Basic archery instruction handbook

Since over one million of the 1. You can find a current list of classes and sign up here naspbai. If you do not see a class that meets your needs, you can contact your state coordinator to request training. It is a great idea to train multiple people at a school.

In addition to the teacher s that will be teaching the archery classes in school, you can also train interested parents, coaches, and other faculty at the school. This training will show you how to safely set up the range, teach the program and will answer most of your questions. The cost of the training will vary from state to state. In the main part of the plan, think about what activity you will do and the organisation, safety and learning points required.

Think about how you can ensure everyone is active as often as possible. Space: Think about where you will be positioned so you can see everyone, how much space you have to deliver the session, and where you will keep the equipment during the session. Plan in advance the words you will use to explain the activity so you can be clear and succinct. Use range commands. Ensure equipment is located appropriately. Instruct participants to stay behind the waiting line until you call them to the shooting line.

Call one archer at a time onto the shooting line. Help the archer to load the subsequent arrows. Observe and guide the shooting — focusing on safety requirements rather than perfecting technique. Identify individuals who may need extra help or supervision.

Once you are happy that the archer can complete the routine for themselves, they may progress to free shooting. Call up a small group onto the shooting line no more than two archers per target.

Position yourself behind the archers so that you can see all of them at the same time. Instruct when arrows can be collected and observe carefully. Check clothing, jewellery, medical conditions and injuries. Outline the objectives of the session.

Identify left and right-handed archers, check arrow length and bow size. Bring one participant to the shooting line at a time for three guided arrows. Allow six archers on the shooting line at a time two per target. Participants to shoot 3—6 arrows each. Collect arrows and bring next group of six to the shooting line. Game of Team PBs personal bests — explain game rules clearly. Get into four teams of three, name your team. Each archer takes it in turn to shoot one arrow. After shooting three arrows each, the team with the highest score wins.

Keep track of scores as the game progresses. Ask questions — one thing they learned about archery and one thing they enjoyed. Collect all equipment — count arrows back in to ensure none are left out. This guide explains the correct and safe way to lay out a shooting range for archery and how to manage a group of participants during the activity so that safety is maintained. Learn the key terms and safety rules for operating on an archery range both indoors and outdoors.

The recommended distances for laying out a range for a basic session for beginners are shown in the diagrams on the following pages. Shooting line A visible line on the ground from which shooting takes place towards the targets. Shooting may only take place on the shooting line and not at any other location on a range.

The area on an indoor range behind the backstop netting. Rules for Designing a Safe Archery Range One or more targets are erected and the places where the archers stand and shoot their arrows from are determined. Between the archer and the target is the so-called shooting range. There is a clearly visible straight line on the ground called the shooting line and archers only shoot their arrows standing at this line.

In target archery there is only one shooting line for all archers. In practice, we want to shoot safely on a range that allows more than one archer to shoot close to each other and at the same time.

To design an archery range that makes it possible to conduct archery safely, we have to recognise the following prerequisites:. Archers aim continuously toward their target when drawing their bow. These rules have to be followed at all times and are the precondition for safely practising archery. Outdoor Range Layout Archery activities are often conducted outdoors.

While there is generally more space available, it must be carefully set out and managed to ensure the safety of participants, spectators and others. Overshoot area: The overshoot area, including the shooting distance, needs to be a minimum of metres when shooting a recurve bow.

Side safety areas: The area in front of the shooting line and to the side of the range including the overshoot area. Minimum distances Shooting distance: 10m Overshoot area: m yards Side safety area: 23m 25 yards Between bosses, centre to centre: 2. The overshoot area is an essential safety requirement that needs to be implemented when laying out a shooting range. The usual advantage of an indoor venue is the protection of the participants from poor weather conditions.

Where there is not enough clear land behind the target line for the required overshoot distance, a natural earth bank or wall may be used. Backstop netting. It is essential that arrows cannot pass through the barrier and that the barrier is high and wide enough. The barrier must be wider than the targets by at least 23 metres 25 yards or wrapped around the shooting area to prevent escape of arrows. Download the Rules of Shooting from www. Minimum distances Shooting distance: 10m On an indoor range, the waiting line may be reduced to 3m from the shooting line as long as there is unobstructed access.

