The ultimate Christmas gift.

This year kids are sitting on Santa's lap, asking for a bow for Christmas. Not surprisingly after the run of movies featuring archery (The Hunger Games, The Avengers and Brave) sales of archery equipment of youth have taken off.

The public are often surprised to hear of sport being so popular, and the vast range of bows available.

Archery alone has options, bowhunting, bowfishing, target and traditional to name a few.

We're often plagued by "It's not safe". Parent's can be assured this is a safe sport, it does require supervision however keeping the sport interesting is easy, targets can be made with minimal cost, the child has a goal. Archery has been known to improve concentration, increase confidence in most children, it's a sport the whole family can enjoy together. For more benefits see below.

Due to the popular nature and interest in the bow's Archery Direct decided to run a colouring competition for kids aged 3 - 12 to give them a chance at winning one of 3 bow sets.

The competition proved as popular as the bows themselves and entries flooded in.

Thank you to every one who entered and the beautiful pictures which everyone has admired.

Merry Christmas from Archery Direct Ltd.

Click here to view our selection of youth archery equipment.

Top 10 benefits of archery
Reasons to get started in archery

Archery is a great sport for boosting your mental and physical health and fitness. However, it also has a number of other benefits, improving patience and teaching safety as you'll find in our top 10 benefits of archery.

1. Archery is open to all

Archery can be done by able bodied and disabled people. People with the most severe disabilities and even the blind, using special tactile equipment are able to join in.

2. Archery is a physically demanding sport

While it is a fun sport, archery is also physically demanding and those wishing to progress may want to think about improving upper body strength for greater control.

3. Archery improves focus

Archers require not only some physical strength, but also mental fitness, and archers develop their focus, flexibility, and attention skills.

4. Archery is relatively inexpensive

Archery can be a cheap sport if you just want to play for fun. However, if you want to compete, then the price can jump, and requires a lot of your time as well as dedication. Many archery outlets allow you to borrow equipment when having lessons from them.

5. Archery provides enjoyment

The ultimate goal of the recreational archer is enjoyment. The archer should remember to focus on improving themselves rather than worrying about what everyone else is doing, and with that in mind, archery becomes a lot more fun.

6. Archery improves patience

Archery is particularly useful for youngsters as it teaches them the benefits of patience.

7. Archery is an indoor and outdoor sport

Archery can be practiced both indoors and outdoors with many clubs having access to indoor facilities over the winter season so the weather need not be a barrier to participation.

8. Archery is a social sport

People from many walks of life enjoy archery. Almost every age group can participate, and children as young as 6 or 7 have taken well to the sport, while it is not unheard of for people in their 80s to be shooting competitively. It also teaches the benefits of teamwork in some cases with some competitions involving groups of people.

9. Archery improves self-confidence

Archery provides great satisfaction in combining both mental and physical attributes to good effect. Whatever the results at the target, every archer is able to draw satisfaction to a lesser or greater extent, from having won a personal mental battle.

10. Archery teaches the importance of safety

The sport can be dangerous if people are reckless. Archery teaches everyone to be responsible for one another and also for the equipment they are using.

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/top-10-benefits-of-archery-nz-en/