Most people want to know at the start what the steps are and what costs are involved. Archery is not expensive when compared with most sports but there is some cost. Assuming you are not an archer, lets take it in easy stages
In 3 x 3 hour sessions., 9 hrs total, you learn basic shooting skills to give you some good habits and to make sure that you don't hurt yourself or anyone else.
No membership fee
No target fee
No insurance fee
No special clothes
No equipment to buy.
Cost of the course
Basic Archery Skills Course (full course of 3 sessions).
Seniors (18 years and above): £40.00
Juniors: £20.00 (under 16’s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, the
parent or guardian does not have to do the course).
The Basic Archery Skills Course lasts three sessions, during that time you shoot at the Club under the Club Insurance. The insurance lasts only for the three sessions, after that you will only be insured and able to shoot if you join the club.
We will not turn you into an expert archer in three sessions, we will teach you to shoot safely and to master the basic shooting techniques. Archery is potentially very dangerous. Despite this, there are very few archery shooting accidents. - this is due in no small part to the emphasis we put on Safety. Safety has to be taught as a good habit from the very start.
You will be taught about equipment, technique, etiquette and different kinds of archery. We teach you what the equipment is called, how it goes together, how it comes apart and how to use it. We teach you warm up exercises so that you do not 'pull something'.
What to wear.
Please wear clothing which allows you to move easily and comfortably but no
loose baggy sleeves or fronts which will catch the bow string. Wear comfortable
foot wear (not open toed sandals), remove all jewellery.
Training Schedule
First session:
Talking about safety, what the equipment is for, what is it called, what it
does, how it goes together, and comes apart, safety rules, safety signals,
safety equipment, arrow length, controlling eye, tab and bracer, wrist sling,
hands, shoulders, warm up exercises, how to aim, how to draw, how to shoot bare
bow, collecting and carrying arrows, shooting practice.
Break 15 min - bow type demonstration by club member.
First session pt2: Field captain, shooting line, whistle signals, FAST, arrow length, warm ups, the take down bow, setting up, taking down, shooting practice with sights, sight setting, technique, standing position, head position, reference point, bow hand position, bow arm position, what we will be doing next week.
Second session: Setting up the field, revise safety rules, revise setting up/taking down of bow, revise glossary, revise setting sights, warm ups, shooting practice, ends and rounds, scoring, etiquette.
Break 15 min - bow type demonstration by club member.
Second session pt2: revise posture and head position, ends, rounds, practice shooting, issue score sheets, revise scoring, score all arrows shot for rest of session, students score each other as though at competition, issue membership application forms and shooting rules, what we will be doing next week.
Third session pt1: Revise setting up the field and bow, safety, posture, scoring, give rules for two / three dozen beginner round, issue score sheets, team up with target partners, shoot the round under competition rules.
Break 15 min - bow type demonstration by club member.
Third session pt2: Information about buying equipment, archery suppliers, club competitions, MMAC website, suggested reading, Gnas membership benefits. Club days information. Fun shooting. Presentation of certificates of proficiency, collect membership applications - these may be Emailed out.
If at any time you hear something that you do not understand or you think is unclear, - Please Ask.
For more information on beginners courses, please contact MMAC
You have finished your course and received a Certificate of Proficiency. You can apply to join this Club or another club.
Your fees will comprise of a Club Membership, Archery GB membership and regional affiliations (seniors) which are paid separately.
Junior membership of Archery GB is paid by the club.
Archery GB are our insurers as well as being the Olympic and governing body of archery in the UK. The fee covers insurance at all Archery GB clubs and competitions in the United Kingdom and also entitles members to the help, support and guidance of Archery qualified Club, County and Regional Coaching.
Annual Club Membership goes towards paying club costs such as rents, equipment, equipment insurance and day-to-day running of the club
Cost of Club Membership
Annual Club Membership: £40.00 (seniors)
£20.00 (juniors)
This will be reduced pro-rata if joining part way through the year (fees are due in April)
Archery GB Membership – (mandatory)
This is £35 per year for seniors and £9 regional affiliations (£44 total) in 2011/12. The club pays a block fee for junior membership. Archery GB fees are due by 1st October. The fees are reduced pro rata quarterly.
Now that you are a member of the club you pay a 'Target Fee' each time you shoot. Later, you can, if you wish, get free coaching from Nationally Qualified Coaches and take part in Inter-club, County, Regional and even National competitions and tournaments. By shooting and scoring rounds you can get a handicap and, take part in competitions, first at the club and later at other clubs and tournaments.
Let's assume that you are now 'hooked' on archery. Where do you go from here? Before buying your own equipment consider the following. You will get stronger and increase the strength and size of equipment you need. There are several types of archery. You might try another type later on and find you prefer something which uses different equipment.
You can hire the club bows and equipment per session after you have been accepted as an Club and Archery GB member.
We do encourage you to buy;
There are also optional items which some archers use, for example;
As a guide, a Beginners Bow with a wooden riser, can be bought new from around £50. A complete Starter Kit, (Bow, Eight Arrows, Sight, String, Stringer, Bracer, Tab and Quiver) will normally cost about £150 upwards new depending on specification.
There is usually plenty of used archery equipment around. Talk to the coaches, Instructors and experienced members. They will give you advice and may even visit the archery shops with you.
Don't forget that, when you have outgrown your beginners bow, you can sell it on to someone else in the club or trade it in for the next object of your desire.