast amounts of money when first joining clubs nor purchase equipment from

online auction sites unless you know what you are doing. A club can recommend what

equipment to buy and who to buy from and provide generic advice, which could save you

money.

How much will it cost me?

On joining an archery club, new members pay an annual subscription, which can vary from

club to club. The subscription is paid to the club, county and regional associations, and also

a portion is for the Archery GB affiliation fee. An annual cost of 100 for an adult member is

about average, with reduced fees for juniors. Sometimes a club will offer a reduction for

family membership.

For those entering the sport for the first time, archery equipment can prove expensive, but

as previously mentioned a club will lend equipment for a short time. As a guide, the cost of

basic equipment (bow, arrows, arm guard, finger tab, quiver etc), will be approximately

100-300. Second hand equipment can represent a significant saving but should always be

considered only after an inspection by an experienced archer.


5/6


Do I have to take part in competitions?

There are numerous outdoor and indoor

tournaments throughout the year that an archer

could take part in and they are an important part of

the sport for those of a more competitive nature.

Nevertheless club and recreational archery is just as

important for people who enjoy 'shooting arrows'

with friends, family or colleagues in the familiar

surroundings of their club.

Archery is also one of the few sports that are

enjoyed with few compromises by people with most

types of disability. Special guidance and instruction is available, even for the visually

impaired. It is not uncommon to see disabled archers sometimes in wheelchairs, shooting

alongside their able bodied friends on the same tournament shooting line. You could even

find yourself stood next to an Olympian or Paralympian!

Archery GB

The Grand National Archery Society, or GNAS, was originally founded in 1861 and has since

adopted the trading name Archery GB. Archery GB is the recognised Governing Body for all

forms of archery in the United Kingdom and responsible for approximately 30,000

members across eight Regional Societies.

Archery GB is affiliated to World Archery (formerly called FITA), which has around 140

member associations, and is a member of the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations.

For more information visit www.archerygb.org and click on Get into Archery or Club

Finder.

Archery GB is the trading name of the Grand National Archery Society, a

company limited by guarantee no. 1342150 Registered in England.


6/6

Lilleshall National Sport Centre

Newport

Shropshire

TF10 9AT

Tel: 01952 677 888

www.archerygb.org

Documents

getting started in archery