Archery is the skill of shooting arrows at a target using a bow, traditionally made out of a curved piece of wood with a string attached to the ends. Archery is thought to date back over 100,000 years when it was used for combat and hunting.
What do you need to consider when choosing an archery coach for your child?
The Grand National Archery Society (GNAS) is now known as ArcheryGB and is the governing body for the sport in Great Britain.
Those interested in archery will not face a formal grading scheme. However, ability levels will be reflected in the level of competition that your child may wish to undertake.
For those that are really interested in archery, they may wish to get the necessary qualifications to become a coach themselves.
The following are awarded from GNAS:
Level 1 – can help run a beginners course.
Level 2 – can run a beginners course and support level 1 coaches.
Level 3 – County Archery coaching qualification.
Level 4 – Senior Archery coaching qualification.
The main skills your child will pick up from practicing archery are discipline, independence and maturity. This is due to the dangerous and individual nature of the sport. Your child will also develop their focus, concentration and hand-eye coordination, especially with depth of vision. The intricate details of the sport also develop your child’s fine motor skills and the constant lifting and pulling will develop arm strength.
By joining an archery club a child can also enjoy the social side of the sport which provides them with plenty of opportunities to make a new circle of friends.
Alison Williamson (born November 3, 1971 ) is a well-known archer for Team GB. She has competed in 5 Olympics games since 1992, winning a bronze medal in Athens 2004.
William Tell – The legend goes that all the occupants of Tell’s village were ruled by a horrible invader who ordered all the villagers to bow down to his hat which he had placed on top of a pole. Tell, after refusing to bow down to his invader’s hat was given two options; the execution of him and his son, or he would have to shoot an apple off his son’s head. Tell was able to split the apple in half in one shot.
Fred Bear (1902 –1988) was a latecomer to the activity, taking up bow-hunting at the age of 29. However he is now widely recognised as a pioneer for the sport. There is a museum in his name and he has been inducted to the archery hall of fame.
Katniss Everdeen – The protagonist of the Hunger Games trilogy shows the young girl using her bow and arrows for real life survival. Not only does this include the competition but you see her using it for hunting food and for self-defence.
The bow and arrow was the weapon of choice for Robin Hood, whose mission it was to make income and taxing fairer amongst the villagers around Sherwood Forest. A story tells of the time where, in a competition to win a kiss from Maid Marian, Robin’s competitor had got a perfect bull’s-eye, with one shot left from Robin himself. He shot the arrow in another perfect bulls eye, splitting the previous arrow into two pieces.
Archery and Your Child.
I was always interested in trying Archery as a child but unfortunately the opportunity didn’t come up until I was a little older. I had been given a bow but had no idea how to use it so I went along for lessons with a friend. It was a bit intimidating because most of others seemed to know what they were doing and were brushing up on existing skills and meanwhile we didn’t know the first thing about archery. But we learnt a lot and it wasn’t long before we were enjoying some occasional success! It was great fun at the time but, as many hobbies do, it fell by the wayside in favour of the next great idea.