How to identify 'talent'

[tel]

Can you outline the setup that your shooters first pick up? Just curious to compare it to the 'evolution' applied over six lessons which seems to be the norm here.

[Marcus26]

This varies depending on who the shooter ends upworking with.
If it's me then they usually start with a KAP Winstar, Evo2 or Samick Agulla bow.
They will then work for 4-6 weeks on structure using a stretch band, followed by SPTs and then clicker practise.
If they get part of the structure wrong they are demoted back a step till they get it right.

After they are comfortable with structure they then may proceed to longer distances, but this may take 3-6 months.

If they start with the other 'coaches' then they fire arrows at the target willy nilly and are usually broken in 3-6 months.

The structure work we do means our shooters perform better and stick with it longer. I get almost no drop outs.

[JohnK]

I wish we were able to apply a similar coaching methodology at our club, Marcus. Unfortunately I'm just one person, and the other members involved in coaching wouldn't go for that. I can't even get them to use blank boss for our beginners' courses.

[tel]

Our lot universally go for six sessions of which the first three or four are bare boss, increasing distances, with a fibreglass barebow then the remainder with a wooden take-down, up to the twenty yard limit (all indoor). Not exactly comprehensive......

[Marcus26]

It's not for everyone JohnK and I am very selective with it. Almost no adults and if they have the wrong attitude they don't get invited. The ones who do however enjoy it alot and also perform very well very fast.
My club doesn't mind, better than having nothing, plus it works.

[cliveanne]

I think the stance tells me a lot. Determination without realy trying & getting the required result. < just like him (Her?)

[Barry C]

I think people who listen to good advice, can try things out and pick up the form quickly are tallented. Playing other coordination sports beforehand is usually an advantage. Maybe also the people who ask lots of questions nd have a real passion.

[Little Miss Purple]

Nice to see you again Barry - thought you'd lost your way to AIUK!

Talent, tricky one to identify. I feel enthusiasm from the start plays a big part here. Talent may take time to develop ( years), people all learn at different speeds. Commitment must also play a part too, as does actually listening and willing to try new things. Some personalities are better suited to archery than others. Overthinkers have to work so much harder.

I don't think good scores early on are a good indication of talent. I shot two 546 Portsmouths within two months of starting shooting recurve, then I hit a brick wall and slid down it in a crumpled heap. I blame this on lack of coaching and trying to work things out for myself, and a goodly amount of overexpectation. I gave up out of frustration and took up Compound after six months with recurve.

I feel good archers are built from hard work and not giving up when the going gets tough. Patience and time....and good coaching.

[JohnK]

Enthusiasm does play a very big part.

There's a junior in my club who's been shooting for just over a year now. When he started, you wouldn't have picked him as a future decent archer as his form was so horrible. However, I've never seen a kid work harder at his shooting, and as a result his form is much better and he gets a medal at nearly every tournament he attends. In a way, it's more gratifying to see that than the kid who joins and shows instant talent.