[Thunk]

I think you'll find a high beginner drop-out rate in whatever sport you look at.

That said, can I climb onto my favourite hobby horse? I'm seriously gobsmacked at the lack of formal coaching ( or 'instruction' if you prefer) in this sport. We make people do a beginners course, and thereafter make the required smiley faces and welcoming noises when they turn up at the club, but that's not enough. People learn quite a lot on a beginners course, and one of the biggest things they learn is how much they don't know. It's OK for them to do the course and then shoot with club equipment for a while after, but they can see the standard of experienced archers, racking up good scores at 90 and 100 metres. What they don't see is any structured way to get from where they are to where they want to be. Is it any surprise that they become despondent and give up?

We need GNAS-sanctioned 'improvers' courses, and people should finish their beginners course knowing that in the ordinary course of events they will have a place on a course to take them up a level in about three months time. We need four or five levels like this, so that the courses are seen as 'stepping stones' to the ultimate goal.

There will of course be those who don't want to be competitive and are happy just plugging away at short-distance targets. That's fine, but the onus should be on them to decline a place on a course rather than for their competitive-minded brethren to go looking for one.

Or am I asking for the moon?