Open House is Over

It was a good typically good open house.

There were two thing that made me very uncomfortable. As a coach, perhaps it is not my place to say anything but I will.

One, when the line is live, all the coaching must be done from behind the line. Coaches who cross the line to the bow side make a dangerous situation for themselves and everybody.

Two, the coach must not put their hands on the student without asking permission first and explaining the reason. In our culture, it is not acceptable to touch anyone anymore. It may be consider acceptable in team sports, but it is not acceptable in club archery.

It is done.

Open House is tomorrow.

Open House is tomorrow. That is when the students sign up, and a few take their first shots. Such a fun time. See the Capital Region web site for details

 The following Saturday, drop in begins again. And all the regular classes. What fun we will have.

So the range renew did not happen yet. The power was off the weekend it was planned. A building renovation for the new tenant next door. He needed a high door, and that is where the main power runs, so a reroute was required, and of course, there were difficulties. Oh well, shit happens.

Instinctual is the original archery style, where anything goes. It is characterized by a floating anchor, and little else. Any bow, any arrow, any grip, whatever works. It is the default of humans, with two sticks and a string. If you enjoy it, or it has use, go for it.

so you do not want to shoot the way I teach?

The attitudes of some students, so you do not want to shoot the way I teach?

Well then, get out of my class. Here are your fees back. Fuck off now. Well that is the way I feel. But I am to polite... not quite, to reserved, and we would not want to damage the club.

There is a style of shooting known as instinctual, which is what ever the self taught come up with. As long as they are safe for others and the range, the coaching time all goes to others that are willing to learn the style I teach.

There are some people, youths that are "Know how already" and I just leave them, unless they are in risk of damaging themselves, or the range. I do not care if the blow slaps them; pain is changeful... will cause change. 

First lesson: one foot on each side of the line, bow arm stretched out toward the target. Oh the humanity.

Pick a style to shoot

Archery has many styles. If you want to compete in the Olympics, then you can go Olympic style recurve, or compound where bows and equipment will run in the thousands... or you can go as basic as possible, recreational modern traditional, that is traditional style equipment made from/with modren technology, where a god bow and arrow, well perhaps 1/2 a thousand each year, including club membership, excluding gas. Transportation, as it turns out can be more costly than the sport, running all over to shoots, to watch, talk, listen, learn. Or you can shoot in your back yard. Just depends.

Now the learning begins. Well take lessons, and use the club equipment is a easy place to start. What ever style they are teaching. Then you can start experiment with equipment and style, yet those basic steps remain the same. Form is only slightly dependent on the equipment. Well, slightly is possible understatement. Stretch you bow arm to towards the target, draw to anchor, aim, release. But never dry fire a bow, that is release without an arrow. That can damage the archer and the equipment. So the step list can grow.

There can be somewhere between 4 and 10-12 to 18 steps in archery, depending on style, and who you are.

1. Stance 
2. Noch your Notch below the Nock 
3. Form
4. Bow grip
5. String grip
6. select your target
7. raise the bow
8. draw
9. aim
10. check form, adjust
11. setup
12. expand
13. loose
14. follow through
15. reflect

Volunteer?

Volunteer?

When we are part of a volunteer organization, it is necessary to volunteer... Duh. Yes but the organization should make it easy to do, not like pulling teeth, to find out what is needed, and when, who will be there, what is to be done, etc.

Communications is the most important part of this process. Lets emphasize that.  Communications is the most important part of this process. So what about those that are too fearful to have their name, email, and phone number distributed among the other volunteers? Oh well, they will need to do what they do on their own.  

a lesson to include

 Welcome
Induction of coaches

3.     Introduction of athletes

4.     Safety Aspects of the range

·       Fire Extinguisher

·       Exits

·       Emergency plan location

5.     Parents of juniors 14 and younger are requested to stay at the range during the lesson and may be seated in the mezzanine area of the range

6.     Expectations of athletes

7.     Expectations of coaches (list expectations)

·       To shoot a bow safely, with some proficiency and make archery an enjoyable sport for all

·       Shoot for fun or enter competitions, local, regionals, provincials and national.

·       Information can be found at Archery Alberta and Archery Canada Web Sites

·       Parents, please leave the coaching to the coaches

8.     Range safety rules

·       Range officers control the range

·       Turn off cell phones or put on vibrate.  Take/make calls off the shooting floor including parents

·       No broadheads allowed/ No field points allowed

·       Only “DART” or target points allowed

·       No Running – WALK

·       If the exit door located within the target wall is open or if a bow is placed in front of the shooting line means that someone is behind the target wall and it is not safe to shoot.

·       Clothing

o   Foot wear must be clean and completely cover the foot.  During the winter months please bring indoor footwear.

o   Clothing must be clean and respectable (sweat pants and camouflage clothing is frowned upon)

o   Please try not to wear loose fitting clothing as that can interfere with the string of the bow

o   For your own safety body piercings that may interfere with the bow string path must be removed prior the any lesson.  If they cannot be removed please discuss with a coach.

·       Don’t disturb shooters on the shooting line

·       Loading of arrows and the shooting of arrows occurs only on the shooting line

·       Never cross the shooting line until told to do so

·       Never point a bow and arrow at another person.

·       Check arrow tips and shafts regularly for damage.

·       Check bows for cracks or twisting of limbs regularly

·       Never dry fire a bow

·       Never over draw a bow

·       Archery requires respect on and off the range

·       ANYONE NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES & PROCEEDURES WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE

9.     If you bring a bow into the range it requires an Inspection prior to use for your safety and that of others.

10.  Bow and Arrow assignment

·     You will be assigned appropriate bows and arrows by the coaches.  Note: some bows may need to be shared.

·     These are the bows and arrows you will use throughout the lessons

·     At the beginning of each lesson you will be responsible to obtain:

o   your bows off the wall and place them on the bow rack

o   3 arrows and a ground quiver and place them on the shooting line. Note: ground quivers can be shared.

o   an arm guard

o   a finger tab/glove if  you are using one

·     At the end of each lesson you will be required to place  your bows back on the wall in the appropriate labelled location and return the arm guard and finger tab/glove and the arrows

11.  Have parents return to the mezzanine and proceed with bow and arrow assignments

12.  Go over the whistle system

13.  Start first lesson (WARM UPS).

What Exercises?

WARM-UP Mobility exercises: Slow and controlled movement

1.     Squats – as far as you can. 

2.     Torso Twists – cross arms over chest, slowly turn entire torso and hold 2 secs to the left, 2 to the right.  Repeat. 

3.     Robots – With arms extended to the sides at shoulder height, bend elbows up, palms forward (like a right turn signal).  Keeping elbow locked, rotate shoulders so hand goes forward downwards – alternate arms, like a robot!  Repeat.

4.     Arm circles – Both directions, palms up and down, slow and controlled

5.     Arm slides (not on wall) – think about muscle between shoulder blades

6.     Light bulbs – arms up at chest height, bend elbow so hand points to ceiling, “change the lightbulb” to warm up forearms

7.     Neck Turns and tilts (ear to shoulder) (not rolling)

COOL-DOWN Stretches: static stretches – hold for a few moments

1       Shoulder stretch – arm across body

2       Pec stretch against wall or High 5 with a partner, turn body away from arm, hold.

3       Lats stretch – bent over at waist, hands against wall, or with a partner, pull hips back

4       Hamstrings and Back – drop forward from waist and hang, sway if you like.