A bow and arrows. If these elements were formerly considered as defense and hunting weapons, today they are mainly used for the practice of archery. A sporting practice with multiple disciplines, which requires physical strength, concentration and precision.
“Our dean is over 80 years old, so it’s an activity for everyone”exclaims Marion Lenglet, secretary of the Saint-Avertin sports archers club (Casas). In this structure created almost 40 years ago, some 150 people practice archery throughout the year. “In archery, there are two seasons”, indicates the one who has been licensed to the Saint-Avertinois club since 2010. In winter, generally from September to March, archers only shoot indoors. “The adults shoot at 18 meters, on coats of arms 40 cm in diameter. “
In summer, the diversity of disciplines is much greater. First there is outdoor archery. It can be practiced with a recurve bow, on a 122 cm blazon located at 70 meters, or with a compound bow, on an 80 cm target installed at 50 meters. Also outdoors, there is also federal shooting for which archers are 50 meters from a 122 cm coat of arms. To these disciplines, we must add course shots: nature shooting (course of 42 targets, where the objective is to aim at coats of arms representing animals), 3D shooting (course of 24 targets, where archers shoot at representations of animals in real size) and field shooting (course with yellow and black coats of arms of different sizes). Among the course shots, the archers of Saint-Avertin practically only practice field shooting.
Rain or shine, licensees are in principle able to shoot outdoors whatever the weather. “Outside, we are just further from the targets but the technique remains the same. Afterwards, it’s training to learn to control your bow according to the wind. It is also feeling, feeling. We must learn to play with the external conditions ”, develops Marion Lenglet. She also explains that archers must also know how to protect their equipment from the rain. A detail that can be learned over time and with practice.
Objective: score as many points as possible
For all these disciplines, the objective is simple: to score as many points as possible, by touching the center of the coat of arms. For outdoor shooting with a recurve bow – which is the Olympic discipline – the points on the target range from 10 to 1. The coat of arms consists of ten circles of different colors (yellow, red, blue, black and white) and each color represents two scores. Depending on where the arrow is planted, the yellow will be worth 10 or 9 points, the red 8 or 7 points, the blue 6 or 5 points… In competition, the archers pass a qualifying test where they shoot seventy-two arrows and then they may participate. in knockout matches. For indoor shooting, sixty arrows are shot during the qualifying round. Likewise, athletes can then meet in knockout matches.
While there are different types of bows, the most widely used remains the classic – consisting in particular of a viewfinder, a stabilizer that dampens vibrations and an extension controller to know when to let go of the string. “It’s the first one we handle, the one with which we learn the technical basics. Afterwards, we can switch to compound archery if we wish ”, comments the archer. The latter allows “To multiply the forces, to be more precise”. The arrow will also fly faster. “Mine leaves at 278 km / h”, exclaims a licensee who has come to train in the new club room, located at the sports center of the Bellerie.
“Concentration is a very important element. It is this mental aspect that will tire us first. “
With initiation arcs offered from 50 euros, the secretary of the Casas affirms that archery is a sport accessible to as many people as possible. “Then, for leisure, from 250 euros you can have something sufficient to have fun”, she adds. For competition, however, the price of bows can increase considerably. “A recurve bow can cost 2,000 euros, the same for a compound bow. But, they can be kept long enough ”, guarantees Marion Lenglet. For beginners, the Casas lends equipment for one or two years. It is however necessary to plan some additional expenses for more personal accessories, such as the paddle to protect the fingers, the quiver to put down your arrows, an arm guard, your arrows …
An evolving practice
When an archer starts archery, it is important to teach him the right technical basics. “The basic gestures and posture: stand straight, shoulders low…, she explains quickly. And the repeatability of the gesture is essential. The more we repeat it, the more the arrow will go to the same place. The power of the arc must also be adapted to the physique of the practitioner, so that he does not injure himself. We also prepare young people muscularly. “ Also, a beginner will start shooting at 5 meters from the target, then he will step back gradually. “The idea is not to put everything aside, otherwise it’s not funny. It has to be scalable. “ To master your bow and progress, the archer recommends at least two two-hour training sessions per week. “But, everything depends on his ambitions and the availability of each”, she nuances.
The practice of this sport requires physical strength but above all a lot of concentration. “You have to be able to go the distance. It is endurance over time, but if you are well prepared, your physique is not the first limiting factor. On the other hand, concentration is a very important element, summarizes Marion Lenglet. It is this mental aspect that will tire us first. You have to be able to concentrate when shooting, to let go and then to refocus quickly. ” Archery ultimately combines effort, precision, dexterity, calm and self-control.
Article: Emilie Mette
