Lough Cuan Bowmen. Beginner's Manual

Transcription

1 1.666 Lough Cuan Bowmen NORTHERN IRELAND ARCHERY SOCIETY Beginner's Manual 1 P a g e

2 Acknowledgments: This manual has been prepared using various sources. Thanks are due to Archery GB ( The Grand National Archery Society) for the framework; the GNAS Level 1 Candidates Pack; the GNAS Leaders Manual; Core Archery (Larry Wise) Archery Strong (Michael Linsin) Total Archery (Ki-Sik Lee) Purpose: This manual has been designed as an additional aide memoire for beginners in the sport of Archery. The information contained in this manual will support the instruction that you will be given on your beginners course. However the instruction and information supplied by your coaches should always take precedence over anything contained within this manual. "Where possible coaching will be given by qualified GNAS coaches. However, from tisme to time, Junior Assistant Coaches, trainee level 1 Coaches (working under supported supervision) and un-qualified experienced archers may be involved in coaching and teaching. NIAS accept no responsibility in this regard, save it's statutory liability in respect of personal injury or death caused by the negligence of NIAS. If you have any objections or concerns about this, please inform the club officer in Charge prior to the relevant coaching or instruction session. " 2 P a g e

3 COURSE PROSPECTUS This course will consist of 6 lessons, each of one and a half hours duration. All equipment will be provided free of additional charge for the duration of the course. You are advised to wear close fitting clothing during the lessons, tie back long hair and remove any facial jewelry; these help to prevent any interference with the path of the bowstring. At the end of the course you will: Know and understand the Safety Rules and Etiquette of the sport. Be familiar with the basic equipment. Be able to consistently hit an 80cm target at a distance of 18m. Have an understanding of the organization of Archery within the United Kingdom. Know and understand the most common of scoring systems. Know and understand the basic shooting rules of Target and Field Archery. Know and understand the principal of rounds. Have received information on other forms of Archery. Have knowledge of, and have received advice on the selection of, your personal equipment. Be able to conduct some simple maintenance of your archery equipment. Have received a certificate confirming that you have completed a beginner's course in Archery. Note: Should you wish to purchase your own equipment, you are advised not to do so until the end of the course. During the course your coach will be able to assess your individual needs and will be able to advise on the bow type and arrow specification best suited to your needs. If you already have your own equipment please get it checked by your coach to ensure its safety and suitability. 3 P a g e

4 YOUR COURSE A brief outline of your 6 weeks WEEK 1 Introductions. Aims & Objectives Health & Safety. Zones -Waiting, Equipment, Shooting, Range. Equipment: Parts of Bow and Arrow, Bracer, Tab. Chest Guard, Quiver. Observe experienced archer followed by individual instruction. Shoot at 5m using a blank boss. Check for right/left handedness and eye dominance. WEEK 2 Shoot from 10m demonstrating observed styles. The sequence of shooting is >- STANDING. A good shot is built from the ground up ~ NOCKING. The action of necking an arrow in a bow. The set-up >- DRAWING. Pulling the bow string smoothly to a predetermined point >- HOLDING. Using the correct back muscles and aiming >- LOOSING. Relaxing the fingers to shoot the arrow and the follow through Posture. Aiming with the body. Draw Force Line (DFL). Muscle Groups. Introduce 8 Ocm 10-zone target. WEEK 3 Shoot at 10m demonstrating Posture, DFL, Loose. Methods of Aiming. Focus on target/arrow/bow window. Point of Aim. Gap Shooting. String Walking. Face Walking. Unit Aim. Sights. Point Blank. WEEK 4 Shoot at 15m demonstrating Aiming Methods. Rounds, Competitions, Whistle Commands. Scoring Zones. Introduction to Rounds WEEK 5 Shoot at 18/20m. Organizational structures - NIAS, GNAS, FITA, IFAF, IFAA, BL-BS, TASI, NFAS. Types of Archery. Target, Field, Marks, Roving, Clout, Flight, Popinjay. Different Bow Types/Styles. Longbow, AFB, Recurve, Compound, Trad, Barebow, Bowhunter, Limited, Unlimited. Club Secretary. Structure & benefits of club membership. NIAS President. Basic equipment maintenance. WEEK 6 'Competition'. An opportunity to gain a first level FITA award Assessment and presentation of Beginners Certificate and FIT A Beginners Awards 4 P a g e

