Being practical, for most archers coaching will be done by amateurs, either
GNAS coaches or club archers. (amateur in the financial sense). In terms of having 'good' coaching this requires knowledgeable/experienced coaches (again either
GNAS coaches or club archers). At the moment I think you a fair number of reasonably capable
GNAS coaches/club archers coaching and possibly an equal number of clueless
GNAS coaches/club archers coaching. Unfortunately at present a
GNAS coaching qualification is meaningless (not the coaches' fault the product of a pathetic coaching training system).
GNAS is currrently attempting to do something about it's coaching system and hopefully in the future you will have qualified coaches who at least, at Level 1, know which end of a bow is up.
If the revised coaching system starts producing competent coaches (maybe a big if with
GNAS' record), then if all the existing so called coaches requalify and (because having a coaching qualification is for the first time worth having) you get a large influx of new coaches then you may end up with sufficient coaches at club level long term to make a qualification a requirement for club level coaching.
If this Utopia is ever achieved and you have competent coaches at all levels then there really would be no market for (financially) professional coaches. Coaches with an established track record at top level may charge for there services but this would just reflect that there are not sufficient top level coaches within the
GNAS system.
**Number of people who have a lot of fun shooting based on techniques taught by 'clueless' coaches = Lots.**
Dave very true. I would replace 'Lots' with 'Most' that's the reason
GNAS have never historically bothered to act like a professional sporting body - not what the membership wanted. However it would be nice if the opportunity was there for archers' to develop with something akin to the US JOAD system. Personally my 'coaching' involved a 10 minute group session when I began archers - and that's about it. I shoot for 'fun', don't give a #### about medals etc., but really I shoot because it's a challenge to shoot well so always looking to improve (as long as its doesn't involve things like physical training and endless practice
