Archery is a versatile activity. It is something that can be done for fun, for hunting, or for competition. “Target shooting wasn’t a thing for me,” said US Para Archery Head Coach Jonathan Clemins. “But I realized I enjoyed shooting my bow as much as I enjoyed hunting.”
In addition, archery can be a year-round sport. Although most people think of it as an outdoor activity, indoor archery ranges extend the opportunity to shoot a bow when weather becomes an issue. “Archery doesn’t have an off-season,” said 3X Paralympian and Silver Medalist Matt Stutzman, who is known as the Armless Archer. “It doesn’t slow down. You could shoot a tournament every month.”

Furthermore, it is an inclusive sport that you can do alongside other adaptive athletes as well as able-bodied athletes. “It is exactly the same sport … you just may need adaptive equipment to assist you.”

Finally, it is one of those sports that you can do at any point in your life. “It is not an age specific sport,” said Army Veteran and 2X Paralympian Lia Coryell. She competed in her first Paralympic Games at the age of 51.

(GET) READY

The basic equipment to get started is typically a bow, some arrows, and a target to shoot at. You can purchase these items at a local sporting goods store or archery range. Some archery ranges or archery clubs may allow you to borrow or rent their equipment before needing to purchase your own.

There are two primary bow styles: compound bows and recurve bows. Recurve bows are your traditional style, whereas compound bows have additional mechanics that assist with drawing it back. The latter seems to be more popular, but making a decision on which style is a matter of personal preference.

Para archers can shoot from a standing, supported, or seated position, allowing an opportunity for individuals with different physical disabilities to participate. Here’s how the different positions can assist each archer:

Standing: Archers with upper-limb amputations, single leg amputation or those without balance issues will participate in the sport while standing.

Supported: For those archers that prefer to stand but may need just a small amount of assistance holding their position, consider a braced position. A simple wedge under the heel could be used to help maintain balance. Other archers may request the use of a post or brace to lean against to help steady themselves throughout the shot process.

Seated: If standing isn’t an option, archers can participate while sitting in their everyday wheelchair or on a stool.

There is a lot of adaptive equipment that exists for athletes with various disabilities. “Sometimes it is about trial and error and just figuring things out,” Stutzman said. Some common adaptations include:

Nocking the arrow: Archers with limited hand movement can request assistance with placing the arrow onto the bowstring.

Drawing and releasing the bowstring: Drawing the bow requires arm strength and grip. If you are unable to draw back the bowstring without assistance, you can request help from a coach or volunteer or use one of the common draw and release adaptations below.

Finger Tabs: For archers with limited grip, finger tabs and gloves can help. Finger tabs are a flat leather device that fits between the finger and bowstring.

Bow Stands: Another adaptation is a bow stand which helps hold the bow so the archer can focus on just pulling back the string.

Mouth Tabs: For archers who have lost the use of an arm, a mouth tab can be used to draw back the string. The tab attaches permanently to the bowstring and is held between the archer’s teeth while drawing, holding, and releasing.

Mechanical Releases: For archers who use a compound bow, a shoulder mounted release aid or other mechanical device that triggers the release of the bowstring.

Arrow Retrieval: For archers that have difficulties walking or use a wheelchair a volunteer can be assigned to assist with arrow retrieval at the end of each round.

(TAKE) AIM

Once you realize you like the sport, Clemins recommends finding a coach (certified coaches can be found on USA Archery’s website). “Have fun with it,” Clemins said. “Don’t take it too seriously. Fall in love with the sport first, then you can take it to the next level.”

Although archery isn’t as physical of a sport as some others, it is a very mental sport. “It can be relaxing and a huge stress reliever,” Clemins said. “But when you are competing, it can also stress you out.”

Coryell agrees. “It is a very mindful sport. You have to have patience. You have to be calm and centered and block everything else out,” she said. “You have to center in on your cadence, timing, rhythm, and focus. You can’t change what’s in the past.”

Clemins also suggests you also have to balance the act of aiming the bow with the technique of shooting it correctly. “A lot of people think aiming is the most important part of shooting the bow, which is not true. Aiming is secondary to form and technique. Some folks aim so carefully they forget they have to shoot the bow. They forget they have to release the string, so technique falls away. Consistency and hard work will always get you where you want to go and will beat talent any day of the week.”

FIRE

Typically during a competition, there are three rounds of practice so archers can get warmed up before scoring starts.

Then, each archer will shoot a total of 72 arrows, 12 ends (or rounds) of 6 arrows each. The center of the bullseye, or the inner most circle on the target, is known as the 10 ring and is worth 10 points. Points go down in value the further you get away from the bullseye. Therefore, a score is typically out of 720 possible points. The archer with the highest score wins.

Stutzman thinks something that is unique to archery is that para archers can have scores that are equivalent to those without a disability. “In other sports, it is pretty rare that someone who doesn’t have arms can beat someone that does,” Stutzman said. “The bow doesn’t care who shoots it. It doesn’t care if you have a disability or not. It just wants to be shot.”

In outdoor competition events, those shooting a compound bow typically shoots a target that is 50 meters away while archers shooting a recurve bow will have a target placed 70 meters out. But those just getting started should shoot smaller distances until they have dialed in their aim and technique.

For indoor competition, archers shoot at a smaller target and at a distance of 20 yards, which is the same distance for recurve and compound bows.

FINDING A RANGE

“Archery is for everybody,” Clemins said. “No one forgets their first time shooting a bow. Once I did, I couldn’t stop.” So don’t throw away your shot.

Several Move United Sanctioned Competitions offer archery as one of the sports where you can compete. In addition, more than 60 Move United member organizations across the country offer an adaptive archery program. Visit moveunitedsport.org/locations to find a local program near you. In addition, USA Archery can assist you with finding a nearby range at usarchery.org/find-a-club. If your local archery club doesn’t have an adaptive program, ask an instructor to get a copy of the Adaptive Archery Instructor Manual to help you get started.

“Give it a try,” Stutzman said. “It is not just about flinging arrows; it is about doing something you didn’t think you could do. It helps you in every other aspect of the world … it gave me a purpose.”