Archery Shown Safe

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Archery Shown Safe
By Patrick Durkin
Sep 21, 2005, 00:21

Independent Research Verifies that Archery is Safe for All

New “Insight” publication by ArrowSport provides testimonials and statistics that prove archery is a safe sport enjoyed by young and old, male and female.

Even as schools, municipalities and state wildlife agencies across the country expand archery programs and build new archery ranges, they’re continually questioned about the sport’s safety record. To better address those questions, ArrowSport now offers an 8-page, full-color “Insight” pamphlet titled, “Is Archery a Safe Sport? Yes!”

Archery - Safe sport for everyone

The “Insight” pamphlet provides independent research and firsthand testimonials from teachers, administrators and instructors that show archery is one of North America’s safest sports. The pamphlet is available to schools, recreation departments, private groups and anyone else considering whether to offer archery in their curriculum or program, or include archery ranges as part of their facility.

“We’ve always known archery is fun and safe, whether you’re in grade school or living in a retirement community,” said Denise Parker, vice president of the Archery Trade Association. “We were so confident in that belief that we purposely sought independent research from the insurance industry, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the sporting goods industry to see where archery stacks up in terms of safety. No matter where we looked, the statistics exceeded our expectations. This pamphlet puts all those results into one comprehensive, easy-to-read publication.”

Parker said the staff of ATA and its nonprofit foundation ArrowSport expect questions about safety every time a school or private group considers whether to offer archery. “You have to assume that almost everyone on a school board or rec committee will have little to no experience with archery, and that they’ll ask safety questions,” Parker said. “They’re just doing their jobs. But after they review this information, they’ll better understand why archery is one of the safest, most beneficial sports they can offer.”

Among the information cited in ArrowSport’s “Insight” publication are comparisons of injury rates per 1,000 youths participating in archery, bowling, golf, soccer, baseball and basketball. The injury statistics are gathered by the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), which is part of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Injury rates for soccer, baseball and basketball were 15 to 25 times greater than for archery. Further, golf and fishing produced 1.5 to 2 times as many injuries as archery.

Because archery is so safe, insurance companies rank it with other low-danger sports such as badminton, golf and tennis. “We have yet to hear of a school that had to take out additional liability insurance to include archery in their program,” Parker said. “Archery’s track record shows it’s not a sport that concerns insurance companies.”

Dave Bagley, school superintendent for Antwerp Schools in Ohio, explains why archery is so safe for all age groups: “Archery offers a controlled environment. In comparison, when you put a ball in the air and get kids running, jumping and spinning around, almost anything can happen. Archery allows us to teach a safe, lifetime skill kids can practice almost anywhere.”

The “Insight” pamphlet also explains and illustrates how to safely set up indoor and outdoor archery ranges, and the six steps for safely conducting archery shooting lessons. As Gene Wilhoit, commissioner of Kentucky’s Department of Education says, archery is safe because a well-run class follows specific procedures.

“Because we emphasize safety with our students, conduct training for all teachers, and adhere to standard procedures, we have a remarkable safety record,” Wilhoit said. “Vigilant school districts are always concerned about liability issues, especially with sports and recreation activities. Archery consistently proves itself one of the safest sports taught in our public schools’ physical education programs.”

Copies of “Insight: Is Archery a Safe Sport? Yes!” are available from ArrowSport. Contact the foundation at (866) 266-2776; visit its web site, www.arrowsport.org ; or email Kelly Kelly at kellykelly@archerytrade.org.