Planning a Training Session

“Plan your work then work your plan.” Unknown

When planning a training session the coach must review notes about past training sessions, any tournament performance between sessions, practice scores reported by the archer and homework assignments given to the archer during the most recent session

Archers should bring their own equipment, but it’s a good idea to have spare straps and bands in case the archer isn’t prepared

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Prepare the training area and have any necessary target faces, targets and video equipment set up when the archer arrives

The archer should have been briefed on the goal of the session and be prepared to train when they arrive

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Planning a Training Session

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Example of Session Goal Statement:

Goal: Learn how to move from Set to the Set-up position

Standard: Be able to perform the movement with 75% perfection by the end of the day

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Planning a Training Session

The coach should take a few minutes to review past trainings and other pertinent information with the archer before training begins and make sure that the archer’s goals are the same as the coaches for this session.

The archer should provide the coach with the Daily Sports Diary and any items which appear to be out of ordinary should be discussed.

Once the coach and archer are satisfied that they are working toward the same goals and understand the expected performance standard the training may begin.

Planning a Training Session

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Conducting A Training Session

Begin by having the archer do some stretching before pulling any weight

After sufficient warm-up begin with a form strap or stretch band and have the archer perform the drills you want to work on

When they have met your standards for the session with a band or a strap, move up to a light bow

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Continue to progress until the archers are using their own bow

If the archer can’t perform correctly with their personal bow, it does no good to have them pull it

The coach must make a decision to reduce draw weight or recommend the archer continue to train until enough strength has been built to pull the full-weight bow

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Conducting A Training Session

Continue the session, with appropriate breaks and critiques, until the archer is performing to the standards and has reached the goals set for that training day

If the standards aren’t met or the training goals aren’t reached, the coach must discuss a plan with the archer to work on those deficiencies between training sessions

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Conducting A Training Session

The coach must insure that sufficient critique is given to the archer and that the archer is able to view their performance during training

Use as many forms of visual aids as possible; video and still cameras, mirrors, delayed video playback and real-time video feedback work well

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Conducting A Training Session

The archer and coach must not rely solely on visual media

The coach must look at the archer and provide real-time critiques and encouragement as well as offer solutions to the archers’ problems

Remember video is an aid to training; don’t let it become a crutch

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Conducting A Training Session

Wrap-Up Once the session is complete allow the archer to

cool down by doing some light stretching exercises before the critique

When the cool down is over discuss the session with the archer

Point out the archer’s strengths and accomplishments and discuss shortfalls

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Wrap-Up

Annotate all of this in the Student Continuing Training Information Sheet and give the archer an assignment which will prepare them for the next training session

Follow-on Assignment: Using the video and printed materials provided, continue to practice the movement until the next training session

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If you have taken video during the session you should use the time when the archer is cooling down to transfer the video to disc for the archer to take with them and study until the next session

At the end of the session fill out and file your paperwork and write some notes to help you prepare for your next coaching session with that archer or archers

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Wrap-Up

Even though every training session is unique, a coach should have a set plan for conducting training sessions and follow it

The plan provides a guide for the archer and the coach so that each knows what to expect during the session

Always define the session goals and the training standards for each session

This prevents misunderstanding and frustration Good Luck

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Summary