A question mostly for disabled archers

[Kellog]

Hi,

We've just started back at Uni this week, and at one of our Have-A-Go sessions we had a disabled archer (complete beginner, but keen to shoot, and has joined). Shes in a wheel chair, tho *can* walk/stand but only for short periods. So will be shooting from her chair.

My question is this..... is there anything specific that she needs or would be a good idea?

Also how do quivers work on wheelchairs? I've seen disabled archers with quivers on or attached to their chairs... how do they work?
I've also seen wheelchair recurve archers with padding on the wheel.... is that something that is home made or something that is brought and is it needed?

Sorry if this is a little confusing! My coaching and shooting experience is mostly standing or seated/wheelchair barebow, and we're going to be lookin to teach her Olympic stlye so the practicalities of long rods and bow rotation is a bit lost on me. (and the nearest wheel chair archer I know is a member of Chorley Bowmen... which is a bit far to go!)

Also for competitions..... is there a form or any red tape needed to be done for her to be able to stay in her chair on the line? (this may sound premature, but as a Uni club our first league match is in about a month!)

Louise

[buzz lite beer]

Not a Disabled archer, more an unable archer myself, However have shot alongside Jim Buchanan, Sandy Gregory and other top wheelchair shooters, plastic tubes attached to tubing of chairs with those things that hold feeders on budgie cages make for good quivers, padding on the spokes of the target side wheel prevents limb entanglement and subsequent damage. As far as I'm aware if say there is three on a boss there is no problem for her to stay on the shooting line but then again she's in a wheelchair that I assume she is capable of self propulsion so there is no real need for her to stay on the line anyway, spotting scopes are usually attached to the chair at some point though bino's probably more convenient, another accessory regularly used is a low profile arm rest on the target side or removing the chair arm completely.

[Shirt]

She's a uni archer. Unless she's got considerable cash backing to buy her own kit, your time is better spent elsewhere.

[Meddler]

Originally Posted by Shirt

She's a uni archer. Unless she's got considerable cash backing to buy her own kit, your time is better spent elsewhere.

Oh dear, a somewhat infelicitous remark if I may make so bold.

Kellog, things to watch out for would be string clearance on the wheel, specially at shorter distances. A shorter bow may help with that, or even (God forbid) a compound. Sometimes getting the archer to shuffle across to the side of the chair nearest the target may help, but depending on the wheel chair construction, she may well slide back to the centre of the chair. Although I believe blocks of foam may help to wedge the archer in place.

[andrew.paterson]

Originally Posted by Shirt

She's a uni archer. Unless she's got considerable cash backing to buy her own kit, your time is better spent elsewhere.

Bit of a strange comment there, because someone is disabled do not bother spending time/money with them, how inclusive, does that apply to any other members of our community!!!

With respect to tournaments it is advisable to inform the Tournament Organiser of any particular requirements an archer may have.

- Some wheelchair archers can struggle to get off the line quickly, so prefer to stay on the line for the benefit of those around them.
- Some archers prefer to have a target close to toilet facilities, if they cannot walk far\fast for instance
- Some archers may not be able to collect their arrows. If an archer is lucky they can nominate someone to score their arrows for them (helpful to have someone at the target to fight your cause for a linecutter).
- I did have a request once from an archer that was dyslexic, so found it difficult to score - so I just made sure that the archer was on a target with one of my club members (and was told that they must score), and would not be put in the situation of having to explain that they were unable to score

I must say I have heard some terrible comments on the line about disabled archers, which is shameful. A club member that I shoot with was on a target with myself. Due to the fact a number of years ago he had broken his back he finds walking difficult and is classified a disabled archer, and shoots for GB. I obviously nominated myself to score and collect his arrows. To his dismay an archer on the target next to us made the comment "That isn't fair he is saving energy by not collecting his own arrows, he should start with a negative score to even things out". He was sorely tempted to respond with "Well maybe I should break your neck, and put you in leg braces, and then we can see what is fair!", but then again it is just best to ignore idiots.

[SVL]

Originally Posted by Shirt

She's a uni archer. Unless she's got considerable cash backing to buy her own kit, your time is better spent elsewhere.

She wants to take up archery and is just as deserving of Kellogs time as any able bodied uni archer.

[hypertigger]

i think another thing i've seen is to make sure your wheelchair archer is high enough in the chair to stop chair getting in the way of the chair, the alternative has already been suggested - shorter bow or compound!

i think you also need to make sure she has good posture in her chair, and when outdoors kept warm!

[Andyakashrek]

Firstly just because she is disabled why do you think she is not worth bothering with shirt? I sincerely hope your view is not echoed by others. I am disabled and really appreciate my time shooting, limited though it is. Achieved a first and a second place this year. I also do not work my sole income being benefits, therefore by your twisted thinking I am not worth the effort. I have received two grants from a charity enabling me to buy kit so that i can shoot, and very grateful I am too.
Rant over.
The key to coaching disabled people is trying different ways of doing things and seeing what works for them. Also listen to them and try to understand their needs, anything can be overcome with a little lateral thinking.

[Tony_zelah]

Disabled archer who's in a wheelchair and also a GNAS Coach Andyakashrek send me a pm I'll see if i can be of any help.

[Shirt]

Strangely enough, I was talking to a girl in a very similar situation at BUSA Outdoors this year... she'd started at uni and had tried shooting with a club bow, but really didn't get on with it. Apparently it was only when she got her own bow that fitted her and her situation that she started to properly enjoy the sport.

University clubs have enough problems with kit in the sense that the number of people using a given bow will be high, and thus the kit has to fit as many people as possible. One case last year which Kellog might remember had me giving some advice to a girl with serious back problems... she said she was really interested in the sport and enjoyed it but probably couldn't go on because she found it immensely difficult to draw the bow. Again, a case where equipment is preventing someone from getting the most out of this sport.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against disabled archers (well, except when they put me out in a head to head as happened earlier this year ) but where the equipment available may not match what is needed and instead of someone enjoying and participating in the sport they find it difficult and unpleasant (or worse, hurt themselves) there is a problem. Hence why I suggested that money was going to be an issue... you pointed that out yourself, Andy. It's not a case of "Oh, god, disabled archer, difficult", it's a case of "specific equipment may be needed, can they find the funding"?