Week 1
Note: Come and Try Sessions
“Come and Try” sessions will replicate Week 1 of the four week Beginners Course. Students who enrol in the Come and Try session can choose to upgrade to the Beginners Course and continue with Weeks 2 to 4.
- Process Application Form and Payment
- Prepare and attach Name Tags
- Walk through Sign In / Sign Out procedures (and Sign In - no money required).
- Equipment Fit Out
- Bow
- Finger Tab / Arm Guard
Students enrolled in the four week Beginners Course (only) receive a free arm guard and finger tab from new stock.
- Arrows
Ensure each student has six arrows of proper fit and condition.
- Group Session
- Safety on the Range
- No Running / Horse Play
- Arrow handling
- Arrows in the ground
- Waiting Line / Shooting Line
- Whistle procedures
- No drawing / firing of bows without arrows
- Shooting Technique
Refer to the Archery Australia training documents and ensure the following is covered. Coaches do not have to cover each of the steps separately-
Step 1 – Stance (T Form)
Step 2 - Nocking the Arrow
Step 3 - Drawing Hand
Step 4 - Bow Hand, Bow arm and Pre-draw
Step 5 - Drawing the Bow
Emphasis no high drawing
Group session - Shooting Technique (continued)
Step 6 - Full Draw, Anchor and String Alignment
Step 7 - Holding and Aiming
Step 8 - Releasing
Step 9 - Follow Through
Step 10 - Relaxing and Recovery
- Supervised Instruction - 10 metres
- Shooting (reinforce 10 Steps / T form)
- Removing arrows from Target
- Arrow groupings / sight adjustment
- Eye Dominance
During supervision, look for students who may have a mismatched draw arm and dominant eye. Perform an Eye Dominance test if required and discuss the pros / cons of changing to opposite draw arm and bow.
- Update record sheets
Mark off attendance, RH or LH bow and poundage
- Return Equipment
- Sign Out
Week 2
- Sign In
- Attach name tags
- Equipment Fit Out
- Bow
- Finger Tab / Arm Guard (if not using own)
- Arrows
- Group Session
- Emphasise Correct Grip
- Emphasise correct Anchoring
- Emphasise Release / Follow Through (straight release)
- Emphasise “Opening Up” prior to release
This is the expansion of the shoulder blades just prior and during the release, to prevent forward releases.
- Supervised Instruction - 10 metres
- Shooting
Continue reinforcing the 10 Steps and correct T-form
- Assess / fit students out with heavier poundage bow
Students must demonstrate good technique before moving to a higher poundage
- Assess / move students to 15 metres
Students must be consistently achieving scores higher than 50/60 (i.e., gold/red circles) before considering moving to a longer distance.
- Compound / Long Bow Demonstration
Students will pause supervised instruction for two or three ends while coaches / club members walk through and demonstrate shooting a Compound Bow, Long Bow and/or Horse Back Bow (if available). Students will be advised that they can try different bow types from Week 3.
- Questions and Answers (shooting techniques / tips)
- Return Equipment
- Update record sheets
Mark off attendance.
- Sign Out
Week 3
- Sign In
- Attach Name Tags
- Equipment Fit Out
- Bow
- Finger Tab / Arm Guard
- Arrows (if not using own)
- Group session
- Walk through 10 steps separately
(Refer to Week 1 above for 10 steps)
- Correct sight and string positioning while aiming
- Supervised Instruction – 10/15 metres
Continue reinforcing the 10 Steps and correct T-form
- Introduce 6 arrow scoring
(No score sheets. Teach students to score arrows “in their head” in readiness for score sheets in Week 4.)
- Assess / fit students out with heavier poundage bow
Students must demonstrate good technique before moving to a higher poundage
- Assess / move students to 15/20 metres
Students must be consistently achieving scores higher than 50/60 (i.e., gold/red circles) before considering moving to a longer distance.
- Introduce Compound / Long Bow / Recurve Bows to students
Students should demonstrate good technique before moving to a different bow type
Apply time limits if there is a shortage of bow types
- Questions and Answers (shooting techniques / tips)
Test student’s knowledge of 10 steps
- Return Equipment
- Update record sheets (attendance, RH or LH bow and poundage)
- Sign Out
Week 4
- Sign In
- Attach Name Tags
- Equipment Fit Out
- Bow
- Finger Tab / Arm Guard (if not using own)
- Arrows
- Supervised Instruction – 10/15/20 metres
Continue reinforcing the 10 Steps and correct T-form
- Introduce Score sheets
Score sheet must be filled out completely and correctly. Important for students wishing to join and who may participate in club Round of the day
- Assess / fit students out with heavier poundage bow
Students must demonstrate good technique before moving to a higher poundage
- Assess / move students to 15/20 metres
Students must be consistently achieving scores higher than 50/60 (i.e., gold/red circles) before considering moving to a longer distance.
- Introduce Compound / Long Bow / Recurve Bows to students
Students should demonstrate good technique before moving to a different bow type
Apply time limits if there is a shortage of bow types
- Group Session
- Explain Archery Australia / WCA club membership – Question and Answers
- Explain Saturday Round of the Day, competitions, social events, resources, etc.
- Discuss use of club equipment after completing Beginners Course
- Discuss purchasing of equipment / archery shops – Questions and Answers
- Introduce club members – President, Treasurer, mentors, etc.
- General Questions and answers
- Issue club membership forms
- Return Equipment
- Update record sheets (attendance, RH or LH bow and poundage)
- Issue Completion of Course certificates
Students must have attended all four sessions and demonstrate to coach(s) that he/she is capable of operating on an archery range in a proficient and safe manner.
- Sign Out