A Guide to:

Getting Involved in Archery

Archery GB A Guide to: Getting Involved in Archery

Guide 2 / Updated May, 2012

www.archerygb.org

A beginners guide to Archery

Archery 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 represented Britain 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.

Archery GB A Guide to: Getting Involved in Archery

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 organised and 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.

Archery GB A Guide to: Getting Involved in Archery

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 its much 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.

Archery GB A Guide to: Getting Involved in Archery

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.

Archery GB A Guide to: Getting Involved in Archery

Lilleshall National Sport Centre Newport Shropshire TF10 9AT Tel: 01952 677 888 www.archerygb.org