Anyone take their younger children to archery?

[Timid Toad]

I have a feeling that 8 is a break point in the child protection legislation for supervision/responsibility etc.
My youngest, now nine, came third in the GNAS July Challenge last year in her category at age eight, and she had been shooting for a few months before that. GNAS don't seem to mind very young archers so its not an insurance issue. As you say, so long as the child can understand and comply with the safety rules, and not interfere with other archers, whats the problem?

[Flying Whale]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Its unfortunate that your club has a minimum age of 10 years to start. I know when I started I was 7, but in more recent years our club has brought that minimum age up to 8. All clubs are different and have different views on what is a correct age for a junior to start shooting. I personally think that starting a junior off at an early age, (say 8) is good because it teaches them about discipline and respect and gives them something to do that is routine based.

Coming from a family where all 3 of us shot and entered tournaments was brilliant. Its a really good sport where the whole family can take part and have great days out together at shoots.

I agree herre. You might try talking to the club to see if perhaps they may reconsider their age limit. It may be something that has been set at the level for ever because nobody has thought to change it.

Both my 2 started at just after 9, but could have started earlier. Our club has an 8 limit, though it is somewhat flexible. We may allow a child to srtart younger, but they would have to come to an assessment session to assess whether they are physically OK, but more importantly whether they are are mentally/emotionally mature enough. Some are not started until well past 8.

It is great to be able to go out to a tournament as a group, and my wife thinks it is great too, since she doesn't shoot and can stay home in peace and do her own thing.


The teaching of discipline and respect is I think great too. My daughter has only recently started and shot her first tournament last weekend. She is an exuberant chatter box, but when she is at the club she is much calmer, and at her first tournament she was great. Made friends, but did was calm and controlled. This was great because I trusted her to be that way, and was able to shoot the tournament my self.



JaniceH, best of luck with whatever you manage to get arranged. I know how hard it is for single parents to arrange activities for them selves. I grew up in a single parent family when my father died shortly before I was born. It was very hard for my mother to get out at times and do stuff. She found ways to do so, and I hope you do too.

[solitarywoman]

I presume you shoot mainly indoors, and by the sounds of it your son is disciplined, must be, he sits for over an hour.

Personally, I think if the choice is between a DS and archery, the latter is the better. What about going before the committee members at the next meeting, and putting your case forward. Tell them he, as like many other juniors, are the future of this sport.

I do think some clubs, even though they have junior members, tend to sway more on concentration to the adults, and in all honesty its the juniors who are the ones to benefit the club more for the future, with longer membership for a start.

With regard to age, I have seen better disciplined children of 8 then those of 12. So, it isn't so much on age its how confident a parent feels their child can be behaved.

And, with regard to a child holding a bow and turning, I would say doubt it...not if a supervising adult in attendance stood alongside, and watching.

Good luck, and if all else fails look for a club that encourages juniors.

[SVL]

According to GNAS juniors may join a club once they are six. However, I agree with Flying Whale that mental maturity is critical to deciding if a junior archer is ready to shoot in a controled environment. My son has been shooting since he was six .... but I doubt my daughter will start that young. He had a little sentry jelly bow (short and great cast) before moving on to a 54'' 18lb wooded trainer bow when he was seven. He loves his archery and shoot most of the short junior rounds and clout. He is eight now and tries the Bristol IV and Metric IV on occassion.

I would approach your club explain the situation and ask them to assess your son, if he wants to shoot. Archery is better than Nintento anyday.

[English Bowman]

We have a minimum age of 12 for children left with us, but use common sense if the parents are staying with the child, so if you were with our club, we'd have no problems with your son shooting. After all if there are any problems then you are there to deal with them immediately. I'd talk to the committee.

Daniel

[Furface]

It really, really does depend on the lad. He has to be able to concentrate long enough, appreciate the reasons for safety procedures, and be physically capable. TBH, I have known youngsters of 5 who meet all those criteria, and so-called "adults" who don't.
There is no GNAS rule for clubs, and they are free to set their own rules (and modify or ignore them). 8 is a common "lowest" age, but I have heard of some that take younger children or set ages as high as 15 (or even refuse to take juniors). It is the club's right to set those rules, so, just because another club takes younger children, it does not mean a club MUST take them on (talking in generalities here - not suggesting anyone has said that).
Janice - you seem to know your lad well, and your comment about looking around hits the nail on the head. I know I'm old fashioned, but a good book often does the trick!

