What age to start archery?

[resnikov]

Both my daughters are asking if they can get a bow and arrow. They have a play one picked up from some castle somewhere but now they are after the real deal.

They are 7 and 5 but both big for their age. The 5 year old is taller then a lot of the 7 year old's class mates.

I know a lot of it will be if they are able to draw the bow but I have no idea if you can children's bows.

So what age have you let kids shoot a bow and how did they get on?

 

[mountainm]

Selby won't let them start until they're 8.

 

[Dogoak]

I think a lot of clubs start at 8 years but this is probably to do with rules & regs with childrens care, insurance, etc; The choice of bow is important, gets some advice from a club or specialist shop.
The other thing is not to over do it, their anatomy is developing and you don't want to cause any later physical problems.

 

[Niels]

My friend's daughter can shoot and she's 4. If they want to why not? Physical problems aren't a big risk with a light bow. I started with a 15# bow when I was eleven.

 

[resnikov]

http://www.quicksarchery.co.uk/superbasket/product/1069/DB27+Wings+Little+Glassfibre+Bow+10lbs+draw

Something like this to start?

 

[Kerne]

At my club we start them at 7/8 - as long as they are physically able to draw the bow and sensible enough to be safe.

 

[roger-uk]

We teach Cubs at 8 with low powered bows and make sure targets are close.

They love it - especially when you pin ballons to targets

 

[Cromm]

My son started at 2 or 3 years old, with a very light bow. Then worked up from there, but its about the enjoyment.

 

[boatman]

I have them shoot from any age so long as they can stand up. Sometimes it means holding the bow and pulling back the string with them but they do love it especially if an older brother or sister is also shooting.

 

[resnikov]

So looks like they can shoot at this age, what sort of bow to go for then?

 

[789987]

what about this?

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/startech-ii-red-bow-id_8229603.html

i was tempted for the same reasons - in an impulse buying way

 

[boatman]

We use the Armex smallest for the tinies then work up but if buying I would suggest the next two up. http://armex-archery.co.uk/display_weapon.php?id=1361455947

 

[Elen Sentier]

Being an ancient relic I'm going back to 1955 when my Dad first taught me archery, I was 7yr old. Dad got a simple 3ft bow and I was strong enough to draw it. As a kid I got to be quite a good shot - don't let me near it now

 

[grumit]

The youth club I teach at have them from ten but the chap who runs its daughter shoots at seven we are at present raising funds for kit and trying to scrounge it locally