Beginners Courses 2023
In the past Lichfield Archers have run three courses per year, one each in spring, summer and autumn, which appeared to meet the demand of newcomers wanting to take up the sport.
However, in the past three years we have seen our waiting list grow to just in excess of a hundred people wanting to join a course. This increase has been due to past covid restrictions, a lack of qualified coaches and the availability of experienced archers to assist the coaches in running the courses. In addition, we have also seen an increasing number of newcomers wanting to take up the sport.
We have been able to address the issue of a lack of coaches by enrolling our more experienced archers onto Archery GB coaching courses to qualify as coaches. We are also very grateful that some of our other experienced archers at the club have offered their time to assist the coaches in running the courses. Without all of these people volunteering their time we would not be able to run the courses at all.
In addition to increasing the number of qualified coaches, we have also doubled the number of courses we are running!
Alternatively, if you do not want to wait for the next available beginners’ course at our club you could try other clubs in the area to check their course availability, they are:
Chase Archers (https://chasearchers.org.uk)
Burton Bridge (https://www.burtonbridgearchers.co.uk)
Sutton Coldfield Archery Club (http://scac.co.uk/)
Stafford Archers (http://staffordarchers.com).
In addition, Archery GB have details of further clubs in the area if those above are not suitable for you (https://www.archerygb.org/shoot-compete/shoot/find-a-club/).
On successful completion of an Archery GB accredited course at another club you can still apply to become a member at Lichfield Archers. We would just need to see evidence that you have completed a beginners’ course. There is no waiting list to join Lichfield Archers Club.
Course Overview
Our courses are designed to teach the basic skills of archery in a friendly and enjoyable way and are run in accordance with the Archery GB requirements and guidelines. We take a maximum of 15 beginners’ on each course.
Almost anyone can take part and enjoy archery regardless of age and physical ability, (although a degree of physical fitness is required). However, the club does have strict conditions regarding the participation of young persons (see below for further details).
All the equipment (bow, arrows, quiver, arm guard and finger tab) is provided by us, just turn up to your course and enjoy the sport.
At the end of the course you will have been taught the essential safety requirements to protect yourself and others from harm. You should be able to shoot an Olympic style Recurve Bow with reasonable confidence and skill. You will also have been given a brief introduction to other types of bows (traditional Longbow, Compound Bow and others), all of which can be shot at Lichfield Archers should you decide to become a member.
On completion of the course, successful beginners’ will be presented with a Certificate of Competency required to apply for membership of Lichfield Archers. The Certificate is also accepted at other archery clubs.
Our beginner’s course can be used as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
What the Course entails
The course comprises five consecutive sessions which take place on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. Courses usually take place using our 20 yard indoor range but when warmer summer evenings permit we often try to shoot outdoors on our 100 yard field.
The five sessions are then followed by a final sixth session to enable beginners’ to consolidate their learning.
Below is a brief overview of what each week comprises:
Week One: Understanding the basics
Your first session starts with an introduction to archery and a safety briefing to ensure you and your fellow beginners’ are kept safe. You will then be allocated a bow, arrows, quiver, arm guard and finger tab. It’s then off to the shooting range where you will be given a demonstration on how to shoot a recurve bow using the ‘T Draw’ shooting style, followed by ‘one on one’ instruction.
In the first week you will shoot from a distance of 10 yards to get you familiar with how to shoot. We will also introduce you to resistance band practice help you practice your technique at home.
Week Two: Refining your technique
After a quick recap you will be back in the range straight away but this time shooting from 20 yards. Our instructors will help you throughout to refine and improve your technique, focussing on getting a good posture, consistent anchor and relaxed arrow release.
Week Three: Starting to hit ‘Gold’
In the third week we will look to refine your shooting technique to improve consistency and start to hit ‘Gold’.
Week Four: Practice, practice, practice
This week the objective is to continue to develop a good shooting style with an emphasis on ensuring a consistent draw to help arrow grouping.
Week Five: How to score
In this session you will be taught how to score and fill out a standard competition score sheet. For our younger archers there is the opportunity to create your own pizza! We will also give details on how to become a member of Lichfield Archers should you wish to join us on successful completion of your course.
Week Six: Putting it all together
The last evening will be run as a mock club night and will be your final opportunity to refine your technique. There will still be coaching available but the aim of this session is to give you a taster of what it’s like to shoot on a normal Tuesday/Thursday club night where you will be shooting alongside the instructors and other club members.
This session will also act as a ‘mop up’ for anyone who missed a previous session.
During the evening you will also be presented with your Certificate of Competency.
Course Fees & Dates
Our course fee costs a one-off payment of £70 per adult and £50 per junior (under 18 years old at the start of the course). These fees were revised recently and come into effect from 1st July 2023. The fee includes insurance, loan of equipment and instruction from our archery coaches. A refreshments and biscuits break are also provided during each session. To ensure everyone benefits from coaching, each course is limited to a maximum of 15 people. The minimum age for Junior Archers is 8 years (see further details below).
