coaching multiple archers

[Jock Whisky]

Not really a shooting or form question but since there are some good coaches here I have a question. If this is not the appropriate place please feel free to move it.

I coach new and intermediate shooters at our local club. There are sometimes twenty or more regular shooters and the newbies are off to one side with about three shooting positions. Coaching is done alongside the regular shooters. Quite often I'm the only instructor. For those of you with a lot of coaching experience what is your set up and how many shooters is too many? There are times when I have up to six newbies, I feel cramped for space and I'm getting concerned with respect to safety and quality of instruction.

[McDave]

We are fortunate enough to have an area to ourselves at our club when we give lessons.  When we have classes, they are held on our 10-20 yard range, leaving the 30-100 yard range and 28 field targets for members.  Normally we have 12-15 students, and 2-3 instructors.  We divide the students into 2 groups, so one is shooting while the other is watching.  Since the students are primarily in the range of 8-14 years old, it is a good idea to have at least two instructors watching them.  We run the classes pretty much along NFAA guidelines, although the lead instructor has some leeway to do things the way he/she wants to as well.

[moebow]

Sounds like Dave has a great setup for instruction.  For me, I have to share the range with other shooters.  We have 3 roll around bales that we can position anywhere on the range for short distance work, so can get beginners shooting.  BUT, I have to be really aware of what the other shooters are doing, and kind of have to become a de-facto range captain.  In this situation and depending on the shooting level of my students, I feel I can safely work with 3 or 4 students.  In order to not affect the other club shooters, I will stop my student's shooting when I see the others are done with their end, even if the students still have arrows left.  I can call the range clear for arrow retrieval and start again when everyone is back behind the line.  If you don't have moveable targets for short range work, then having dedicated instructional range time is the only way I see to do it.

I also try really hard to schedule lessons during times that are less busy if possible.  Right now all we have available is an 18 lane indoor, 20 yard range so have to share what we have.  Our club members are very accommodating, I must say.

Unless I have the range to myself, never more than 4 students for me.  IF I do have the range to myself, I'll work with up to 10.

Arne

[Jock Whisky]

Thanks for the help Dave and Arne. Sounds like my concerns were valid. I'll be looking to make some changes.