Archery for All Ages

By Brenda Potts

March 1st, 2010

Archery is a universal sport. Like golf, it is a sport for all ages. I joke that I grew up with a bow in one hand and a Barbie doll in the other. My dolls are long gone, but the bow is still an important part of my life.

While working for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, I became certified as a National Bowhunter

Education Foundation archery instructor. Over the years we taught thousands of people, from 4 to 74, to shoot a bow. We taught kids to shoot bows in a big tent at the state fair, and at special events where hundreds were bused in for field days. I lost track of how many women became archery enthusiasts during courses we taught at “Becoming An Outdoorswoman” weekends.

Today the National Archery in the Schools Program is extremely successful, teaching thousands of children how to shoot a bow and arrow as part of their school curriculum. Local pro shops have archery classes, often filled with kids and adults standing side by side on the shooting line.

Often, a child’s first bow-and-arrow set is a cheap combo purchased from a bigbox chain store. The equipment is less than precise, but it is fun for the kids to fling their first arrow, watching it fly through the air (and not always knowing where it will hit). If this is the only equipment the child has for an extended period of time, he or she will soon get discouraged as his or her skill level increases but the equipment does not perform.

Bows should be fitted to match an individual’s draw length and strength. Since kids grow so quickly, this can get expensive, especially if you are buying a new bow every year or two to fit their growing proportions. Mathews Archery has the perfect solution in its Genesis line of bows.

The Genesis System eliminates let-off on light draw weight bows so there are no specific draw length requirements. The result is a bow that fits virtually everyone (15 inches to 30 inches) and that a young

person can’t outgrow. The Genesis bow is adjustable from 10 to 20 pounds and releases energy comparable to a 35-pound recurve bow. It is available in six colors: blue raspberry, key lime, red cherry, lemon yellow, camouflage and orange. The starter kit includes the bow, five aluminum arrows, belt quiver, arm guard, two target faces and the owner’s manual.

Archery is a family sport. There are 3D competitions in every state, and indoor and outdoor practice ranges all across the country. It is also something you can do in your own back yard (as long as city ordinances and the terrain allow). Archery teaches kids discipline, responsibility and self-confidence. Whether you shoot for

fun, competition or hunting, archery is a lifelong sport you can share with your family, or one you can use to meet new friends who enjoy the same hobby