U of A archers take to the range this weekend

Many students spend their Sundays peacefully recovering from the week that was. But much more excitingly, they could spend it trying a 50 thousand-year-old sport.

Students and members of the public can sign up for a free archery clinic to be held at Varsity Field beside the Butterdome on Sunday, Sept. 13.

After being taught how to use a bow, archers will compete in a short, friendly competition. Points earned in the competition will also contribute to the scores of those in campus intramurals.

“We bring in … instructors to teach the sport,” Campus and Community Recreation Program Coordinator Matt Edmonds said. “For most of the university community, archery is not their bread and butter sport, the same way soccer or volleyball or hockey is.”

Participants sign up for a two-hour slot — the first half is spent in an archery clinic, where they are taught by clinicians how to hold, aim, and fire. The second half is a shooting competition. Each two-hour slot has room for 24 participants, for a total of 96 over the whole day.

This year, Campus and Community Recreation partnered with the Alberta Conservation Association to make the clinic and competition free for students. Last year, there was a $10 sign-up fee.

“We realize that there are not only demands on students’ time, but also their finances,” Edmonds said.

Most of the participants are new to archery, making the Sunday event an easy way to try a new sport with little to lose.

For many students, it’s easy to spend all of their time doing academics, with little left over for socializing. The advantage of the archery clinic and competition — and other intramural sports — is making social time a way to get active as well.

“The challenge ends up being (finding) those people who already have so many demands on their time,” Edmonds said.

There will also be drop-in archery offered to the general public, which will not be competitive. Families can come try target shooting in the Family Free Shoot, which will have instructional supervision but won’t be part of the structured clinic and competition.

“It’s a great way to have fun on a Sunday afternoon,” Edmonds said. “We’re trying to reach out to the broader community and connect our students with the folks who are just outside our walls.”

Information and sign-up for the event on Sunday can be found online.