Building children's confidence one arrow at a time

A soft archery after school club in Stockbridge, Edinburgh is helping children discover archery in a fun and inclusive way while building their self-confidence.

Delivered with support from the Sportscotland funded Active Schools programme, the club has introduced 20 primary aged pupils to the sport using soft archery equipment, creating a welcoming space where enjoyment, safety, and skill development come first. Sessions were delivered by school parent and archer, Victoria Barby, and a team of parent helpers. 

Soft archery allows young archers to build confidence, coordination, strength, posture, and shooting technique in a safe and accessible way. These core skills directly support progression into traditional archery, helping children to transition more smoothly to recurve or barebow equipment when they are ready. Soft archery also reinforces important habits around range safety, self discipline and consistency, ensuring archers are well prepared for the next stage of their archery development.

Across the term, the young archers have been working towards Archery GB's Just Shoot Awards, giving them clear goals and a tangible sense of progress. Sessions focus not only on shooting technique, but also on the wider values that archery teaches, including focus, patience, respect, teamwork, and self confidence. The badge scheme has proved a powerful motivator, allowing every child to progress at their own pace and celebrate personal achievements alongside their peers.

Read the full article on Start Archery here.