Marks Park Archery Club helps archers train at home safely
EMMARENTIA – Local archery club keeps things safe while helping archers train at home.
Marks Park Archery Club has found ways to help members maintain their fitness and archery skills when they do not have a range to shoot at.
South Africa does not have laws pertaining to the shooting of arrows, whether at home or at a range, but the club does not encourage shooting at home unless under very safe conditions.
The club’s Barbara Manning, who is secretary of the South African Archery Association, said archers should only shoot arrows at home when they have an archery butt or large target to shoot at, do so from close range (maximum 10m) and have some barriers in place so miss-fires do not endanger neighbours.
“A good way to maintain fitness without arrows is to practice drawing and holding the bowstring,” Manning said.
“Each day you can hold the string back a little longer, even up to a minute. Some people can also use weights for their wrists, maybe between 300g and 450g.”
For archers without bows, certain resistance bands can act as substitutes. People can pull back on the bands and work the same muscles as they would if they were pulling a bowstring.
“Another thing we are doing is posting links to videos in our social media groups and pages, to videos Olympic archers are making. They [the archers] are doing videos like tips on getting your hands in the right position and things like that.”
Manning said it is easy to get despondent and inactive during the lockdown, but people should remain positive and active.
Details: Marks Park Archery Club 082 389 1727.
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