Health Benefits

Archery is fun, and it’s good for you too!

Like any sport, there are a number of physical and mental benefits to spending time on the range! Let’s explore a few of them here.

Health Benefit #1: Good exercise

You probably thought that archery was stationary, right? Wrong! Once you shoot all of your arrows, the only way you get to have a second round is if you go to collect them. And all of that walking back and forth from the targets to the shooting line adds up. In tournaments, archers can walk 5 miles, just collecting their arrows!

Health Benefit #2: Strength Building

Each time you pull back the string you are putting tension on your hands, arms, chest, and large upper back muscles. The repetition of shooting arrow after arrow over the course of an hour will build strength in these areas.

Health Benefit #3: Coordination

There are 11 Steps of Shooting that are executed each time an archer takes a shot. From the stance, to nocking an arrow, to pulling back the string and anchoring, to release and follow-through. Each of these steps are followed in archery, even by beginner archers, and requires a lot of body coordination!

Health Benefit #4: Focus and patience

Archery is easy to learn, but difficult to perfect. The thing that I see new archers struggle with most is taking the time to aim. This skill takes patience, it takes control, it takes focus. All are qualities that will increase in an archer as they practice archery.

Health Benefit #5: Body Awareness

In order to execute that perfect shot you have to be completely aware of every movement from your body. An archer needs to control their breathing, release any tension, and pay attention to exactly how they are handling the bow, thus learning body awareness.

Health Benefit #6: Calming and Meditative

Archery is a calming sport. An archer will learn to eliminate distractions and will learn to ground themselves before each shot. Everything else fades away until all that matters is the bow, the arrow, and the target in front of you. Archery can be just as calming as yoga, and it balances the body and mind.

Health Benefit #7: fresh air

Outdoor archery means more time outdoors! And it is well documented that there are many benefits to spending time outside. The natural light is good for your eyes. Benefits of being in green space include improved sleep, decreased blood pressure, decreased stress, improved mood, increased memory, increased attention, and reduced hyperactivity.

Health Benefit #8: Self Confidence

An archer’s greatest competitor is themselves. From the very first shot, an archer will seek to improve, and a 10-ring target is a great way to measure success! I have seen the confidence that new archers develop as they try a foreign skill. And I have seen the confidence that junior coaches develop as they teach newer students.

Health Benefit #9: socialization

Though archers are encouraged to refrain from speaking to each other while shooting, there is plenty of time for socialization while collecting arrows between rounds. Celebrating good shots, or hunting for that one arrow that missed the target, together. Archery is a sport that breaks down barriers, where new and experienced archers, the young and the not as young, can end up sharing a target, encouraging each other and forming a shared bond over a sport they both love!