Soft Archery

Special-tipped arrows and lightweight bows are used throughout, making the activity safe for participants from age four upwards with no upper age limit. Despite the softer equipment, the full archery technique is taught — stance, draw, anchor point, aim, and release — identical in every respect to standard archery instruction. This means participants develop genuine skills that transfer directly to standard archery as they progress. The activity develops focus, coordination, balance, patience, and hand-eye coordination, and requires minimal adaptation for SEN groups or participants with additional needs, making it one of our most inclusive offerings.

Soft archery brings the sport's timing, technique and focus to participants for whom standard archery equipment may not be suitable — and it's a brilliant introductory experience that genuinely gets groups hooked. The activity qualifies Girlguiding members for the Sport Adventure Badge — the same badge as standard archery — making it fully inclusive without any reduction in programme value. Schools access KS1–KS2 PE content around physical coordination, confidence and broadening activity range. And for any young person who has never picked up a bow before, soft archery is often the experience that sparks a lasting interest in the sport.

Soft Archery is an inclusive adaptation of traditional archery. Our instructors apply Archery GB teaching principles and technique standards to the soft format, and the activity is delivered within Beaudesert's outdoor education risk assessment framework.

Soft Archery brings one of our most popular activities to groups that might otherwise be excluded from it. When a four-year-old draws a bow for the first time and hits the target, the look of pride on their face is identical to that of any adult hitting a bullseye — and that is exactly what great outdoor education should feel like.