Archery might be classed as a pioneer sport for women. The art of the bow and arrow has been exploited ever since the written records of man. At the present time, when such sports as basket ball, field hockey, track athletics, etc., are the popular games, archery has been less in favor. There is no reason why any athletic girl who can run the hundred in good time, and acquit herself creditably in any of the more strenuous sports, should smile a supercilious smile at Archery—mere child’s play in her mind. In fact, it is far from child’s play, and it has all the advantages of wholesome outdoor competition.

In order to be successful at archery two things are necessary—perseverance and a trained eye. Any girl without particular athletic ability can learn how to hold the bow and take aim. Both requisites may be acquired through practice. There is no need for great strength or for any violent exertion. It is particularly good for growing girls where more violent exercise might be harmful.

The archer should look first to her bow, which should be neither too heavy nor too strong. A beginner should not use a bow that is heavy. The bow together with the arrow should be tested and if it can be raised and drawn without strain it has the proper weight. Another point to be considered is steadiness; no bow should kick or jar after the string is released.

The arrows should also be chosen carefully according to weight and length. An arrow that is too heavy will weaken the bow; an arrow that is too light will not fly truly. Arrows vary in length and should be chosen according to length of arm, so that when the arrow is drawn the proper form can be maintained. A right-handed archer extends the left arm full length holding the bow, while the right hand (grasping the string with the notch of the arrow adjusted) should be at the right cheek; therefore the length of the arrow should be governed by the length of the left arm.

Bows vary from three feet to five feet six inches and arrows from fifteen inches to twenty-five inches. The arrows should be carefully kept when not in use. A quiver and belt is a desirable added equipment. Some archers find a bracer or arm guard necessary.

In shooting the arrow the first consideration is the position of standing. The side of body should be directly toward the target (or the point aimed at), the head turned toward the target, looking over the shoulder. The feet—heels slightly apart—should be at right angles to an imaginary line drawn directly from target.

Next to be considered is nocking the arrow. The bow should be held in a horizontal position, the arrow is laid across the bow and the nock or notch of the arrow is fitted on the string by the right hand.

The position of the hand is important. The string is held by three fingers, the string resting near the tips of the fingers above the first joint; the arrow rests between the first and second fingers; the thumb and little finger should not touch the arrow or the string.

Next comes the draw. Raise the bow hand, drawing on the string slightly; take a preliminary sight; then the draw is taken almost the full distance, the full aim is caught, and the arrow is released when drawn to the fullest extent. Another way is to raise the bow, draw to the fullest extent, take aim by moving the hand on the bow handle up or down as the need dictates; loose the string by straightening the fingers while the hand is drawn entirely back.

The archer should never shoot more than three arrows in succession without resting. The fourth and succeeding flights are apt to be inaccurate if the arms are the least bit tired. Always be sure to shoot every arrow carefully—never hurry.

The bows and arrows should be well taken care of. They should be cleaned and wiped thoroughly after each use. Never use a blunt arrow; it will not hold in the target. The bow should always be unstrung after it is used and strung before using again.

The arrow should be uniformly nocked at the same point upon the string in order to insure accuracy. Thus, it is desirable to wrap the string at the proper point with a different colored thread.

Games.

The most ancient form of archery is the so-called roving game, which consists of roving about and shooting at marks from various distances. Another form is flight shooting—seeking to cast an arrow the greatest possible distance.

Modern archery, however, is practically confined to target shooting. A target is a flat disc, varying from eighteen inches to forty-eight inches in diameter. It is marked by concentric rings or bands of different colors. From center to the outer ring the colors are gold, red, blue, black, and white; the latter is usually banded by a narrow strip of green. The dimensions are: gold nine and six-tenths inches, and the width of each of the other rings is exactly half that amount.

Tournament.

The archer standing at a prescribed distance shoots at the target, trying to make as many hits as possible and to place the arrows in the gold. Three arrows are usually shot at a time, then three more. The six arrows form an end. A given number of ends form a range, while two or three ranges form a round.

The Score.

A hit is counted if the arrow pierces the target. The values of the different bands are: gold, 9; red, 7; blue, 5; black, 3; white, 1. An arrow cutting or touching the line between rings counts for the higher value. Also one hit is counted if the arrow rebounds from face of or if it passes through the body of the target; this adds one point to the score.

The Rounds for Ladies are:

I.—National Round.

48 arrows at 60 yards.
24 arrows at 50 yards.

At the double of this the National Championship is decided.

II.—Columbia Round.

24 arrows at 50 yards.
24 arrows at 40 yards.
24 arrows at 30 yards.

The Ladies’ Interclub team and mid-range matches are contested with 96 arrows at 50 yards.

Archery Clubs.

The sport of archery gives a splendid opportunity for the formation of clubs with weekly or bi-weekly tournaments. Groups of girls can adopt a color designating teams where there are no other means of rivalry; thus, team and individual trophies may be contested for.

The grounds for archery should be carefully chosen. The most suitable ground is a level, grassy space with a uniform background. It is well to see that no danger can come to anyone through a flying arrow.