Typical Hazards There are common hazards to consider when setting out an indoor range. Remember to check for any additional hazards that may be unique to the venue. Other activities: Never shoot towards another activity and ensure that no other activity is conducted adjacent to the archery range.

Doors: It is safest for the range to be positioned with entrances behind the shooting line. If this is not possible, any door that enters into the room must have a warning sign displayed on its outside. Above you can see a range set out with backstop netting that is too short.

Netting should reach further above the targets and go to ground level, be loose not taut, and extend beyond the sides of the outermost bosses.

There should be a minimum of 1 metre between the back wall and netting. Practical advice: The waiting and spectator lines are not always practical. There must be adequate distance behind the shooting line for the safe movement of archers. If there is limited space, spectators should be kept outside the range area. Electrics: Protect sockets and light switches that are behind the targets or close to the targets.

Windows: Protect windows behind or near the targets using backstop netting. Ensure there is space between the netting and the window approximately 1 metre.

The area behind the targets shall be protected so that it cannot be entered. It is recommended that targets are set up near a wall or other solid barrier of at least 4 metres in height.

Backstop netting may be used to protect the wall and any windows or other vulnerable items. Never rely on backstop netting to stop arrows. Under no circumstances should there be any human activity taking place behind the target area, even if backstop netting is being used. Always be vigilant where the public might gain access by ignoring warning signs or from underneath the netting. Access to the range must only be possible from behind the shooting line.

Any other access should be locked during practice. There must be access to all emergency exits, but if some are in front of the shooting line entrance into the hall, these must be restricted.

There should be no windows or glass in the wall behind the target line that can be hit by an arrow that misses the target. A standard warning sign consists of a yellow background with black wording and sometimes includes a clear visual diagram.

Position warning signs at all public access points around the shooting area, including outside emergency exits, so that entry is not possible without seeing one.

Backstop Netting Backstop nets are used to stop arrows as best as possible, and protect buildings and the arrow from being damaged. Backstop nets are not used to protect people.

No net manufacturer will guarantee against an arrow passing through. Netting must not inhibit the use of emergency exits.

For safety, specialist archery backstop netting is required to be used indoors and is advantageous outdoors. This must be 3 metres high and hung from a steel cable headline. The netting must span more than the width of the shooting area. Nets should never be hung taut but be gathered loosely. It must not be possible for anyone to get behind the netting while shooting is in progress. A boss: Tightly packed foam blocks or wound straw bosses designed to stop arrows safely.

Bosses are placed on a stand, leaning back at 15o. Any bolts are not loose, and there are no wood fragments or splinters. Any retaining roles on the legs are in place. Check the surface and ensure it is tight enough to withstand arrows.

If using a straw target, check that the correct side of the boss is being used. Only one side of a straw target can be used. Check the rope is long enough to extend from either side of the boss to the ground, centrally behind the target legs.

Two people to lift and carry the bosses never roll circular straw bosses. Use another person to steady the stand while bosses are lifted into place. Lift with a straight back and bent knees. One person can set the ropes in place. Larger metal or wooden pegs are needed to hold into the ground, and a hammer may be needed. The stand is placed securely with the legs correctly positioned and linked so that they cannot splay or slip.

At least two people are needed to lift the target boss onto the stand. Bosses are heavy and need to be lifted with care. Guy ropes are used outdoors to secure the boss and stand to the ground. Guy ropes can be attached to the targets in many ways. A safe way is to screw small rings into the back of the target and attach guy ropes to a karabiner, which then simply clips into the rings. If the range is indoors, check that the backstop netting is positioned and secured correctly.

Set out the target stands. From the stands, measure back and mark out your shooting and waiting lines. For outdoor ranges, to make sure you have enough overshoot area, mark where all of the lines including the target line will be before putting any guides or ropes down. Check that the warning signs are in place. Place the bosses on to the stands.

Make sure there is enough space between and around the targets so that the shooting line will not be crowded and there is room to get behind the targets to retrieve arrows. Duties of the field captain 2. Shooting procedures 3. Range commands. Remember to reinforce these guidelines throughout the session.

