28 Mathews Bowhunting Whitetails mathewsinc.com

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1 28 Mathews Bowhunting Whitetails mathewsinc.com

2 b y j. j. r e i c h start em The proper introduction to archery can build skills that last a lifetime experienced shooters credit their love for archery to their mom or dad. A brother, cousin, neighbor or older friend and also tops on the list for many of us. But today, that trend is changing. More and more, school teachers are helping young people fall in love with the sport. In many cases, exposure is the only key. Just watching someone shoot arrows at targets stirs interest and makes kids want to pick up that stick and string. The UPMany best part is that any kid can learn to shoot a bow well and be successful. And with just a little practice, even shy and introverted children easily become confident and proud. In fact, there is a long list of benefits archery provides to youth including increased confidence, fine-motor skills, focus, patience and dedication. Thus, no matter who gets the props for introducing a new shooter to the game, archery can transform a child and their life in an amazingly positive way. And, that s all that matters. A Simple Introduction The archery landscape has certainly changed since many of us learned to shoot. There are now many ways to get young people involved in the sport. If you have a young person in your family or circle of friends, just simply invite them to try the archery. There are many ways you can do this: First, many local archery retailers have bows on-hand for kids to try out or even rent. And the folks that work there are often very helpful at providing instructions and encouragement. Spending a day at an archery shop is a great activity for the shooter and the mentor, but it might be intimidating for a beginner if there are many people shooting archery around them. Call ahead and see if there is a time that the archery lane is less busy. The child will feel less pressure and the store representative will have more time to work with you. Second, consider buying a family bow. Great starter bows like the Genesis (Mini or Standard Genesis) and the Mission Maniac are very easy to adjust and can be easily shared with several family members and friends. L O N L A U B E R mathewsinc.com Bowhunting Whitetails Mathews 29

3 S T A R T e m u p Archery and hunting are life sports meaning if a youngster gets into them at an early age, that child can enjoy the benefits of these pastimes for a very long time. These starter bows often lead to kids wanting to take their skills and interest to the next level. Finally, become involved in a local archery-learning program. You might find youth archery leagues at a local pro-shop or a local school that participates in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP). This program brings the sport of target archery to millions of students across the United States through physical education classes. Since NASP started in March 2002, more than 7 million students at more than 7,500 schools located in 47 states and 5 countries have joined. Learn more at: www. nasparchery.com. As a company, Mathews Inc. encourages all families to introduce their children and friends to the sport of archery. However, Mathews truly believes in the purpose of NASP and the positive aspects it delivers. They are proud to be the founding sponsor of the national program and their financial support for NASP speaks volumes for how dedicated they are to the mission of introducing kids to archery. Mathews is the No. 1 financial sponsor. In fact, if you add up all the donations from the organizer s other sponsors; it still doesn t exceed Mathews contributions. Shooting For Success Whether a child is getting involved in archery through NASP, a local youth archery league, or a home-grown program with mom, dad, brother, sister or a friend, there are several factors NASP s Positive Proof The National Archery in the Schools Program periodically evaluates its effectiveness in the spirit of growing and constantly improving its activities and resources. During the school year, a study gauged the effectiveness and performance of the non-profit program. The study proved several positive results: 1) learning archery is very engaging to students; 2) through archery, students improve learning skills and attitudes; 3) archery positively affects student interest in other sports, and student participation in the archery program positively affects family interest in archery; 4) archery positively affects student attendance and performance in school. Feedback from Instructors: 84 percent agree archery has improved their students self-confidence 78 percent agree that archery has improved student motivation 74 percent agree that archery has improved student behavior 76 percent believe that students pay more attention to what they are doing in NASP 79 percent say that the NASP has increased student interest in archery Feedback from Students: 80 percent like the archery program in their schools 85 percent report that their instructors did a good job teaching archery 74 percent think the archery program is exciting 76 percent rated their archery skills as either good or very good after taking the course 51 percent say that they have participated in archery since taking it in school that will increase the child s success and enjoyment of the sport. First is the equipment. Using good equipment is crucial. I believe the bestshooting youth bow on the market is the Genesis Series and the Mission Maniac. These bows are very adjustable, so they will last a long time. They are also quiet, smooth and accurate. When a child loves the archery gear they are using, it s easier to love the overall sport. Eye dominance might be the second most important consideration when starting a youth in archery because the dominant eye is responsible for proper and accurate aiming. There are several ways and exercises to determine eye dominance. Just ask a local archery shop employee or NASP instructor. The proper fit of equipment is also key. Kids grow, so it s very important to get a bow that will grow with them. If a bow doesn t fit or feel right, a new archer will have problems learning the proper form and technique. Keep in mind that a handed-down bow might be convenient and costeffective, but unless it s a perfect fit, it might strain the shooter. That s not ideal for creating the proper foundation for a successful future. In the same vein, be sure your child or student is not struggling with draw weight. If shooting a bow is laborious and tiring, a shooter might get worn out and pick up bad habits. Make It Easy to Succeed Beginner archery equipment should be kept simple. A simple set-up would consist of a peep sight, kisser, onepin sight, non-complicated rest, and an easy-to-use mechanical release or finger release. The peep sight and/or kisser ensures that the child is anchoring in the same spot every time. This is very important for beginners who might not know they are slanting their head or positioning the string higher or lower on their face, both resulting in decreased accuracy. Proper posture and form is crucial for shooting success. NASP has an 11-step process to teach proper stance, draw, anchor, aiming and release. Learning to shoot correctly reduces the chance of learning bad habits and sets the stage for success. This is another reason to seek out a local archery shop employee or NASP instructor. 30 Mathews Bowhunting Whitetails mathewsinc.com

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5 S T A R T e m u p While repetition is important to proper form, keep practice the same length as the shooter s attention span. If archery becomes a chore, it might stop being fun. Allow shooters to shoot for as long as they want, and then do something else. Try to set up a time to practice several times Students who have not been successful in other sports often find success in archery, and also often see improved grades and positive and respectful behavior. Archery can give a kid a big boost in self-esteem, concentration, focus and interest in the outdoors. a week, but don t force the matter. If your young shooter needs improvement, concentrate on working at one step at a time. And work on that one aspect or skill for a long time until it becomes second nature. Giving too many instructions or things to remember, at once can be overwhelm a child. Take baby steps and improvement will happen naturally. Also, be sure to keep the practice fun. Games like Pin The Tail On the Deer, popping balloons, playing archery Tic- Tac-Toe, counting target points to add up to a goal, and other games add extra entertainment to your shooting sessions. If a kid isn t hitting what they are aiming at, they won t have as much fun. Start shooting targets at a distance of 10 yards. NASP instructors also start out shooting at a blank target, giving students a much better chance at success and much less chance of developing target panic early on. Building Life Skills There are many benefits to youth archery. NASP instructors report that archery students who have not been successful in other sports often find success in archery, and also often see improved academic grades and improved positive and respectful behavior. Archery can give a kid a big boost in self-esteem, concentration, focus and interest in the outdoors. A majority of kids are never going to be baseball, football or Olympic stars. But anyone can be an archer. You don t have to be fast, strong or tall to succeed. Following directions, listening, concentrating and basic hand-toeye coordination are all you need. And it s a life sport: If a kid gets into the sport when they are young, they can enjoy it for the rest of their lives. Just get em started up. 32 Mathews Bowhunting Whitetails mathewsinc.com