ARCHERY

GRADE

SKILLS	5	6	7	8	ACTIVITY PROGRESSION
Shooting Skills:					Dry Run
Stance	I	R	M	A	Practice Shooting
Nock	I	R	M	A	Everyone Hits the Target
Draw	I	R	R	M
Anchor	I	R	R	M
Aim	I	R	R	M	Adjusting Aim
Release	I	R	R	M	Scoring for Record
Follow through	I	R	R	M	Match Point Challenge / Tic-Tac-Toe
Safety Skills	I	R	M	A	Balloons / Run and Shoot

I = INTRODUCE / R = REVIEW / M = MASTER / A = APPLY / O = OPTIONAL

ACTIVITIES FOR PRACTICING ALL OF THE SKILLS LISTED ABOVE:

DRY RUN: Prior to shooting, the following safety and shooting skills are explained and demonstrated. The students are led through a dry run, going through all the steps of shooting without using an arrow.

Arrows are to be kept in the quiver and bows are to be kept on the ground.
STANCE: On command, the students pick up their bows and assume the proper stance with the front foot on the firing line, the shoulder facing the target and the hand on top of the bow in a horizontal position in front of them.
NOCK: On command, students pretend to load the arrow on top of the nock of the bow at a 90 degree angle with the odd colored feather facing up. They keep the arrow point facing the target at all times.
On command, the students pretend to do the following:

DRAW: Squeeze the arrow between the first and second fingers. Move the bow slowly to the vertical position. Draw the string back slowly and steadily inward toward the ear lobe.

ANCHOR: Draw the string back until the thumb touches the ear lobe. This is the anchor point.

AIM: Site down the arrow placing the tip of the arrow on the center of the target.

RELEASE: Relax the fingers, holding everything else steady.

FOLLOW THROUGH: Hold every body part steady until the arrow hits the ground, hits the target or goes beyond the target.

5) When Student A is finished shooting he/she places the bow on the ground next to the quiver. A steps back to the safety line. (See the Run and Shoot activity in the Activity Booklet.)

When everyone is finished shooting, all bows are on the ground and everyone must be back behind the safety line.

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PRACTICE SHOOTING: On command, Student A selects a bow and places it on the ground next to the quiver. (See the Run and Shoot activity in the Activity Booklet.) On command, student A selects 1 arrow and immediately places it in the quiver. A must walk with the arrow point facing down at all times. All students are taken through a "dry run". (See the Dry Run activity listed above.) After sufficient review of the shooting steps, students are given the following commands:

Move to the firing line and take the proper stance with your front foot on the firing line and your front shoulder facing the target (left foot and left shoulder for right handed archer).
Pick up your bow and place it out in front of you in a horizontal position facing the target. Your non dominant hand should be on top of the grip of the bow. All students will be checked at this point.
If you are ready to shoot safely, go through the steps of shooting at your own speed (nock, draw, anchor, aim, release and follow through). Your foot must remain on the line and your arrow point must be facing the target at all times. When you have finished shooting, place your bow on the ground next to your quiver and step back to the safety line.
If you are not ready to shoot, wait and a teacher will assist you.
When everyone is finished shooting, all bows are on the ground and everyone must be back behind the safety line.

On command the activity is repeated in the same manner.

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EVERYONE HITS THE TARGET: The students do practice shooting as described above. When Student A hits the target he/she informs the teacher. The teacher continues to assist the students who have not hit the target until all students have hit the target at least one time. This is a great confidence builder for all students.

ADJUSTING AIM: When Student A is hitting the target consistently in one area, A may try to adjust his/her aim. For example, if A is consistently hitting 1’ below the center of the target, A may adjust his/her aim by aiming 1’ above the center of the target. A continues to adjust aim in the same manner until he/she is hitting closer to the center of the target. A must continue to carefully concentrate on all the steps of shooting.

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SCORING FOR RECORD: On command, students shoot 3 arrows in the same manner as explained in the Practice Shooting activity listed above. At the end of each round of 3 arrows, students count and record their scores. Students score points for the following:

10 points for hitting the outer white circle.
20 points for hitting the inner white circle.
30 points for hitting the outer black circle.
40 points for hitting the inner black circle.
50 points for hitting the outer blue circle.
60 points for hitting the inner blue circle.
70 points for hitting the outer red circle.
80 points for hitting the inner red circle.
90 points for hitting the outer gold circle.
100 points for hitting the inner gold circle.

When students have finished shooting 10 rounds (30 arrows) they add up their total scores. At the end of the teaching unit, each student is given a certificate for his/her highest score for 10 rounds (30 arrows). Students are constantly challenged to try to achieve their own personal best score. (See the Run and Shoot activity in the Activity Booklet.)

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MATCH POINT CHALLENGE: Students may choose to compete with other students who are shooting at their target. They may choose to compete for best scores in each round (3 arrows). Each round is a new challenge. Each student shoots 3 arrows. The best score wins in each round.

TIC – TAC – TOE: The target is covered with tic-tac-toe lines. The game is played like regular tic-tac-toe. The object of the game is for one student to hit three squares in a row. Student A and Student B alternate shooting 1 arrow in each turn. Student A tries to shoot an arrow into one of the tic-tac-toe squares. The first student to shoot an arrow into a square wins that square. A and B continue in the same manner until one of them makes a straight line with 3 arrows in 3 squares. If neither student can accomplish the objective a new game is started.

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BALLOONS: Balloons can be placed on various spots on the target. Students can shoot for fun, trying to break the balloons. A balloon can also be placed in the center of the target when students are scoring for record. (See the Scoring for Record activity listed above.) Students can then be given bonus points for breaking the balloon.

RUN AND SHOOT: The students follow all the rules for the Scoring for Record activity listed above. (See the Scoring for Record activity listed above.)

Students are reminded that they must listen to and follow all safety rules.
When Student A finishes shooting he/she places the bow on the ground and steps back behind the safety line.
Student A begins running on the track set up behind the safety line. A counts the number of laps he/ she runs.
On command, A returns to the safety line and walks to the target to pick up his/her arrows and help others at the target to find their arrows.
When all the arrows have been found at a target, students walk and return the arrows to the quivers and step back behind the safety line. All bows remain on the ground. The range is checked to make sure all students have returned behind the safety line.
On command, students return to the firing line. On command, students shoot their second round in the same manner.
The activity continues in the same manner for 10 rounds.
Students score points for shooting arrows. (See the Scoring for Record activity listed above.)
Students also score 10 points for every lap that they run.
Students record their scores at the end of each round.
Students are challenged to continue to try for their best individual score for 10 rounds. (See the Run and Shoot activity in the Activity Booklet.)

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