You might not have the gear or any idea how it all works but we'll soon have you hitting the target like a pro!
All around the country, clubs run beginners’ courses tailored to the needs of their communities, which are delivered by qualified coaches. Courses can vary from club to club, but they will all share some things in common. You can use our club finder navigation tool to help and book your beginners’ course.
You might also like to begin your archery story at one of our annual Big Weekend events, when clubs across the country open their doors to welcome the general public to try archery for the first time. Find out more information about this year’s Start Archery Week, 14-22 May 2022.
You can also try archery at one of our approved centres which include holiday parks, tourist attractions and organisations like the National Trust and scouts.
All equipment is provided, and everyone is insured during the sessions. Courses are typically delivered as group sessions. One 90-minute session per week is the average, and the course is usually delivered over a six-week period in which you will receive an introduction to target archery and be taught the correct shooting technique. Over the beginners’ course you’ll also learn about safety, etiquette and the rules of shooting, so if you decide to join afterwards you can get started at the club sessions right away.
Dress for the weather and wear flat shoes. Suncream and water is a good idea if it's sunny. Long hair should be tied up and glasses or sunglasses or a sunhat can be worn.
At the end of the course, the club will normally invite you to join, at which time you would usually also become a member of Archery GB. Archery GB provides the infrastructure for the sport, sends you a membership card that allows you to shoot almost anywhere in the world, and keeps you up to date through its magazine, ezine, website and social media.
For more information about starting out in archery, check out our Beginners Guidebook.
As with many sports, archery can be done with basic equipment. As you progress, you may find that tailoring your kit can help improve your technique and your shot. It’s up to you how technical you want to make it!
Archery, like any other sport, can involve a large range of equipment and accessories. However, to get started all you really need are the basics: a bow, a string, some arrows, a bracer, finger tab, a quiver, a bow stand, a bow stringer and a target to shoot at.
Archery can be done by people of all ages, it’s not unusual to see people on the shooting line aged from 8 to 80! With versions for primary pupils and competitions for youth and older archers.
Most beginners’ courses suggest a minimum age of 8 but for younger children there is a ‘soft’ version of the sport with arrows fitted with suction cups instead of points.
