STL All Sports

Archery is more adaptable than most sports to the 'individual needs and whims of pupils, and therefore merits a place among the sports and activities which comprise the school program.

In the first place, archery is a sport that is healthful and remedial. Many people when ordered by their physician to take outdoor activities have turned to archery as a means to health. Because of the nature of the sport--principally an out-of-door one, and one which is not too strenuous, yet strenuous enough to possess body-building qualities it is considered a particularly wholesome form of exercise. Its orthopedic value is particularly significant, especially in cases of poor posture, for in assuming the position required for shooting, one necessarily assumes the position of good posture.

Archery is a type of recreation that may be enjoyed equally well by individuals or groups of individuals of varying ages and of both sexes. It is one of those sports which can be learned well enough to be enjoyed the first few times it is played. On the other hand it may be attacked scientifically by delving in the various methods of shooting for distance and accuracy, and thus presents challenge enough to hold interest throughout a lifetime.

Archery is a sport which is economical in time, space, and energy. It does not require the great amount of time that many sports do. The fundamental background can be quickly obtained. Then the road to expert mastery is long or short according to the amount of available time one has to devote to it. Since it is a sport that can be easily adjusted to the time available, it can be placed in the school program wherever there is a vacant period, or be embodied in some extra-curricular or club activity after school.

Archery can be adapted to almost any available space, indoors or outdoors, large or small. If the available space is small, all that is necessary to do is to reduce the size of the targets and practically the same results can be procured as in shooting at a standard target from a standard distance. Any unused space in the school building which has sufficient light may be utilized by placing proper backstops directly behind the targets. Care should be taken not to use a poorly ventilated room, or a room in which the health of the students would be jeopardized in any way.

Archery is inexpensive. Schools may now purchase archery equipment very reasonably from many commercial firms. Manual training depart- ments of many schools make archery equipment as a part of their regular program, and in this way keep down the cost considerably. Individuals may buy the necessary raw material very cheaply from school supply departments, and make their own equipment at a very little cost.