Why Instructors Must Practice What They Preach

He believes his efforts are paying off because all his students work hard and follow the rules. In fact, Stephens runs the Hilltop Archers Scholastic 3D Archery club at his shop, and his archers were very successful this year. His elementary, middle and high school teams all took first place at the S3DA Outdoor Target Nationals competition in July.

Fiala agrees this mentality is important. “USA Archery certified coaches across the nation are seeing great improvement and growth in their archers this year,” he said. “With record participation at USA Archery’s JOAD Nationals, coaches celebrated their archers achieving more personal bests, national and world records this summer than any year before. The most dedicated coaches are already registered for USA Archery’s National Symposium this fall.”

Want to achieve the same results? Here are five tips to become a better leader in your shop and on the range.

–  Clearly communicate. Fiala said good coaches and leaders communicate their expectations from Day 1 to ensure students know how to behave. He said coaches should also take a sincere interest in getting to know their students. Understanding their thoughts and concerns can help you provide better guidance and instruction.

–  Give and take criticism. Stephens said you might not notice your mistakes, so it’s good to ask your students to evaluate your actions. If someone points out a problem, he suggests you assess the situation and take the advice when it’s warranted.

–  Don’t cut corners. If a student sees you taking shortcuts or skipping shooting steps, they’re less likely to pay attention and more likely to bend the rules themselves, Fiala said.

–  Be serious and assertive. Stephens said you should never goof off during archery practice. You must always be in control but keep things fun and entertaining.It’s important to achieve a good balance in your classes and lessons.

–  Reward and reprimand when necessary. Both Fiala and Stephens know that even if you lead by example, you’re bound to have kids who don’t follow direction. If that happens, it’s best to pull the student aside and explain what they’re doing wrong or how they should be behaving. If the student acts out again, ask him or her to sit out for a while. Also, reward and commend positive behavior when students exceed your expectations.

You can improve your own teaching abilities by becoming certified as an archery instructor. The ATA offers USA Archery Level 1 or Level 2, and Scholastic 3-D Archery instructor certification classes at the ATA Trade Show. Click here to view the schedule and register online.

Can’t attend the Show? Visit the S3DA website or the USA Archery website to find a certification course near you.