5 ETIQUETTE A Good Archer; Is aware that some people prefer to shoot in a quieter environment and also that sudden loud noises can be distracting. Waits their turn patiently. When shooting with a partner waits until that partner has finished shooting before retiring to the safety zone (see also under Health & Safety) Will not touch any part of an arrow or target face nor remove scoring arrows until they have been recorded. Waits until their score has been recorded before going behind the target to retrieve their arrows Does not walk up and down the shooting line comparing scores. Will not touch anyone else's equipment without permission. If they break another's arrow through their own carelessness, offers to pay for it in cash on the spot. Leaves no litter. 2. Thanks the Target Captain and Scorer at the end of each round for work on his behalf 5 P a g e

6 Basic Archery Equipment During this lesson you will be allocated the equipment that you will use on the course. 6 P a g e

7 Safety Rules Safety is of prime importance in Archery, all of the safety rules commands & designated areas detailed below are preventative medicine, but basically they are common sense. Waiting Area: Waiting Line: Equipment Area: Shooting Line: Shooting Range: Shooting Equipment Drawing the Bow Respect Others: Respect Equipment: Only Go Forward: Come Down: Fast: Whistle Commands: is behind the waiting line and is where you wait until summoned to come forward. is the line, which separates the waiting area from the equipment area. is the area between the waiting line and the shooting line, where the equipment (bows etc) is kept when not in use by the archer. is the line from which the archers shoot their arrows. Do not move from the waiting area to the shooting line until you are instructed to do so by your designated coach. is the hazardous area that is only entered with the permission of the person in control of the shooting and always with extreme caution. Do not touch equipment until instructed to do so. It remains on the shooting line or in the equipment area contained by the ground quiver or similar until required for use. Only draw the bow when you are on the shooting line and facing towards the target even without an arrow fitted to the string. NOWHERE else. Never shout or talk loudly to anyone who is on the shooting line or on the waiting line. and each other, actions such as prodding or pointing arrows could cause serious injury. of the shooting line with the permission of the person in charge of the shooting. means relax the bowstring tension without letting go of the string at any time until the bow is at rest again. means both 'Hold Fast' and 'Stand Fast'. Stop whatever is being done IMMEDIATELY and hold onto the string tightly. Do Not Shoot but come down. Remove arrow from the stri ng and replace it in your quiver or similar. Wait for the next instruction. are often used and must be obeyed. They ore: 1. A single blast to start shooting. 2. Two blasts to collect arrows from the target. 3. A series of rapid blasts means 'FAST' Verbal Commands: These are used as an alternative to whistles and usually are: Commence Shooting, Collect Arrows & Fast. 7 P a g e

