AC Delco Bowmen Archery Club
Welcome to AC Delco Bowmen Archery Club
New Members, We’re glad you’ve joined us – here’s what you need to know…
GENERAL INFORMATION
The day-to-day running of our club is administered by a committee made up of club members voted in at the AGM. The governing body for archery in the UK is Archery GB and the club operates under the Rules of Shooting which can be found in full on their website, along with lots of useful information about competition and all things archery-related. https://archerygb.org/
The vast majority of our club information, including our constitution, tournament details, news, and the list/photos of our coaching team can be found here on our club website.
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Also here are our Social Media accounts specific to us…
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Private Facebook Group
(will require an access request)
Public Facebook page
​Every effort will be made to check that identifiable archers are happy to be included in photographs on our website/public page. Please make sure that a committee member is made aware if you would prefer your image not to be included.
If you’re a user of Facebook please feel free to add your own pictures, comment on posts, and of course ask questions. We ask that all comments be respectful and that no bad language or inappropriate media is published. Failure to comply will result in you being removed from the group.
NEXT STEPS
As a new member, you are under no pressure to purchase your own equipment straight away, although you will have more restricted access as a coach needs to be available to open the container.
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Where possible you may use the beginner's equipment, this will be dependent on if we are running a beginners’ course.
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This will be the recurve bow (ideally the one you used on your course) which is arguably the most commonly used bow.
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Access to the equipment is typically on Saturdays and Tuesday evenings (during the summer).
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Whilst you have been taught to shoot recurve there are other styles which you are permitted to shoot. These include:
RECURVE
Recurve is also known as Olympic Archery. This is because it is the only style of archery used in the Olympic games (this may change in the future). Used during the beginners’ course, recurve bows have limbs that curve away from the archer. Recurve is widely used worldwide, especially in target archery.
The limbs and size of the riser affect the overall length and draw weight of the bow. As you gain more experience with your bow and setup, you are likely to change the limbs for higher draw weight, enabling you to shoot with more power and distance.
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Recurve bows can use stabilisers, pressure buttons, and different styles or arrow rests to improve performance.
As a beginner, you are likely to be using limbs of less than 30 lbs draw weight.
BAREBOW
Barebow archery is a style of archery that uses a recurve bow without sights, stabilizers, or other accessories. It's a basic style of archery that uses modern materials.
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Equipment
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Barebow archers use bows, arrows, and strings that are free of any blemishes, marks, or sights that could help with aiming.
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The bow's face and sight window cannot have any laminations, marks, or blemishes.
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Techniques
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String walking: Move your fingers up and down the string to adjust for different distances.
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Instinctive aiming: Focus on the target instead of the sights.
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Gap shooting: Estimate the distance between the target and the arrow tip, and adjust your aim accordingly.
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Learning
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Barebow archery is popular for beginners because it uses simple bows and is easy to learn when shooting at a short distance.
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However, it can be difficult to progress, so beginners often switch to aiming with a sight.
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Competition
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Barebow archers usually shoot from 50 meters back at a target face that measures 122 centimeters.
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Competitions include individual, mixed team, and team events.
COMPOUND
Using a series of cables and pulleys, known as “cams”, the bow uses a levering system, which once drawn past a certain point, require almost no strength to shoot.
The limbs are much shorter and stiffer compared to recurve.
LONGBOW
The traditional bow is made simply from a wooden pole and string. Due to the simplicity and lack of technological advancement, it is the most difficult to master and shoot accurately.
PROGRESSION / DEVELOPMENT
As you progress, you may like to set your own challenges of distance, enter some fun shoots at the club, and consider…
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Archery as a sport has a number of classifications and awards for all abilities, enabling you to set goals by practicing and attending courses, competitions, and events.
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https://archerygb.org/resources/outdoor-classifications-and-handicaps
Please speak to a Coach if you would like to discuss how to be awarded any particular badge or goals you have set. They will help you guide through all the different options available to you, based on your preferred bow type
SHOOTING LOCATIONS & TIMES
The field at Highbridge Farm is available for members' use at any time, light permitting once a “probationary” period has been completed.
This period is to help ensure that new members are safe to shoot, manage equipment, and are aware of club rules. A member of the committee or a coach needs to be on-site whilst you shoot for the first 10 visits and to sign off your booklet.
