Beginners Courses for 2013.

Introduction

Courses on how to shoot a bow are open to anyone who wishes to learn.
No matter what age or ability, everyone can learn.
We have children as young as 10 years old, boys and girls, and adults well into retirement years, who all participate in the sport, either socially for exercise or competitively for awards.
It can be a sport for the whole family to enjoy together.
In the sport, we also have disabled persons "Wheelies" competing along side able-bodied archers.

We prefer to teach children who are at least 10 years old. ( Minimum 8 years old for assessment ).
If a child younger than 10 years old wishes to learn, then the Club Coach will assess their strength and co-ordination prior to the course starting, to check if it would be suitable for them to enrol in a course.
We also prefer that at least one parent accompany their children at least for the first lesson.
If a parent also wishes to join in the lesson, they are most welcome.
Everyone attending is fully covered by Archery Australia's public liability insurance policy for the duration of the course and up to a maximum of 4 weeks after the course is completed.

Course Location and Facilities

There is a toilet and washbasin installed in the Clubhouse using water from the rainwater tank.
There is also no town water currently connected in the Park, but we do have drinking water available in portable containers.
We also have a range of cold soft drinks, chocolates and chips for sale from the Clubhouse.
There is also tea and coffee available - just need to boil the jug.

Course Duration

The Beginners Course runs for 4 Saturday afternoons, starting at 1.30 pm and finishing at 4.30pm to 5.00 pm.
The first lesson of the Course requires insurance cover forms to be completed and receipts issued for fees prior to the lesson starting, so please be at the ground by 1.00pm to ensure the paperwork is completed on time.
There is a 15 to 30 minute break at 3.00 pm for afternoon tea.
Cold drinks and snacks are available for purchase.
Cold filtered tap water is available free and drinking cups are provided, as well as tea & coffee for the parents.

If the weather is very windy or it is raining constantly or is extremely hot, then that days lesson may be postponed.
If the Coach decides to postpone the lesson, each person enrolled in the course will be advised by phone that morning.
The course dates will be extended to make up for any lessons postponed due to weather.

Course Fees and Course Bookings

The Course Fee is $90.00 per person, including insurance cover, archery equipment hire, handbook, coaching and certificate.
( The Course Fee is payable on the first day of the course.)

( The Course Fees are subject to review by the Club Committee and may be changed at any time. )

(Refunds of Course Fees will only be given in case of accident or illness that prevents attendance and at the discretion of the Club Committee.)
Due to changes in Public Liability Insurance Cover, every person on the Club grounds, whether shooting or non-shooting, must sign a Temporary Membership Form to be covered by the insurance policy. These forms will be available at the first day of the course.

Other Requirements

All children under 16, not accompanied during lesson time by a parent or guardian, must be signed in by a parent prior to the lesson starting and must be signed out by the parent after the lesson is finished. The parent will be required to leave a contact phone number to comply with the Club's Child Protection Policy.
The one safety rule on clothing is that open-toe sandals, thongs or bare feet are not allowed, due to arrows that may be lodged in the grass, can injure your toes or feet if walked into.
Generally clothing should not be too bulky around the chest and arms so as not to get caught in the bowstring. Similarly, jewellery such as long ear-rings, cheek or lip or nose piercing, necklaces and arm bangles may need to be removed for safety reasons, as well as long hair may need to be tied back.
In sunny weather, a suitable soft-brimmed hat and some sunscreen lotion is recommended.
The drinking of any alcohol prior to or during shooting is strictly not allowed.
Smoking during the lesson time is also not allowed.
Please switch mobile phones off or at least put into silent mode, so as not to disturb the lesson and other Club Members.
If a mobile phone needs to be answered, please do so well away from the shooting line, so as not to disturb other peoples concentration.

If any person has a medical condition that requires medication or has any allergies to food, plants or insects, they should advise the Coach prior to the course starting, so that medical care can be given in case of an emergency.

A person attending the course, who is under 18 years old and is not accompanied by their parent or guardian, must also have a "Consent to Medical Attention Form" completed on the first day of the course and signed by their parent or guardian.

Course Details

The first lesson will introduce beginners to:

• the basic safety rules
• the basic types of bows (longbow, recurve,compound and crossbow)
• bow parts and their names
• the basic types of arrows
• arrow parts and their names
• eye dominance for each person will be checked. (eye dominance controls aiming)
• the 10 basic steps of how to shoot a bow
• each person will be given a suitable size & strength recurve bow, matching set of arrows, arm guard and finger tab and a ground quiver. Chest guards are also available.
• shooting will be at a large size target face at a distance of 10 metres.

The second lesson will revise what was learned in lesson one, plus:

• how to string a bow
• string alignment
• concentration
• back tension, shoulder muscles and bow arm rotation
• grouping of arrows and sight adjustments
• shooting practise may remain at a distance of 10 metres.

The third lesson will revise what was learned in lesson two, plus:

• archery warm-up exercises and muscle toning exercises.
• shooting practise will concentrate on the finer points of each persons shooting form
• how to score arrows
• shooting practise will be moved to a distance of 15 metres.

The fourth lesson will revise what was learned in lesson three, plus:

• shooting practise will move to a distance of 15 or 20 metres.
• How to select the right bow and arrows for you.
• the care and maintenance of archery equipment
• the basic steps of bow tuning
• a short competition of 5 ends of arrows may be shot.

= The course may finish with a free barbeque to celebrate and each person will receive a Beginners Course Certificate.

There is a small incentive for accuracy, with each arrow that hits the centre cross of the target face during the four lessons, the person who shot that arrow will receive a free item of choice from our afternoon tea (drinks and snacks).
The current record is six crosses by one person over 4 weekends !!!
A new record of shooting first 'Robin Hood' arrow in third week of course has been set last year !!!

All courses are supervised by a qualified Archery Club Coach.
The Archery Coach also has a Positive Notice Blue Card under the Child Protection Act (Qld)
and the Club has a Child Protection Policy in accordance with the Archery Australia Club Management Manual.
The Club also has a Code of Conduct and Risk Management Policy in place.

At the end of the course, each person will be invited to join the Club as a member or
may continue to use the Club's equipment until the start of the next course or for a maximum of 4 weeks, at a discounted hire fee of $10.00 per Saturday afternoon.
For new members wishing to buy their own archery equipment, the Coach is available for advise.
We can recommend a suitable size and strength of bow and size arrows and length to match each person.

Equipment catalogues and pricelists from local Archery Dealers are available from the Coach.

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Author : Graeme Jeffrey
Copyright © Centenary Archers Club Inc. 1999-2013

This page last revised: 29th April 2013