Enrolment for the courses usually opens around eight weeks before the start of each course when beginners’ course enrolment forms are sent out to those who are next on the waiting list. When you receive an invitation to a course we would urge you to respond straight away stating if you are able to take up the offer of that course.
If you are unable to take up an offer do just let the development officer know straight away and your name will remain on the list for the next available course. We can then offer the next person on the list a place. We do not put you back to the bottom of the list if you can’t take up the place on offer.
What options do you have after completion of the Course
After successful completion of the course you may decide to pursue archery further and join Lichfield Archers. If you do, then as a member you are welcome to continue to use the club equipment until such time you decide to buy your own equipment. There is no additional charge for using club equipment.
Should you decide to get your own kit, a member of the coaching team will be happy to give advice on the purchase of suitable equipment so you don’t waste money on a bow or arrows that do not suit you. Whatever you do, please try to avoid buying equipment from your favourite internet auction site until you get more experience, as you will almost certainly not be spending your money wisely.
Annual membership fees are split in two parts. There is club subscription to cover the cost of maintaining the club facilities, paying electricity/water bills and replacing targets. In addition, there are affiliation fees to Archery GB which provides you with indemnity insurance, a glossy magazine delivered to your home address twice a year, and provides you with a membership card which allows you to enter non-club competitions. The membership year runs from 1st October to 30th September each year for both Lichfield Archers and Archery GB.
Current fees are summarised below:
| Lichfield Archers Club Subscriptions | Per Annum (October to September) | |
|---|---|---|
| Senior members (aged 18 and over) | £144 | |
| Junior Members (under 18s as of 1st Oct 2022 | £72 | |
| Family Membership (Comprising 2 Seniors + 2 Juniors OR 1 Senior + 3 Juniors) | £288 | |
| Non Shooting Members | £12.50 |
| Archery GB Affiliation Fees (Including County and Region) | Per Annum | |
|---|---|---|
| Senior members (aged 25 and over) | £56.25 | |
| Senior members (aged 18 to 24) | £22.25 | |
| Junior Members (under 18) | £19.25 | |
| Registered Disabled (18 and over) | £19.13 | |
| Registered Disabled (under 18) | £17.63 |
Why choose a Lichfield Archers Beginners Course?
Clothing, Jewellery, and Footwear Safety
For your own safety and comfort you will need to comply with the following dress guidelines:
- Long hair should be secured out of the way
- It is recommended to wear close fitting clothes that will not catch on the bow string, so please avoid loose sleeves, baggy collars, cardigans and scarves
- Shoes should have enclosed toes, so that you do not stub your toes against arrows buried in the grass. Flip-flops, sandals and open toed shoes will not be allowed.
- All facial piercings and upper body piercings will need to be removed as if these get caught in a bow string it will be very painful (ouch!)
- Avoid dangly earrings and loose bracelets and necklaces, for the same reasons
- On outdoor courses bring a warm jumper
Disabilities & Injuries
At Lichfield Archers we aim to welcome everyone and we will endeavour to deliver a suitable course to anyone who asks for it.
Please disclose any reduced or impaired physical, sensory or mental capacities which may affect your ability to shoot safely. This information is held in the strictest confidence.
Safety Requirements
We will always try to work with you to ensure you enjoy the course, provided we believe it is safe for you to do so. Where your safety or the safety of fellow beginners’ and/or coaches is deemed to be compromised Lichfield Archers may need to review your continued participation on the course.
Lichfield Archers reserves the right to cancel participation on the course for disruptive or unruly behaviour of any age group.
Children, Young Persons and Vulnerable Adults
We follow the Archery GB policy on safeguarding children, young persons and vulnerable adults. The full policy can be found here or you can contact our dedicated Child & Vulnerable Adult Protection Officer.
In addition to the above, we have some specific policies regarding this. In practical terms this means we will only accept Juniors 8 years old or older onto our courses. Furthermore, Juniors under 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult at all times, even if the adult is not participating in the course. This is also an insurance necessity.
The reason for our age limit is based on our beginners’ equipment, as our lowest bow draw weight has in the past proven to be problematic for younger children and can cause possible injury to the growing body. We also need to ensure all archers are capable of shooting at least 20 yards but this can be difficult with light draw weight bows.
Young children are assessed on the first night of a course for their capabilities and temperament to continue the course and to ensure that they can also adhere to the rules and regulations for safety purposes. Therefore, we reserve the right to deny attendance for the remainder of the course. Should this be the case a full refund of the fee will be issued.
During the beginners’ course and in subsequent coaching, appropriate physical contact is used by coaches for skill development and safety in line with the Archery GB Code of Conduct for Coaches, Judges and Officials.
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR)
Data will be held in accordance with Lichfield Archers Privacy Policy.
Further information
If you would like more information on our Beginners Course or would like to check availability then please fill in the contact form below. Please only use this form for the beginners course, if you have a different question then visit the contact us page