8 Never: Dry Shoot a bow without an arrow attached to the string, this can cause serious damage to the bow. Only loose when you have an arrow on the string and you are aiming at the target. Shoot upwards vertically in the air. "What goes up must come down!' This could kill or seriously maim, as it is impossible to see its return flight. 3. Only: Load an arrow into the bow when you are on the shooting line and intending to shoot, and only when the range is clear and it is safe to shoot. Aim a bow at the target boss or the ground with or without an arrow in the bow. Not at anyone or anything else. Arrow Retrieval - Safe approach to collecting. When all have shot and the line is clear, before collecting the arrows, the Coach will give an instruction to approach the targets. The pupils walk single file down the outer edges of the range towards the target line, ever watchful of shortfall arrows protruding from the ground. Nobody runs. Walk don't run: Always look: Approach: Stand back! Ensuring: Pulling arrows: Beware: 8 P a g e when going to the target as falling on arrows damages them and causes personal injury for any arrow that could be hidden in the grass and could cause injury to ankles and shins the target boss from the side - not from the front. Don't touch anything - wait for the next instruction. On arrival at the target line, the Coach will decide who will withdraw the arrows. Arrows in or on the ground within the area underneath those in the boss are left until last. from the target to allow "pullers" to work freely. Do not tread on arrows in or on the ground in front of the target. Approach them from the side and retrieve them carefully so as not to stab yourself on the nocks of the arrows still in the target. they do not tread on any arrows still in or on the ground, archers wait their call to identify their arrows so the scorer can record them (if this is being done) out of the target. This is done by placing the back of one hand against the target face with the other hand on top of the shaft. Then grasping it as near to the pile end as possible lay the forearm along the shaft and maintain a straight line of pulling force whilst withdrawing the arrow. The Nock is now the most dangerous part of the arrow. So, whilst looking backwards over the shoulder to check that nobody is too close or has strayed into the path of the arrow to be pulled, the nearest arrow is withdrawn without twisting, at the same angle as it entered the boss. The retrieved arrow is placed pile downwards between the thumb and the palm of the nondrawing hand. This process is repeated always pulling the nearest arrows irrespective of whose they belong to - they will be sorted out later in the equipment area

9 Make sure one hand is braced against the target when pulling arrows. Once an arrow has been pulled, transfer it into the other hand (the one against the target). You can use the back of the hand, while closing the arrows in the fingers, or make a fist with the arrows in it and put the fist against the target. Return from the Targets After the arrows have been pulled from the targets, any that are under the target can now be retrieved. The Coach will check that all arrows have been found and arranges a search if not. Once all the arrows at the target end have been retrieved, the archers should carry the arrows back safely. Aligning all arrows grasp the shafts above the piles, so that approximately 25mm (1") protrudes from the hand Secure the arrows against the upper body under the armpit taking care not to crush the fletchings This prevents injury if anybody falls, as the piles will not stick into the hand or leg. Beware: arrows in the grass can cut feet and ankles if not spotted so care is needed. It is safer to approach arrows protruding from the ground with the nocks away from you. Arrows are removed in the same way as at the target. Any deeply buried arrows will have to be dug out and sometimes pulled forwards straight through the grass if the fletchings only are submerged. Upon arrival back at the shooting line, the arrows are sorted into matched sets and replaced in their ground quivers or similar ready for the next end. 9 P a g e

10 A WARM-UP EXERCISES To get your muscles ready for action ' 6. i P a g e

11 Point of Aim shooting sequence Standing Stand with feet shoulder width apart and bow arm shoulder pointing toward the centre of the target. Bow hand position. Set the bow hand low onto the bow handle, with the pod of the thumb taking the pressure. The fingers then relax as the hand pushes against the bow. Nocking Push the arrow firmly onto the nocking point on the bowstring. Make Sue that your bow does not interfere with other archers on the shooting line whi 1st you nock the arrow and prepare to shoot. Placing fingers on the string Place your fingers onto the bowstring so that the first three fingers are below, and just touching the arrow. The string should be in the first joints of the fingers 11 P a g e

12 Commencing the draw Raise the bow to eye level and start to draw the bow using the muscles of the back on the string hand side. Keep bow shoulder down and relaxed, keep string hand relaxed. Completing the draw Move the string hand toward the face. Keep the string hand flat and vertical. Aiming Aim the pile (point) of the arrow at the centre of the target. 12 P a g e

13 Face location Draw to the side of the face with the arrow nock adjacent to the corner of the mouth. Activating the release Continue to create pressure in the back, maintaining a straight line between the drawing elbow and the pi le of the arrow.. The Release & followthrough Relax the fingers of the string hand whilst maintaining the pressure in the back. The string hand should move along the side of the face and the bow should push slightly toward the target The Back position The bow arm shoulder should remain down and inline throughout the whole of the shot. The shoulders and spine should form a cross shape P a g e

