Archery in the Summertime

Summer is finally here, and after a rather tumultuous spring, we’re all looking for safe ways to enjoy our free time. If you are searching for a fun safe-distancing activity, look no further! Archery is inherently a safe physical distancing sport and there are plenty of ways to join in on the fun during the summertime!

Archery is an incredibly fun sport, but keeping those archery-specific muscles in tip-top shape can’t hurt your spider-game (hitting the target face dead-center, for those of you who don’t know). Archery exercises can be practiced at home and can supplement physical activity you already do! Archery is always more fun with friends, so try doing your exercises on a Zoom call to maintain friendships over the summer or try roping in a family member to keep things interesting! Searching for archery workouts? Check out the Staying Fit for 2021 post on the OAS blog for ideas!

If you don't have access to equipment over the summer, a stretch band is an excellent way to continue practicing. Stretch band drills can also be done with friends on a Zoom call; draw and hold for 30-seconds and maintain form or practice alignment by drawing behind your head! As a group, try picking out small sections of the shot cycle to practice and perfect together; you can choose a different section each week:

• Stance, Posture, and Head Position

• Hook, Grip, and the Bow-Arm

• Drawing and Anchoring

• Expansion, Aim, and Follow-Through

If you haven’t already, hop online to find a local archery range or JOAD Club. Need help? Try out USA Archery’s Find a Club tool! Once you’ve found one you like, keep going and get to know some of the other archers; archery’s greatest feature is the sense of community it provides its participants. So socialize ­– just don’t forget to practice safe physical distancing to protect and others around you!

The other great thing about finding a local archery range is the opportunity to join in on local leagues or tournaments, so ask around and see what’s available. If you’re practicing on your own and have an android cellular device, try out the OAS Scoring App made by a teacher and archery enthusiast at Warner Middle School from the OAS Los Angeles Conference!

If you happen to live near an Easton Archery Center, like the Easton Newberry Archery Center or the Easton Salt Lake Archery Center, check out their website to see what classes and programs they have available – space is limited, so make sure to check early! If you’d like to train at the center on your own, just remember to call ahead to reserve your lane as our staff is following physical distancing guidelines for everyone’s safety. Stay tuned for the reopening of our Center in Chula Vista, Mr. Pettybones is looking forward to having you come visit!

It’s also always a great idea to start looking into collegiate archery programs over the summer. Take a look at the OAS Map or change the settings in USA Archery’s Find a Club tool to search for collegiate teams in the United States. Don’t hesitate to email the OAS League Administrator at ahamilton@esdf.org if you have questions!

Shoot strong and have a great summer!