You're focused.  Everything around you is silent. You pull back your arrow.  Bam! That’s how archery feels.  Many people do not do archery or have any clue how to.  For some people, when they hear the words bow and arrow, they think of cupid.  Some people know that archery is a sport, not a popular one, but a sport. 

       There are three levels in archery: beginner, intermediate, and expert.   Usually if you're just starting you’ll be a beginner.  But if you're older, you’ll be put into intermediate.  Each year you’ll kind of move up a level, depending on if you need more work or less.  Archery is not an easy sport.  You have to stand in one spot for an hour and do the same motion over and over again, so it’s not too interesting, but for some people it can be. 

       There are five colors you can hit: yellow, red, blue, black, and white.  Each one has a different number of points you can get.  White is equal to two  points.  If you shoot your arrow and land on the white circle, you will get two points. If you hit the black that is four points, hit the blue, that’s six points, red is eight points, and yellow is ten points (bullseye).   

       You have to stand the right way to get the arrow to hit the target.  If you’re a lefty you're going to turn your whole body to the left.  Then put your legs shoulder width apart. Don’t move your feet!  You want to plant your feet into the ground.  If you do move your feet, you won’t have accurate aim. Next you’re going to face the target without moving your feet. Then close one eye and look down the tip of the arrow, aim, and shoot. Make sure you keep your arm up, and don’t drop it right after letting the arrow go, otherwise the arrow will go down.   

       There are five basic rules in archery.  One rule is no shooting when someone is in front of you. The arrows are sharp, and they are not plastic.  Another rule that relates to the last one is to stand behind the line.  There is usually a line you would stand at that is a certain distance away from the target.  Anyone who is not shooting has to stand behind that line, or it could be very dangerous.  Another rule is no knocking the bow before everyone is behind the line.  Knocking is when you put the arrow on the bow, like you're about to shoot; there is a possibility you could accidentally shoot and hit someone.  The final rule is wear closed toed shoes! You probably don’t want an arrow sticking out of your foot at the end of practice. Stay safe when doing archery.  

       Archery has a lot of rules.  These rules are easy but very important.  When you play a game, rules are the most important thing.  Otherwise you have no clue how to play, and you're just sitting in a room awkwardly with nothing to do. But that won’t happen if you know the rules.  So in archery just follow the rules and the stances, aim your best shot and go for it.

-Ashlin L.