Beginners Courses

Courses

Each course consists of 4 sessions of approximately 2 hours each. All reservations for places in the courses will be entered into a booking list on a first come, first serve basis. All cancellations will be offered to each person, in order of bookings received, until all places are filled.

The attached Booking Form is to be completed and returned with the non-refundable booking fee of $20 to the Club's postal address. The course-booking fee is to cover the administration costs.

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 as long as they have the strength to fully draw a light poundage bow. We have children as young as 10 years old, boys and girls, and adults well into late 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 this sport we have wheelchair bound persons competing along side able-bodied archers.

We prefer to teach children who are at least 10 years old. It is a requirement that at least one parent or guardian accompanies their children if under 16 years of age for all the lessons.

Everyone attending is fully covered by Archery Australia's public liability insurance policy for the duration of the course and after the course is completed up to a maximum of 12 weeks from date of commencement of the course.

Course Location and Facilities

The Beginners Course is located at the Archery Park, Forrest Road, at Strathalbyn.  If you wish to park your car in the shade of the trees, please beware of possible risk of falling branches from these trees, cars parked at your own risk. Please use caution and drive slowly at a walking pace on entering the grounds, as there may be children playing in the vicinity.

Please GIVE-WAY to cars entering through the gate, as it is only one-lane traffic into and out of the club grounds.

Everyone attending the course (if under 16 with parent or guardian) should meet the Coach/s at the club shed to complete all forms. The shed is used for Club Members and Visitors; all must sign-in the attendance book before entry on to the archery ranges.  The attendance book must be signed by all when attending the club grounds by all parents / guardians even if for a short visit.

We have a disabled toilet located at the club grounds.

There is no electricity or mains water currently connected; we do have rainwater available for drinking water and a small canteen for your convenience.

The archery ranges are open field areas, so there is little shade available on the shooting line during the lesson; please wear a hat, use sunscreen and bring drinking water.

At least one parent or guardian of children under 16 years old is required to stay for the whole lessons.

Course Duration

The Beginners Course runs for 4 Saturday mornings (as on booking form) starting at 10.00am and finishing about 12 noon. Please turn up 15 - 30 min prior to starting time to get equipment set up.

The Dates for 2012 are:

Course 1: Feb 25, March 3, March 10 and March 17

Course2: Oct 27, Nov 3, Nov 10 and Nov 17

In the first lesson of the Course we require insurance cover forms to be completed and receipts will be issued for fees paid prior to the lesson starting, so please be at the ground at 9.30 am for the first lesson to ensure the paperwork is completed on time. There is a ten-minute break at approximately 10.50am. Cold drinks, tea, and coffee and snacks are available for purchase.

If the weather is very windy or it is raining constantly then that days lesson may be postponed.  If it is extremely hot (over 32 degrees Strathalbyn temperature), then that day's lesson will be postponed. If the Coach decides to postpone the lesson, each person enrolled in the course will be advised by phone the evening prior to the lesson if possible.  The course dates will be extended to make up for any lessons postponed due to the weather. 

Any participant who misses a lesson for any other reason (than being officially called of) will need to discuss this matter with the coaches to make other arrangements; there may be an additional cost to you for an extension or transferred to the next available course.

Course Fees and Bookings

The Course Fee for 2012 is $80 per person, including insurance cover, equipment hire and coaching.

Fees and dates of course may change with out notice.

On enquiry a booking form plus an information pack will be mailed to your address or you can print a copy of the Great Southern Archers web page.

Due to changes in Public Liability Insurance Cover, every person on the Club grounds must sign the attendance book, and all non-member archers must sign a Temporary Player Form to be covered by the insurance policy. These forms will be available at the first day of the course.

Bookings for courses will need a completed Course Booking Form returned by mail to our postal address at; Beginners Course, Great Southern Archers, P.O. Box 289, Strathalbyn. SA.  5255.

We will require a contact name (parent or guardian), postal address and or e-mail address, contact phone number, name/s of person/s attending and their age/s (if under 18 a parent or guardian must fill out and sign all forms prior to or on the first day of the course).

Other Requirements

The one safety rule on clothing is that open-toe sandals, thongs or bare feet are not allowed, as arrows that may be lodged in the grass can injure your toes or feet if walked into.

Generally clothing should be close fitting and not 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.  Camouflaged clothing must not be worn at any time while attending the archery grounds.

In sunny weather, a suitable soft-brimmed hat and sunscreen lotion is required.  The drinking of any alcohol prior to or during shooting is strictly not allowed.

Smoking is totally prohibited on the grounds at all times. G.S.A is a Drug and alcohol free zone.

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 people's 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.

All people attending the course must have a "Medical Attention Form" completed on the first day of the course all information is strictly confidential.  A parent or legal guardian must fill out the form if the participant is less than 18 years old.

Course Details

The first lesson will introduce beginners to:

• eye dominance for each person will be checked. (eye dominance controls aiming)
• each person will be given a suitable size & strength bow, matching set of arrows, arm guard and finger tab and a ground quiver
• the basic safety rules
• bow parts and their names
• arrow parts and their names
• the basic steps of how to shoot a bow
•  archery warm-up exercises
• shooting will be on a blank target butt 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 will remain at a distance of 10 metres

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

• shooting practise will concentrate on the finer points of each persons shooting form
• sights can be fitted to the bow if you wish to try them
• how to score arrows
• types of bows
• shooting practise will be at a distance of 15 metres, with the use of a target face. Distances will vary due to the ability of the archer.

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

• Shooting practise will move to a distance of 20 metres.   Distances will vary due to the ability of the archer.
• how to select the right bow and arrows for you
• the care and maintenance of archery equipment
• a short competition including scoring of 5 ends of arrows may be shot
• for those successfully completing the course will receive a certificate
• A BBQ lunch is provided to get to know members

Course lessons may vary at times.

All courses are fully supervised by registered Archery Coaches.

At the termination of the course each person will be invited to join the Club as a member and may continue to use the Club's equipment for a maximum of 12 weeks (from the commencement date of course), with a hire fee for the equipment per day + target fees.

For new members wishing to buy their own archery equipment, the Coach and other club members are available for advice.

Please do not buy any archery equipment prior to the course, as it may not suit your needs.

All archery equipment will be supplied for the course.