Getting in to Archery:

Because of the potential for mishap, the rules governing who can and cannot shoot are very strict. Before you can start shooting you must satisfy the committee that you are safe enough to handle a bow and arrow. The usual way to do this is to go through our Beginners’ Course. But, before you sign up for a Beginners’ Course you could come to one the Club Open days that we run in the Summer Season.

Open Days:

The Club runs Open Days during the Summer Season. For a nominal fee you will be able to spend an afternoon with the Club Coaches to have an extended try of archery. All the equipment is provided: you only need to turn up properly dressed. The photographs below show participants working with some of the Club Coaches at recent Open Days.

D.A.S. Beginners’ Course:

The Society runs Beginners’ Courses from time to time, depending on demand. They are run under the auspices of the sport’s governing body, GNAS. The course normally consists of 4-6 two hour lessons on consecutive Saturday mornings. The course takes place at one of several venues, depending on the number of students and the weather. Indoors venues are either the 8^th Worcester Scout Hut in Claines or our indoor facility at Dodderhill. Weather permitting we can go out doors at our ground at Droitwich Rugby Club.

The Society will provide all the equipment needed for the training sessions. All you need to do is turn up (suitably dressed!)

During the course you will be taught how to handle a bow safely, and the basics of shooting an arrow. It will not turn you into Robin Hood overnight, but it will give you a good grounding that you can rapidly develop to whatever level you wish.

If you are interested in a beginners course here are the documents you need to get started:

Here is an outline of what is provided on our current beginners’ course. It provides you with answers to most of the commonly asked questions. Please take the time to read through this document (Adobe Acrobat required).

If you are interested in signing up on a beginners then here is the current program. On it you will see an indication of when the next course with free spaces will start (Adobe Acrobat required).

If you have decided to give it a go, here is the application form. Please complete it and post it to the address stated at the bottom of the form (Adobe Acrobat required).

D.A.S. Novices’ Development Program:

Uniquely to Droitwich Archery Society, beginners who join the club from the Beginners’ Course will be offered a further, less formal, instruction sessions. This will further improve your technique, introduce you to other club members and generally ease your transition from beginner to club archer.

Finally, for those interested in going to tournaments, some of the club members have offered to be on-hand to help you in going to your first tournament. This will be the ‘Western’ hosted by Wyre Forest Company of Archers in early June. This a local event, chosen for it’s enjoyability & relaxed atmosphere.

Equipment:

We do not recommend that you purchase any equipment before the end of your Beginners’ Course. The club will lend you sufficient equipment to complete the course, and that loan will continue during the Novices’ Development Program. As part of the program an Equipment Night will be arranged. A local archery shop will be available to discuss your equipment needs, offer advice & demonstrate suitable kit. By the end of that program you will be expected to have the majority of your own equipment, and the club will require the loaned equipment for it’s other Summer activities.

Please do take the opportunity to discuss equipment with other members of the club before you buy. It is all to easy to spend considerable sums of money on equipment that is not suitable and will, in short order, put you off the sport altogether.

West Midlands Novices’ Tournament:

Every year, towards the end of the Summer season, a local club hosts the ‘Annual Novices Tournament’. This is limited to archers from the West Midlands Region who have been in the sport for less than 1 year.

Traditionally DAS put in a strong showing, and often win a clutch of medals. If you are interested in attending, the club will provide help and support.

The club Competitions Secretary will have the paperwork to enable you to enter this tournament around mid-summer. If in doubt, ask!

Alternative ways to train:

Occasionally we are approached by individuals who cannot get to our Beginners’ Course for one reason or another. In these cases one of our coaches may volunteer to coach them to the required standard on club nights. This relies entirely on the goodwill of the coaches concerned, and represents another chunk out of their already dwindling personal shooting time.

Going forward:

The Society runs a comprehensive coaching program throughout the year. Details of this can be found on the Coaching page.