[felixity]

i did my beginners course this year and we had quite a few of kids under 10. the minimum age at my club is 7 and they have to be supervised by an adult at all times. they were all very well behaved, although most of them did slightly shorter sessions than the adults 2 hrs - i think concentration would have waned by the end otherwise.

[phil_r_58]

I think that a lot of clubs and activities, not just archery are being pushed into age limits, not because of maturity issues, but parental responsibility.

We have lived for 23 years in a once small village, but developers have doubled it's size in the last 5 years with infill's and a new estate. These are very expensive houses, £300,000 upwards. Mainly professional people, but some of their kids have been causing havoc in damaging the bus shelter, pub play park and the village hall, through boredom. My partner, a couple of of other women, myself and two friends attempted to set up some activity evenings to give the kids something to do. We had the gift of 2 evenings in the village hall and the grounds. We are all involved in social services, education, a police officer and a prison officer and are all extended CRB checked.

We called a meeting, giving 3 weeks notice, put a flyer through every door and placed adverts around the village calling a get together. We offered to set up two, possibly three evenings in the big village hall to give the kids somewhere to go, activities, refreshments etc. Out of 108 houses in the village, only about 20 people turned up. They were very enthusiastic. Except for the crunch........ VOLUNTEERS.

What these parents wanted was somewhere to leave the kids, let others entertain and look after them, and collect them 3 hours later. I know from coaching experience years ago, that a small number of parents are happy to let little Janet or John try archery, but they want to leave the kids with the club, and wander off elsewhere, leaving the club in loco parentis. Thus to protect ourselves from this small number of parents we maybe have to introduce age limits we are not happy with.

Or maybe I'm just too cynical?

We do accept young kids at Pines Park, but we expect the parents to stay with them, especially if a coach takes them onto the course to try a couple of field targets. In competitions, we expect each kid under 13, to be accompanied on the round by a non shooting parent or sibling over 16.

[Kae]

On another note, sometimes the clubs just haven't got the coaches to be able to look after younger ones. They quite often require a lot more attention, and require someone who has good children skills to deal with them (I'm not talking about being condescending, but you don't treat children how you'd treat an adult).

I can and have coached children, but my time is VERY limited now, and my preference is to coach developing archer's rather than junior beginner's.

Everyone is capable of coaching beginner's, so if you can, volunteer! (You will always be welcome in any reasonable club).

EDIT - Junior coaching policy is one of the points I have put on the agenda for the coaches meeting, that will be happening ASAP (unfortunately real life, work and failing to resign get in the way!).

Kae.

[englishwarbow]

Originally Posted by JaniceH

The club I belong to doesnt let anyone under the age of ten shoot at all. I also dont think hes mature enough yet, I would be worried about him putting an arrow on the bow and turning away from the shooting line with it in his hands if he heard something interesting.

What! I'd find a less rule obssesed club! My lad is 8 easily shoots a 25lb osage/hickory laminate ( and no he's not overbowed he shoots in the old english style) he's been shooting for the last 3 years and as all children are very natural.

On all the shoots I attend there are a lot of young lads of a similar age, they are all left to get on with it, ie everyone has an eye on them but they are allowed to be little lads and never once has there been a issue. I know your young one may seem young but they are often far more responsible than we give them credit for.

As an example at Batsford we had a film crew down and four young lads (including mine) all about 8 to 10 had to perform for the camera. They listesend to what the director wanted and gave him just that, none of this 'never work with children' rubbish and no interefence form the Dads. We where there, being filmed in fact but we know they know so we watched just out of the camera shot but didn't need[o interefere. Incidentally the programme is to be aired on Channel 5 entitled 'The Ghost of the Mary Rose' in the next couple of months and for once they have decent archers including my lad!