Disability Archery
What's it all about?
Archery
is a sport that almost anybody can take up regardless of any disability.
Within Kent there is considerable support for disabled people to try
the sport, to develop their skill and to excel in Archery.
Currently within the Paralympic Games only classes for physically impaired wheelchair user's exist.
Visually impaired Archers are categorised according to their visual acuity and there are separate classes for these categories, which are designated B1, B2, B3 and B4 according to a sight test carried out by British Blind Sport.
For Archers who cannot see the target a tactile sight is used. This is a pointer mounted on a tripod, which the Archer lightly touches with the back of the hand to determine the arrows’ direction and elevation.
There are disabled Archery clubs in Kent affiliated to the Grand National Archery Society, the sport's governing body, as well as many day centres where you can try the sport.
Other organisations that can help include the Kent Association for the Blind and the Kent Outdoor Pursuits Disability Project.
Taking part
Schools
Archery
is now in many schools in Kent. It was introduced into the Kent Youth
Parallel games in 2002 which has led to several special schools and
designated units in Kent taking up the sport and even including it
in their curriculum. Three particular schools in Kent have Archery
in their curriculum; Meadowfield School in Sittingbourne, Dorton House
School in Seal and Valence School in Westerham. Several other special
schools in Kent have similar options for Archery. Archery specific
leader courses can be arranged so that members of staff can gain a
recognised teaching qualification.
C.E.D.A.K (Centre of Excellence for Disability Archery in Kent)
The Centre of Excellence for Disability Archery in Kent was established in 2006. The club aims to promote archery as a sport for disabled people, to help people who have tried the sport and wish to develop their skills perhaps with the intention of joining an open club, and to provide the specialist support for those who want to make it to the top. This centre is based at Valence School in Westerham and is staffed by coaches with experience of working with people with a wide range of abilities.
At a lower level the aim is to enable disabled people to develop their skills and help integrate them into local open clubs. For those who have the aptitude and determination, intensive coaching is available to help them explore their full potential within the sport.
Useful Links
www.british-wheelchair-archery.org.uk
www.gnas.org/disbaled/index.cfm
Main contact
Kay Holliman- Associate Disability Officer for Archery
Email: kayarchery@aol.com
