If you were compiling a list of the most important weeks of the student archery year, it would be easy to be seduced by the period around late February and early March when BUTC and BUCS Indoors (and their associated big shiny medals) take centre stage. However Freshers' Week and the first weeks of term time have a far greater influence over the year as a whole, even though big shiny medals are generally not awarded.
The grim reaper of graduation means that the membership of most student clubs is completely turned over within three to four years - and each year it is usually the most experienced archers and organisers who depart. Freshers' Week is also the first big test for new committees, who will mostly have been elected around Easter time. Do the first few weeks well and a club can be flush with money and new members. Do the first few weeks poorly and the ship can be difficult to turn around. Novice team totals can be more indicative of the health of a club than the seniors as no matter what the existing strength of the senior club is, when it comes to novices, everyone starts from zero.
Stalls and have-a-go sessions lead in to what will hopefully be an extremely busy first few sessions. The main goals here are likely to be extracting membership money and trying to prevent the beginners from hurting themselves too much. Gradually things settle down as regulars emerge and before too long the beginners will be attending their first regional league match or friendly, as competitors in their own right.
Of course, the majority of those who sign up (or turn up) in the early days don't go on to make any sort of impact. Lots will never appear at all, others will appear once, look promising and then vanish. Somewhere within your club's list of names, however, there could well be a future BUCS medallist or a BUTC match winner. There may be someone who supplies that all important fourth highest score that wins a crucial regional league match against your local rivals. There will certainly be future Social Secretaries and Equipment Officers in the mix, future Presidents and minibus drivers, team-mates and friends. You may even be fortunate and uncover some experienced archers as well, there's just no way to tell.
And of course, if the supply of student archers dried up, this website would definitely struggle for material, so thanks to all those who put in the hard yards in at this time of year and best of luck to all clubs in the recruitment drive.
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