Joining a club

[jedijess]

Hi, i have had my beginners coaching (private) and have yet to join a club. i am totally desperate to join one. The one i was looking at joining, requires me to do a beginners course- doesn't start till the 30th of April- i can't wait that long! is that a standard thing? Joining a club do's and don't's?

Thanks,

[napolienne]

Originally Posted by jedijess

Hi, i have had my beginners coaching (private) and have yet to join a club. i am totally desperate to join one. The one i was looking at joining, requires me to do a beginners course- doesn't start till the 30th of April- i can't wait that long! is that a standard thing? Joining a club do's and don't's?

Thanks,

The having to wait is, unfortunately, a standard thing. Club beginner's courses (like pretty much everything in the archery world) are run almost entirely by volunteers who have their own shooting to take care of too, so you have to allow a bit of slack! Personally I'm responsible for four beginner's courses a year, meaning some people have to wait in the region of 3 months for a course. Would I like to run more courses? Yes. Will I? No, not whilst I have a full time job and remain an active archer! A volunteer organisation just doesn't have the capacity to deliver on demand beginner's tuition - a shame but true.

That said, it is curious that the club want you to do their course if you already did a private one. How involved was the training you've had? What did it cover?

[phil_r_58]

Originally Posted by jedijess

Hi, i have had my beginners coaching (private) and have yet to join a club. i am totally desperate to join one. The one i was looking at joining, requires me to do a beginners course- doesn't start till the 30th of April- i can't wait that long! is that a standard thing? Joining a club do's and don't's?

Thanks,

Or you could contact Lawton Field bowmen, stoke on Trent, 07989 704478. I believe that is near alsager ? You will find that most field archery clubs will put you before bureaucracy.

See NFAS (National Field Archery Society) - Latest News and look at the club directory. There may be other clubs in your area.

The club myself and my daughter joined last easter, (pines Park) had arranged for the club coach to do our introductory course within 7 days of making first telephone contact. The cost of the course was then counted as a years membership for my daughter. As a returner, I was given a shadowed trip round the course by the club coach to verify that I was a competent archer and signed off on the spot.

The NFAS and club fees actually come to less than a years GNAS membership alone. And contrary to what people tell you, field archers do not stand on one leg peeping round a tree to shoot, wearing medieval costume and shooting a longbow. We (members of the EFAA and NFAS) were shooting compound bows, peep sights and releases several years before some organisations recognised them. EFAA clubs, also shoot marked distances, but in a woodland setting, if there is a club near you. See, EFAA Homepage

If people are having to wait up to 3 months to be allowed to join a club, then no wonder we have difficulty in retaining new members or actually getting those interested while their interest is still fresh to join up.

[jedijess]

The training i have had has pretty much covered everything, i am starting to get groups etc. Where are the Lawton Field Bowmen based? i appreciate that beginners courses are run by volunteers as i know someone who does coach at a club. Thanks

[english_archer]

Originally Posted by phil_r_58

If people are having to wait up to 3 months to be allowed to join a club, then no wonder we have difficulty in retaining new members or actually getting those interested while their interest is still fresh to join up.

At Friskney bowmen we carry our own club insurance so no need for set begeiners courses newcomers can turn up and shoot under supervision of one of the club coaches (or any "competent" archer) which maes us very accessable to new members this same insurance also covers non G.N.A.S. members to enter competions on our club field usually nfas or efaa members but we also have regular vists from the friends of lincoln castle longbow club
And before anyone starts saying that must cost a packet our membership fees for adults is only £20 a year

[jedijess]

Am i able to join GNAS without joining a club? Would this mean that if i had GNAS insurance i could join any club? confused!

[napolienne]

Originally Posted by jedijess

The training i have had has pretty much covered everything, i am starting to get groups etc. Thanks

In that case ask the club coach to assess you first. If he/she sees you're fine and fit to shoot unsupervised then you won't need to do any further courses before joining.

Phil - I didn't mean a 3 month wait to join the club (which happens after your BC), but a 3 month wait for a course. I appreciate this isn't ideal but, quite frankly, I have no more time to give.

[jedijess]

Does anyone know how i would become a GNAS member? sorry i no nothing!

[napolienne]

Originally Posted by jedijess

Does anyone know how i would become a GNAS member? sorry i no nothing!

You usually do it through the club you join (ie the club sends off membership returns and fees on your behalf). It is possible to affiliate directly to the GNAS, though relatively few people do it. More information and contact details can be found here.

[Jenny]

Originally Posted by napolienne

I didn't mean a 3 month wait to join the club (which happens after your BC), but a 3 month wait for a course. I appreciate this isn't ideal but, quite frankly, I have no more time to give.

3 months is good, imho. I had to wait over 18 months and even then I think it was a cancellation (only found out the day before it started!)


~Jenny~