Anyone take their younger children to archery?

[JaniceH]

Due to being a single parent and youngest son being 8, when I go to archery on a Sunday morning (or Thursday evening as well if Im lucky) I have to take him with me. Eldest son aged 14 stays at home, but hes not old enough to have responsibility for youngest one.

Youngest son is not old enough to shoot and so sits on a bench with his Nintendo DS or a quiz book or something. There is generally no other children there and although he sits quietly on his best behaviour (well apart from when Kae gets his sword out ), he does get a bit bored especially when its an hour and a half. He knows hes not meant to wander about or talk loudly or touch anything, so hes almost restricted to sitting on his bench.

Does anyone else take their children with them? If so what do they do. Ive been thinking about getting him a little plastic bow with sucker arrows, but I cant find one that has got a small target (thats roll-up-able) with it.

Any advice would be much appreciated, as its only by him coming with me is enabling me to get out of the house, so I need to prevent him becoming stroppy.

[Trunkles]

We sometimes do have some younger ones but they are accompanied by a non-shooting parent so does not match your situation at all. Good luck.

[FlightyRachel]

Hi Janice, I'm pretty sure my eldest was still 8 when I started him field shooting, and he was by no means the youngest! I've seen one lad transported between targets in his pushchair! He was 9 when he did a beginners' course at mayflower; I think they usually say 10 but I asked nicely and there was no problem. So I would say, get your little boy shooting!

[John (OSF)]

The club may have junior compounds or you could buy one as he doesn't need anything expensive. Ask an experienced compounder club member for advice.
I used to take my daughters along as soon as they expressed an interest (they've all given up now ) it's a great thing to shoot alongside your kids (but your own archery goes nowhere though )

[Pauly]

Why can't he shoot? In our club we have a 7 year old and a couple of 8 year old shooting every week. They use very light bows and targets at between 5 and 10 yards, though one has progressed to 20 yards and is doing very well. They are generally well behaved because their parents also shoot, they all started their beginners course at the same time. If the parents don't shoot they must stay and most decided just to do the course at the same time.

I do appreciate that some clubs have a lower age limit of 12.

[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.

[its my party and]

My 8 yr old went through our beginners course two months ago. He used to sit at the back of the hall with his DS as well almost like he wasn't there. I think the argument is they can shoot but are they mature enough to shoot with adults and understand the etiquette and safety rules. Having been around the club Im sure he has picked up lots of tips already so get a coach to assess him and keep him away from Kae's sword. There are jelly bows and jelly compounds available we have them at our club!

[phil_r_58]

both my girls have used jelly bows, short ones about 10lb draw, at 5 or 10 yards. No need for advanced coaching or official training courses until they get older. As a field archer, it's easy for them to go round with you, and let them shoot close up, no need for using the pegs.

I have seen youngsters at Friskney bowmen shoot GNAS too. My youngest has shot with them. They only did 1/2 a round with her. Sarah was still only 9. Malc Adams & Watch_man & the gang set up the shortest Bristol for them, 20/15/10 yds. The 7/8 yr olds only shot the 15/10 yd ends. I think they used a club night bale too. Well shot in & soft. 10/15 lb jelly & re-curve bows get bouncers on hard bales.

Lianne, now 17, must have been 5 or 6 when she first drew a bow. I was kneeling behind her, and had one hand on the bow helping her aim. the other on her elbow, guiding her draw, until she got the idea. She would have been 7, the minimum age I believe for NFAS membership, when she went round a field course with me & Mike Houghton. She loved it, but ended up in athletics rather than archery. She can still put down an accurate shot though.

Sarah never took an interest until she was 8, and did a bit of "plinking" in the garden range. She had her beginners course with the club coach at 9 on a one to one basis. Standard practise in a lot of field clubs. Now she's 10, and shooting with the county team (GNAS) as reserve a week this coming Sunday in an inter counties shoot. She also gets medals at NFAS unmarked shoots. She thinks people shoot one or the other are a bit silly, "why miss out on all the fun?" And when she hears adults arguing archery politics, or some of the petty rules, she thinks it's a bit stupid too.

So I reckon if there's a will within the club, a 7/8 yr old can shoot. An old soft bale. propped up at ground level, or an old manky stand sawn down, 10/15 yds at the end of the line & you could shoot side by side.

[inkystu]

My eldest son is 8 and has had a go a few times at fairs and things, even my nearly 5 year old has had a go and loved it.

I think it would be best to approach the club captain and explain your situation about not wanting your son to get bored. The final decision though is actually your son's. Whether he wants to give it a go or not. If he has been going with you a while he will already understand how archery works with the rules and etiquette. 8, I feel, is not too young to start as long as he wants to and you are happy to give up some of your shooting time to supervise him. As he will probably not want to shoot for more than 1/2 hour, your shooting time could be shared

I was 9 when I started my beginners course with my mum. (15th may 1977!!) I won the club juvenile champs that August when I was 10, my first NFAS gold at a place I loved called the Land of Nod at the start of september and my first county clout champion mid september of the same year.

Some people take to it, some people dont. Your son may prefer His DS lite or he may prefer archery. Let him decide. (If he goes for the DS get him star wars lego, its great!!)

[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.