Beginners start here

Having read the information about "archery", you may wish to get your "hands on" a bow and see how you like shooting.   Formal archery beginners' courses are held several times each year. BOC provides the equipment (although you can use your own bow if you have one) and follows an approved programme over a structured course. At the end of the course you be given the opportunity to shoot three-dozen arrows at a 20yds target (approx).  You will also be given a certificate to prove that you have passed the required safety standards to shoot as a club member.  You may then apply to join BOC or any other archery club.

What next... If you apply to join BOC, your application will be processed at the first available "open meeting" (held monthly) and the decision on approval will be notified immediately afterwards.  If you have succeeded at shooting "200 at 20" you may shoot indoors to 20yds and outdoors to a distance of 30yds.

To increase the outdoor shooting distance, you will need to achieve 
"200" at each ten yard increment (200@20, 200@30, 200@40, 200@50, 200@60 etc).  An outdoor distance of 60yds to 80yds (or greater) should be your goal.

To qualify for shoots, you need to generate a "handicap rating" by shooting a certain number of arrows over a specified distance on three separate sessions.  For example, to qualify for an indoor "Portsmouth" handicap, you need to shoot 60 arrows at a 60cm target face 20yds from the shooting line on three separate occasions... it may sound complicated but it isn't really and there are always plenty of BOC members to help out.  You will then be able to compete against other archers of differing ability - a similar "handicap" idea is applied to playing golf.

If you do well, you could collect awards or join the BOC team in league shoots against other clubs.  However, there is no compulsion, you could simply "shoot for fun" if you prefer.

Club fees (2008/2009)...

When you complete the application form to join BOC, a one-off £20 fee is required.  If you are accepted as a member of BOC, the annual fees are currently as follows:

Juniors £25 per year.  Seniors (over 18) £85 per year.  This includes national, regional, county membership and insurance.  Use of Chesterfield Cylinders outdoor facilities.  Use of BOC equipment (hut, bosses, target faces etc etc).  Members usually buy their own bows & shooting equipment but this can be hired for a small fee per session.  There is an additional indoor charge of £1.00 Seniors & £0.50 Juniors per session towards the hire costs of the Speedwell Rooms (only applies in the winter season).

When you join BOC, you will be automatically registered with the national body (GNAS - Grand National Archery Society) and covered by insurance. The GNAS rules of shooting are available to view as an Acrobat PDF file.

GNAS provides a list of affiliated UK archery clubs - click here

For a list of affiliated DERBYSHIRE clubs - click here

For the BOC club listing - click here

The facility is a partnership with Sport Focus

Beginners' Classes

Each course will accommodate up to 16 people, usually we accept around
12 people where multiple classes are held.  The courses are structured as follows:

	1)		four 2 hr sessions - all equipment provided (plus 2 more introductory sessions for those who join the club)
	2)		course conforms to national requirements enabling you to apply for membership of any archery club
	3)		training by accredited coaches and experienced club members
	4)		tuition and information is given on all aspects of archery:  Bows, arrows and equipment Shooting technique and scoring methods Rules, safety and etiquette National, Regional, County organisations and competitions, Advice on buying equipment
			Juniors (under 18) must be accompanied by an adult.
			All ages from 8 yrs old catered for.
			Wheelchair access.

Courses can run from April to July, we attempt to finish the courses before the school summer holidays so that beginners' and instructors are generally available.  

Club nights for members usually take place on Monday and Thursday, so the field will be shared on one night.

In 2008 the cost for the 4+2 session course was £40.00 total.  All necessary archery equipment is provided by BOC along with course notes and a certificate on successful completion of the course.

Each course caters for a maximum of about a 12 - 16 beginners.  If you are unable to attend one of the beginners' sessions, BOC will attempt to organise attendance at one of the future course sessions or on a club night.  If you fail to attend all the sessions, you will not gain a certificate.  If you cannot make the proposed dates - don't book !

Directions to the outdoor BOC site are available on the following link - click here

The 2008 course was full and is now completed, sorry... many names were carried over from last year.

While its good to promote archery locally, it is impossible as a small club of volunteers to cope with the high demand and still provide the opportunity for existing club members to participate / compete in an enjoyable compete and meaningful manner.

Remember, you need to complete a approved archery course before you can shoot (because the sport is highly regulated for safety and insurance reasons). So we suggest you get your name on a GNAS associated club's course wherever you can... several people have completed approved courses in other local clubs, then have applied for membership of BOC. 

Here is a link to other local clubs - click here

Applications to join the beginners course start from March each year, a form will be presented below for this purpose... no form means applications are not currently being accepted.