Prior to applying for archery lessons, please contact the Beginners Coaching Secretary. This is to ascertain the level of interest in taking up archery as a sport. Due to our club having a long waiting list, we have to restrict lessons to those people that have a keen interest.

Once your application nears the top of our list, you will be contacted to arrange the dates you can attend. This note is to help with information in preparing for these lessons and how they are run.

• A Parent or Legal Guardian must be present at all times when the junior is being coached. The parent(s) / Legal Guardian must complete a form, (which we will provide on the first lesson), to record their consent for the coaching to be carried out.

• This condition will continue to apply at all times when the junior is shooting, even after he or she has joined the club.

• The legal Guardian can be any adult who is known and trusted by both the child and parents. For all beginners, both adults and juniors, the following applies:

• As the lessons are outdoors, beginners are advised to dress according to the prevailing weather conditions. To avoid catching the bow string, clothes on the upper body should be a reasonably snug fit.

• Lessons will go ahead in all weather conditions, unless it is extremely wet or snowing.

• The first "Introductory" lesson is free, to enable the beginner to see if they enjoy the sport.

• If the beginner wishes to carry on with future lessons, these are run in blocks of 6 lessons, for which a fee of £40 is payable in advance. No refunds are made if the beginner ceases taking lessons part way through. If the beginner joins the club, a £10 credit is awarded towards membership fees.

• The fee for lessons covers our costs for insurance, use of club owned equipment, (the beginner does not need to provide any equipment, although they may bring equipment if they have it), and provision of guidance notes and a certificate on completion.

• Each lesson is for approx. 2 hours on Saturday mornings as above, we ask that the 6 lessons are taken within an 8 week period, if possible on consecutive Saturdays.

• All lessons must be arranged in advance to avoid disappointment to ensure we have enough members available for coaching and enough available beginner's equipment. Some weekends, there is no coaching due to other pre-arranged events, when all of our members are committed to setting up the ground at Grasshoppers for an archery tournament.

• These arrangements are made through myself, by either E-mail or telephone (020 8931 2837 or mobile (07805 424554), unless one of our other members has introduced the beginner and has volunteered to arrange their coaching.

• All coaching is by one of our experienced members who volunteer their time. I am a GNAS qualified coach. The content of the lessons is structured, but adapted to suit the progress of the individual.

• At the end of the six lessons, if the beginner wishes to carry on shooting with the club, they must apply to become a member. For continuity, the application should be made after the 4th lesson. The fee for this year is £20 for juniors and £90 for adults under 60. Adults over 60 pay £60. These fees are reduced pro-rata according to when the application is made. (Also see above for the credit allowed for new members who have completed the beginner’s lessons)

• Also at the end of the six lessons, new members are also encouraged to obtain their own equipment, to free up the club equipment for use by new beginners. As long as they continue to use the club equipment, a charge of £4 per session is made, or £15 per calendar month. Equipment can either be purchased, or there are several archery retailers who run hire schemes. Club members will help with selection of suitable equipment.

• The coaching does not stop at the end of the six lessons, if required, (especially for new members and juniors), there will be an ongoing situation where the more experienced archers will offer further advice.