Is a beginners course needed in all cases?

philhoney

New member
Hi,
We had someone turn up tonight to have a look and on talking to him found out that he shot, several years ago, to a high standard in South Africa. He has never been a member of GNAS or any other UK archery society.
We persuaded him to sign up to a beginners course (only ?10) so he could shoot and be covered by insurance and it would give him six weeks to decide if our club would be suitable for him.
On watching him shoot it was obvious that he knew what he was doing and didn't need any coaching.
Does he need to complete the course or could we accept him as a member now?
Phil
 

mk1

It's an X
Supporter
Phil - Of course you can - a beginners course is not compulsory it just gives poeple a chance to try out the sport before they cough up all the Club and AGB fees
 

Timid Toad

Moderator
Staff member
Supporter
Fonz Awardee
Ironman
If you are satsified he is as safe as any other newbie after a 6 week course, what's the problem?
I went back to shooting after a 14 year break and was accepted into a club without bat of an eye :)
 

philhoney

New member
Hi,
Thanks for your prompt replies.
I'll pass on the info next time we shoot but I will advise him that if he joins NOW he will have to pay "x" amount of money and then pay the full years fees in a couple of weeks time.
Phil
 

Woodie

Member
Depends on if he wants to join. There does seem to be some confusion about beginners courses and the 6 week thing.
AFAIK.
GNAS rules allow new people an introductory period of up to 6 sessions with full insurance cover before having to take out membership. There is no requirement to use the full period or to complete a beginners course.
In fact at our club we have been filtering beginners in rather than running specific courses. We found that a group of 12 beginners would use up a lot of coaching time and often only 50% or less would join. The only downside of filtering in is ensuring all the boxes have been ticked on background knowledge.
 

Woodie

Member
Hi,
Thanks for your prompt replies.
I'll pass on the info next time we shoot but I will advise him that if he joins NOW he will have to pay "x" amount of money and then pay the full years fees in a couple of weeks time.
Phil
If he is only shooting once per week he could use up the 6 sessions allowed and that would take him to the end of September. New season stars on 1 st October.
 

Phil Reay

New member
I have never done a beginners course. Signed on with a club that shot at the field that belonged to the college I attended after shooting with a disabled club and was accepted after shooting out the center of a target with a 40lb bow at 10 yards then hitting 3 golds at 80 yards. Didn't tell them it was a fluke as I'd never shot further than 30metres before.
Joined present club by showing them I knew what I was doing
 

leg_iron

Member
I restarted shooting last year after about an 8 year break & i didnt need to complete a beginners course. I just had to show that i knew what to do & that i was safe when i was shooting.
 

philhoney

New member
If he is only shooting once per week he could use up the 6 sessions allowed and that would take him to the end of September. New season stars on 1 st October.
Hi,
That is the point I was trying to make.
I am probably wrong but I thought the new GNAS year started on 1st September.
Phil
 

pelican

New member
Archery GB would prefer the money to be paid by end of September, but that's just to try to send out new cards by Oct. The membership year starts 1 October.
Our club never gets the money in by start of September, we don't go back indoors til about 24 Sept so just collect the cash then.
 

philhoney

New member
Archery GB would prefer the money to be paid by end of September, but that's just to try to send out new cards by Oct. The membership year starts 1 October.
Our club never gets the money in by start of September, we don't go back indoors til about 24 Sept so just collect the cash then.
Hi,
It's not the first time I've been wrong and I'm certain it won't be the last.
Our club collects the money as and when members appear during September but I "thought" it was because most of our members only shoot indoors in the winter.
Phil
 

grimsby archer

New member
If they've virtually never shot before (perhps only on holiday or at a fete) its a beginners course
If they've not shot for many years, its a "refresher course"
If they've just moved to the area and want to join the club, its a "trial period" (in which they can get the feel for the club and decide if its the sort of club they want to be a member of before paying subs. OF course, you get the chance to assess them and make sure they're not just a nut job who've been thrown out their last club)
 

mk1

It's an X
Supporter
Under - 4. Those insured
Beginners prior to becoming members of the Society for a
maximum of their first six lessons.
I'm sure there has been discussion in Archery UK about this but the six weeks is not meant to be - however much we would like it to - utilised by experienced archers or people who have been a members before.
 

whoosh

Member
What about those clubs that do am assessment for people who claim to be competent or returning archers? That seems to work . .
 
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