I Need Help Teaching!!!

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Hey fellas! I have only recently emerged victorious over the dark, nasty monster that is target panic. I'm absolutely thrilled with how much better I'm shooting now, and feel like I really know what it takes to execute a perfect shot process.

I also have recently been asked by multiple friends if I will give them some archery lessons. That's super cool, but also terrifying. I don't want to see these folks go through the struggles I went through as a beginner. I can teach them what I know, but it certainly doesn't feel like an easy (or fun) thing to learn. It's a lot of serious work every time I nock an arrow to practice!

Where should I start? And how do I keep it fun? I know that I wish I'd been taught originally that it's about the process, not the results. I wish I would have had Joel Turner talking in my ear from the get go. But I was already sold on this lifestyle. I don't know if that's the place to start with people who aren't nutters like me.    

Help is much appreciated!  

[goingoldskool]

Start them close, first time they loose an arrow,  they'll be all smiles which will take the edge off!

Good luck, shoot straight and God bless,

Rodd

[moebow]

Trumpkin,
I, for one, would strongly suggest a level 2 USA Archery Instructor's class.  YES, I know that is "target" style shooting BUT the class and qualification will give you a "road map" for how to approach teaching archery.  What to do first what to do next, what to look for, techniques for teaching, etc.

Some folks are natural teachers, others aren't but having a plan and support from the training and printed material is a big leap ahead.  You don't have to re invent the wheel as it were.  There is a lot of archery activity in the central Texas area, do some exploring.  You MIGHT want to start here and see about classes in your area.

  http://www.teamusa.org/usa-archery/judges-and-coaches/coaches/usa-archery-become-a-coach  

Arne

PS.  Learning to teach archery is different from just shooting.  Many good shooters can't teach and many really good teachers may not be great shots.  Please don't fall into the category I hear often.  That is a comment or attitude like this, " I know how to shoot, I don't need to take instructor training."

[McDave]

Two things I’d recommend:

I think the human mind is only capable of learning a few new things at a time.  By the time you teach someone how to stand and hold the bow, you’ve probably reached that limit, but in order for them to actually shoot an arrow, you have to teach them a few more things than that.  Maybe that’s why in the eastern tradition of archery, all they are allowed to do for the first year is draw the bow without shooting it.  Anyway, try to limit the things you tell them during the first lesson to no more than a half dozen things, which is already too much.

Learn how to identify faults by watching someone shoot.  This is a real talent that Arne has, and I am still learning.  Watch some videos that Arne has evaluated, and try to guess what he is going to say before he says it.  Any good instructor can size up a student after watching him shoot just a few shots, and knows what one or two things he is going to work on that day, even though there may be many other things that could also be improved.

[Trumpkin the Dwarf]

Originally posted by moebow:
Please don't fall into the category I hear often.  That is a comment or attitude like this, " I know how to shoot, I don't need to take instructor training."

Thanks for the response Arne! I appreciate you taking the time to write that all out. I also really appreciate the resources you just listed. I will check them out ASAP.

The last comment of yours is precisely why I'm asking for help here on Tradgang! I KNOW I'm not ready to teach folks. I've had a hard enough time learning to shoot myself.

[reddogge]

I teach mostly kids to teenagers for my club and my biggest tip would be to invest in a very light bow, like 20-25# to develop proper form. We also put the kids in the full draw position without bows first so they can feel what it feels like at full draw. Start very close and teach 3 fingers under.