Paul Weight's archery journey began 11 years ago when his daughter tried the sport at a birthday party. Inspired, Paul gave it a go himself and soon found a new passion. Today, he runs Tandridge Archers in Oxted, introducing hundreds of people to archery through beginners' courses, parties, corporate events, and since 2025, instructor training.
At 59, Paul reflects on how the Archery GB Instructor Award helped him turn a hobby into a thriving business. “I’d tried archery on holiday and thought the course looked fun,” he says. “But once I started, I realised it could be something bigger, a new direction in my career.”
Though he had some informal experience helping with holiday archery sessions, Paul admits he was nervous at first. “I was worried I’d forget something important and compromise safety,” he recalls. “But with practice, the process and technique came naturally.”
Paul’s original course lasted four days, though it’s now condensed into two. “That’s about right for an instructor,” he says. “There’s more practical time now, which is great for building confidence.”
Picture caption: Paul enjoyed watching the archery competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Safety was a key takeaway. “You want people to have fun, but safety should be second nature. It doesn’t have to feel strict if it’s built into everything you teach.
The course also helped him understand different types of equipment. “I mainly teach recurve barebow, but I also shoot and teach freestyle, longbow, and hunter style. I don’t do compound, just a personal choice.” Paul found the multiple-choice assessment manageable. “If you listen carefully, it’s all there,” he says. He also relied heavily on the course handbook, calling it his “bible,” and still refers to it today.
While the course was good value, Paul notes that finding insurance afterward was tricky. “I wasn’t in a club, so I had no one to ask. I ended up Googling and found options like UK Coaching and Protectivity.”
He’s also made use of the instructor subscription benefits, especially the online courses. “Back then it lasted three years. Now I subscribe to keep learning.”
Paul now trains others and ensures everyone gets the support they need. “On a recent course, I offered to read questions for someone with dyslexia. They didn’t need help in the end and scored 100%.”
Creating Tandridge Archers began as a way to offer local youth a new activity. “It just grew from there,” he says. The course also changed his teaching style. “I used to talk too much. Now I show and explain briefly, then let people try. It works better, especially with neurodiverse archers.”
His advice for future instructors? “Go for it. Have fun, ask questions, and get stuck in. The learning doesn’t stop after the course. Consider the new Instructor+ course or move into coaching.”
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