Visually Impaired Archery

[grimsby archer]

Thought I'd pen (ok keyboard) a few lines to tell you about the one day course we had in Lincolnshire last Sunday:

Coaching Visually Impaired Archers!

Sue Habgood and Malcolm (sorry malcolm, forgot your surname) from the British Blind Sports Association (BBS) gave a presentation and practical workshop for qualified coaches to learn about archery for visually impaired people.

The presentation was very interesting and covered the particular requirements specific to visual impairment including obvious stuff like not walking away without saying "good bye" (the VI might not realise youve gone!) down to the more technical stuff like use of the tactile aiming (sighting?) systems.

the practical workshop started with us trying out spectacles that give the wearer a feel for what visually impaired people can see. Tunnel vision, blurred vision etc. We tried shooting in these specs too (under very controlled safe conditions obviously). A great laugh, but serious too.
We had a practical demo of the tactile aiming system (this seemed to be what everyone was interested in) and all had a go at shooting with it, eyes closed. During the afternoon we were visited by 4 visually impaired people (political correctness takes lots of typing) 2 of whom had shot before and 2 who were "archery virgins". We all thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Apparently there are only about 60 active VI archers in the country and that is hampering the efforts of those who would like to see vi-archery as a paralympic sport. I made the assumption that as archery was an olympic sport, it would be a paralympic sport in all its forms - wrong!

Anyhow, if your coaches group want a fantastic fun day I can recommend this course

[geoffretired]

I attended a course recently where one presentation was about spinal chord injury patients being given archery lessons. The smiling faces were a treat!

[not dead yet]

Originally Posted by geoffretired

I attended a course recently where one presentation was about spinal chord injury patients being given archery lessons. The smiling faces were a treat!

on a serious note coached a VI archer and went to Italy with him. what an experience.

got asked about going over to coach some club of italians, bow set ups etc. were abysmal.

glad for all the initial help from NH bronte

pete

[Deadeye Doc]

Over the next bank holiday there will be a Burntwood round at Bronte Archers weekend shoots. Yorkshire Archery Association - news and events
I do not know if there have been any VI archers entered yet but each year for the last three years we have had this round going on at our Double FITA. It is the first time that our Spring Bank holiday shoot has had a VI round. Come and watch. The VI archers are remarkably skilled. Better still, come and shoot!

[SVL]

Good Info.
I have been running a few have a go sessions for VI archers (juniors and seniors) for the past two years. I think it is one of the best thing we do at the club. As a coach the thing to remember is teaching a VI archers is not much different to teaching a sighted archer.
See if you have a local Actionaires club, or contact Action for Blind People and organise a have a go session...... it may be one of the best things you do.
You can even get grants for buying tactile sights... try the Kellogg Active Living fund Active Living Fund | Corporate responsibility | Company | Kellogg's

Also try to contact British Blind Sport Archery section bbsarchery.org.uk for lots of useful information, as you never know what you may be asked about VI archery. I found David Poyner to be very helpful, he provided me with information on how to make foot markers and lots of encouragement.

So far I know of one person who took up archery following the sessions. I hope more will do so as we try to make our sport more accessible.


..... one thing I am curious about. During your course you tried being in the same situation as some of the VI archers you may be coaching. I remember being on a course about coaching disabled performers and being told you should never try to simulate the disability as what you experience will never be the same as the disabled performer. Do you think the special glasses helped you understand the different types of visual impairment, as I have sometimes had difficulty in understanding the description of some visual impairments.

[grimsby archer]

Originally Posted by SVL

..... one thing I am curious about. During your course you tried being in the same situation as some of the VI archers you may be coaching. I remember being on a course about coaching disabled performers and being told you should never try to simulate the disability as what you experience will never be the same as the disabled performer. Do you think the special glasses helped you understand the different types of visual impairment, as I have sometimes had difficulty in understanding the description of some visual impairments.

Thanks for the comment about the funding.
Yes, using the glasses helped get an idea of the problems faced by vis. Shutting your eyes cuts your visual input off completely and is a situation most of us can cope with easily. Its not unusual. Tunnel vision or other impediments allow you some vision and I found I desperately tried to use it, however little, which was disconcerting. Like being in an unfamiliar place when the lights go out. On the other hand, this was an immediate change causing considerable "brain shock", where as vis live with this day in day out and presumable get used to it and/or adapt.
I also did a course on coaching disabled (scUK) but honestly, try a wheelchair for an hour. Sure, none of these things give you a real feel for the challenges involved, in the same way that 2 weeks in a foreign country doesnt give you a real feel for the culture and way of life there, but it sure gives you some small insight into how big the mountain is (in both cases)

[phil_r_58]

My dad is "VI", he is 100% blind in the left eye, and has some residual vision in the right eye. He describes it as looking at the world down a smarties tube on a misty day.

At nearly 80 yrs old, he laughs with scorn at PC words like "VI". He's nearly blind and his eyes are B***ered is his description. His attitude in his words are, "t'owd eyes may be B*****D, but thas plenty in't graveyard would swap places wi mi". At the day centre he goes too to meet people, his advice to others with disabilities is usually, "Shurrup mooanin n girron wi it"

Mum by the way, is wheelchair bound. They refuse any help from the social services, and live comfortably in a bungalow, working out how to get things done as a team. Dad pushes the wheelchair, mum does her "Golden Shot" impressions, forward, left a bit, stop.

The house is always tidy, the laundry done, and food on the table. Don't underestimate what those with disabilities can achieve !!!

[clickerati]

Our own lewney's dad is VI, too, and I bet he could shoot the pants off of anyone on this forum!! Plus he's an awesome musician

[SVL]

Originally Posted by phil_r_58

Don't underestimate what those with disabilities can achieve !!!

Totally agree with you.

[Meddler]

A contact you may want to hang on to in NCAS is Helen George. She does a lot of work with handicapped and VI archers. PM me for e-mail contact details, if required.

Iain.