Explain to participants the rules of the range, what the designated lines and areas mean and what procedures for shooting they need to follow. Ensure the range is safe to use: — Check any ropes and guides set for the shooting and waiting line to make sure they are safe and unlikely to cause any trips. Control when shooting takes place and when arrows are collected. Be the last to return to the shooting line after collecting arrows.

Check that there is no-one left behind the targets, and when all is safe give the signal for shooting to commence. Ensure that you can see the entire shooting line at all times. Explain to participants the range layout, including the waiting, shooting and target lines. All participants to stand behind the waiting line when they are not shooting.

A command is given to permit a selected archer or a group of archers to advance to the shooting line and commence shooting. When an archer has shot their allotted number of arrows, they must return back behind the waiting line. A command may be given to permit participants to collect their arrows.

Shooting equipment should be placed away from the shooting line when it is not in use. Always leave walkways through the equipment area to allow easy passage for the archers to get through. Participants must always: stay behind the waiting line until a command is given to commence shooting only load or shoot a bow from the shooting line only direct a loaded bow towards the target return to the waiting line after they have completed shooting stay behind the shooting line until a command is given to collect the arrows move to the targets at a calm walking speed and as a single group to collect arrows.

There should be no more than six participants on the shooting line, and no more than two participants per target. Who is in charge. Designated areas. When and where shooting takes place. How arrows will be collected. We are the voice of archery in BC. Cowichan Bowmen Archery Club Archers shoot year round, and practice and compete in indoor and outdoor target shoots, attend 3D competitions, shoot in our Winter League Field Shoots, and hunt, using all types of bows including traditional long bows, recurve bows, and compound bows.

Coaching Videos from Great Britain This series of videos introduces coaches working with intermediate archers to specific techniques, drills and skills to help archers shoot from a better position of strength, alignment and posture.

Archery Resources. Arrow Buyers Guide. Archery Lessons and Programs for New Archers. Ways to Have Fun with Your Bow. Many sports require big initial investments to even try them. But shooting your first arrow is easy. Archery shops are hubs for archery knowledge, equipment repairs, and everything you need to get started. Most shops offer lessons. Building a relationship with a shop is important.

You need an expert to set it up to fit you. You can find a nearby archery shop with a quick internet search, or just use our store locator by clicking here. Once you find a shop, ask about lessons and programs.

Many shops rent bows you can use for lessons. Find an archery shop that offers lessons. Go with a group of friends or take a private lesson. Photo Credit: X10 Archery. A minute one-on-one lesson is a great introduction. As you progress, you might want to extend your lessons to one hour.

Group lessons are a fun option for trying archery. Shops offer beginner group lessons for adults and youths. Another way to try archery is through a program.

Wear closed-toed shoes like sneakers. If your lesson is outdoors, dress for the weather but avoid baggy clothes that can catch the bowstring. If you have long hair, wear it in a ponytail or pull it away from your face. The difficulty comes in selecting the right type of bow.

Much depends on your needs and tastes. Some people choose bow styles based on what looks cool. The medal around your neck represents years of hard work and sacrifice, but earning this amazing moment was worth it. Recurve shooting is a fantastic, challenging discipline, and Olympic archery combines exercise and mental discipline.

These bows can be used for 3D, target, indoor and field archery. In outdoor target tournaments, including the Olympics, adults shoot targets at 70 meters. To shoot that far accurately, your Olympic bow needs different accessories than those used on other recurves. Olympic recurves have three main pieces: a riser and two limbs. The bow disassembles for customization and transportation. When archers release the bowstring, the limbs snap forward, propelling the arrow to the target.

These stabilizers help archers steady the bow for precise aiming. Its other accessories are a sight, clicker and arrow rest. Your target is 50 meters away. You dial your sight to the exact distance and prepare to shoot. At full draw, you can see the target in crisp detail through your magnified scope. If you love precision marksmanship, consider a compound bow. These bows can be incredibly accurate. You can shoot compounds for recreation, competition or bowhunting. Different compound bows have different uses.

Target compound bows have one job: accuracy. They provide excellent shooting experiences. You can trick them out and accessorize them for maximum accuracy. Their target accessories include long stabilizers and finely adjustable magnified sights. Their accessories are usually more durable to withstand outdoor hazards.

If you like recreational archery, you have your choice of compounds. You can even custom-design your bow. You have your bow in hand and a quiver of arrows.