14 Rounds & Scoring In archery a round consists of a fixed number of arrows, shot over predetermined distances. Essentially Target rounds are divided into two categories Imperial (British) & Metric (International). Imperial rounds are shot over yard distances, the longest being 100 yds. for men and 80 yds. for women. International rounds are shot over metric distances, the longest being 90 meters for men and 70 meters for women. Junior archers also have equivalent distances which depend on the age of the individual. The number of arrows shot in a round can vary from 144 to 36. Normally archers start to shoot at the longest distance first, shooting a set number of arrows, following which they move down to the next distance and so forth. For example in a FIT A round the total for men is 144 arrows: 36 at 90m, 36 at 70m both at a 122cm face, then 36 at 50m and 36 at 30m at an 80cm face. Targets can vary in size from 122cm (4 ft) down to 40cm. In Imperial rounds the target is divided into 5 scoring zones with the Gold scoring 9, Red 7, Blue 5, Black 3 and White 1. In Metric rounds the 5 colours are each subdivided into two with scores from 10 (inner Gold) to 1 (Outer White) Field Archery uses a variety of target faces, Roundels, Animal faces and 3D (near life sized models of animals). Sizes are in 4 groups, for example in a FITA round the sizes are 80cm, 60cm, 40cm and 20cm. Rounds may be Marked with set distances, Unmarked where distances will be within a set range or Mixed with Yz Marked and VI Unmarked. Adults shoot from between 5 to 60 meters (5 to 70 yards) with Juniors, depending on age and style, shooting from shorter distances than adults. The number of arrows shot also depends on the round from 4 to a single arrow at each target giving 122 in a STAMP round to 24 or less in a 3D round. Arrows may be shot from a single position or may have to be shot from a different position, closer, further away or equally distant A list of rounds may be found in the GNAS Rule Book of Shooting 'Princes Colours' Target Face 14 P a g e FITA Field Face cores are normally recorded on an official score card provided by the competition organiser. These are filled in using a pen by an archer chosen within the detail (group of archers). Scores are recorded after all arrows have been shot at the target (Field) or after arrows have been shot in groups of 6 or 3 (Target). Some rounds may have their own systems. You will call your own scoring arrows while your shooting companions verify the score. You call your scoring arrows starting with the highest score downwards. In Target these will be in sets of 3, pausing between each set, for example pause Non scoring arrows are recorded as an 'M' 10.

15 Simple Equipment maintenance. Bow strings: These should be waxed using beeswax: when strings become frayed or damaged they should be discarded. Nocking points and nock locators. The nocking point is very important and should be checked regularly - it should be tight enough to hold the arrow onto the bowstring and just loose enough to allow it to fall off if the string is tapped slightly. Normally nocking points are set 6mm above the centerline of the arrow when on the arrow shelf. Your coach will show you how to fit nocking points Arrows Arrows should be straight and free from cracks or damage. The nock should be put on so that it is completely vertical in line with the arrow. Fletchings should be properly aligned and secured to the shaft. Your coach will show how to check your arrow for straightness and to fit nocks and fletches. A simple fletching jig. An arrow straightener 15 P a g e

16 QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK You are encouraged to ask questions at any time if you are unclear about any aspect of archery. Your instructors would appreciate hearing any comments you may have about the course and their own performance as these may help to improve the quality of instruction. Please rate on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being poor, 10 being excellent How did you rate the course overall? [ ] How did you rate the venue? [ ] How did you rate the quality of instruction? [ ] How did you rate your Instructor? [ ] If, at the end of your course, you are not interested in taking up archery please tell us why. Any further comments you may wish to make may be written below QUESTIONS AND FEEDBACK You are encouraged to ask questions at any time if you are unclear about any aspect of archery. Your instructors would appreciate hearing any comments you may have about the course and their own performance as these may help to improve the quality of instruction. Please rate on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being poor, 10 being excellent How did you rate the course overall? [ ] How did you rate the venue? [ ] How did you rate the quality of instruction? [ How did you rate your Instructor? [ ] If, at the end of your course, you are not interested in taking up archery please tell us why. Any further comments you may wish to make may be written below po 16 P a g e