There are photos of the committee/coaches in the tea shed. Once the coaches are happy that you are safe and confident – you’ll get your membership tag and the code to the gate, so you can shoot when you like within daylight hours (Archery GB rules apply).
The best time for new archers to come and shoot generally, is a Saturday afternoon, when it’s a little quieter and there are coaches available to help you improve. If it’s not going to be a weekly thing for you – do ring/email and “book” so we can be sure there are coaches there for you. Other days/times are available by appointment during this period.
You can use the equipment you used in the intro course for a few months (aside from when Intro courses are running, where they may be in use) whilst on the field until you are ready to buy your own. Obviously, if you need to use our equipment, you do need to confirm that someone with access to the equipment container is there. Once you’re ready to explore second-hand or new equipment - the coaches can help you with this too!
Once the coaches are happy that you are safe and confident – you’ll get your initial membership tag swapped for a named membership tag and the code to the gate, so you can shoot when you like within daylight hours (Archery GB rules apply)
OUTDOOR LOCATION
The main club days are Saturdays and Tuesday evenings.
On a Saturday, we have a coffee break at 11.30 for some social time - coffee/tea/squash and cakes/biscuits are available and there’s a donations box provided.
We have a rota for sorting refreshments - do add your name (the list is on the board in our “tea tent” ) when you can. This involves bringing milk and biscuits /cakes on your day, setting out in the “tea tent” and ringing the bell at 11.30. Keep your receipts and attach them to the form (#1 below,) for our treasurer to be refunded. Afterward, do a quick wipe down – wipes, bin bags, etc are all provided.
We ask that everyone puts their used crockery in the plastic box and Alex will collect and run through the dishwasher.
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Location can be found here: Outdoor Range
INDOOR SHOOTING
From October to March we also shoot indoors on a Tuesday evening between 6.30-9.30 p.m.
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Location:
Thornden School Sports Hall,
Winchester Road,
Chandler’s Ford
SO53 2DW.
Currently, the additional hire fees for the indoor shoot are included in our membership fees.
CLUB COMMITTEE
The Club has a committee of volunteer members who organise activities within the club and help to ensure it is run in a professional manner. Executive Committee Members are elected at the AGM and serve for a maximum of 3 years, other Committee Members are co-opted for 1 year:
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Details of the committee and duties of the positions can be found here: Club Committee Page
COACHING TEAM
We have an awesome team of coaches, all DBS checked and certified by Archery GB. They’ll be delighted to help when they can.
Our coaches’ support is included in your membership and can take you from beginner to competition standard. You’ll spot them on the field in their red jackets and anyone can approach them and ask for assistance.
If they are not in their red jacket – then they are likely shooting themselves. You can see pictures of the coaching team (so you know who to look out for) here.
CLUB SHOOTING RULES / ETIQUETTE
The club operates under a number of rules and etiquette, please take time to familiarise yourself with these
FIELD MAINTENANCE
The club also has a number of general housekeeping and maintenance rules to help keep the range in good order.
CLUB CLOTHING
In practice, you can wear what you like to shoot but avoid anything that dangles and could catch in the bow while shooting and always wear enclosed footwear.
In competitions, it's not permitted to wear denim, camouflage, or clothing with large non-archery related logos.
The club has a range of clothing with the club badge and the option to be personalised to help you stand out on the shooting line.
Items include sublimated polo tops, hoodies, gilet body warmers, headwear, and wet weather tops.
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Full details of the items can be found here: Club Clothing Page
Terminology and Common Phrases:
Below is a list of useful terminology to familiarise yourself with before heading to the range:
Field Captain:
A person with responsibility for the shoot.
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Target Captain:
Archer who records scores.
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Shooting Line:
A line where an archer stands to shoot at a target.
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Waiting Line:
5 metres behind Shooting Line.
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Come Down:
Slowly relax the bow string tension without shooting the arrow until the bow is at rest.
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Fast:
Immediately STOP and ‘come down’. Remove the arrow from the string and put it in the quiver.
Wait for the next instruction. This happens when there is an immediate safety issue.
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Whistle Blasts:
1 blast: start shooting
3 blasts: collect arrows
5 blasts: FAST (stop shooting)