KuRingGai Bowmen Newsletter May 2000
	In this issue: Working Bee Committee Meeting Treasurers Report Recorders Report Results Coaching - Equipment Maintenance Salt and Athletes Welcome To New Members For Sale The Answers The Questions Tournament Calendar
Working Bee Saturday 3rd June 2000
Coaching - Equipment Maintenance
Salt and Athletes People often think that cramps are caused by....
Selling, buying? See our classified section for all of your needs.

Working Bee Saturday 3rd June 2000 9.30 a.m. Start Morning Tea Provided

Committee Meeting 30th April 2000
General Business

• ABN Registration: Advice received suggested we should apply for an ABN otherwise we will be charged 481/2% witholding tax. The committee decided that it was in the clubs best interest to apply.
• Fees for 2000 / 2001: Archery Australia and Archery NSW have decided to increase their fees for the coming year. AA will be increasing their fees due to the GST, and ANSW will be increasing their fees to cover (they say) increased costs associated with running the society. KuRingGai Bowmen have not received formal notice of the acceptance of the fee increase, and hence will not be putting fees up until this is received. The executive will call a meeting if notice is received.
• Fees for Beginners Courses: It was felt that because ACTS (Royal North Shore Hospital) and KuRingGai Council currently charge $65 for beginners ($50 received by KGB) that we should charge $65 for a beginners course (instead of $50) so that all beginners pay the same fee. Although the committee could see that the fee structure was unbalanced it was decided that we would leave our beginners course fees at $50.
• Half yearly dinner: The committee decided that the Bay Road Bistro would be a nice location for the up and coming half yearly dinner. This has since been scrapped due to high prices for groups. Suggestions were still being sought at the time of printing.
• Target butts: David Henthorn suggested a source for the purchase of a foam type target butt. He suggested that the price could be approximately $190. He would get back to the committee after he received more information. Apparently clubs in WA are currently using this butt successfully.

Treasurers Report 30th April 2000

Treasurer's report not disclosed here.

Recorders Report
30th April 2000

5 Club records have been set since the last report.

Roger Klooster

Coaching - Equipment Maintenance

A lot or archers begin their careers in this sport by completing a beginners course, where they learn the basics of archery and a brief course on choosing equipment. They then go out and purchase their equipment and begin to improve their skills. As time goes by they may reach a reasonable level of proficiency but find it hard to reach the level of expertise that they would like to achieve.

A lot of the problem may be in the style and ability of the individual archer but an often overlooked problem is that of equipment maintenance.

Look at your equipment and give it an honest appraisal. Is it well prepared or in need of maintenance?

Start with your arrows, are they all the same size and length? Are the points secure and all the same weight? Are the vanes all spaced equally around the shaft and firmly glued on or do they look as though a rat has chewed them? Are the nocks all the same size and indexed at the correct angle for maximum clearance? Have you ever checked your arrows for correct front of centre balance (F.O.C.)? Do you know what is meant by F.O.C. balance or how to calculate and check this important measurement? Are you aware that changing the weight of points, vanes, nocks, inserts or shaft length not only alters the spine of the arrow but also the F.O.C. and therefore affects the way the arrow travels.

If you do not fully understand terms such as F.O.C. or arrow spine ask one of your club coaches. Only when your arrows are in perfect condition can they all be expected to follow the same flight pattern.

Archers using compound bows have a few items that need to be checked on a regular basis to ensure that the bow keeps going all day without having a major drama halfway through an event.

Always check your strings and cables before an event, if the buss cables start to stretch or come apart there will be an immediate change in the timing of the upper and lower wheels along with a variation in draw length. Also the nocking point position will start to vary as the cable alters in length. Check your limb adjustment bolts for correct tiller setting, if either limb bolt starts to unwind through vibration, tiller will vary and poundage of the bow will be reduced. Check all the accessories on the bow for tightness, everyone has seen someone on the line have a sight or launcher fall off halfway through a round. Not many archers can refit a sight or launcher and resume shooting without losing points whilst returning the faulty part. Points lost due to these preventable problems can lose you the match.

All equipment maintenance should be carried out during the week before an event, archers who are fletching arrows and serving strings just before an event usually find that something not properly glued or adjusted will cause further problems as the round progresses. Be prepared for minor repairs, carry some spare vanes and nocks and glue for attaching them, also things like your own set of Allen keys, some dental floss and serving on a suitable serving jig may keep you going even if your equipment is falling apart around you. When your bow is tuned, write down all the relevant measurements so that parts can be removed and refitted without causing major delays as you try to retune it.

When you start a programme of regular maintenance, which may only take a few minutes per week, you can then concentrate on your shooting without having to worry about your equipment going the distance, you will have one less thing to worry about. With no problems and confidence in your equipment, all you now have to do is go for gold. Good luck.

From: Coaches Newsletter ASNSW

Salt and Athletes

Salt and Cramps

People often think that cramps are caused by a lack of salt. They believe that extra salt will cure their cramps.

However, studies have shown that cramps can often occur for many reasons - the most common being a lack of suitable muscle warms-ups and a lack of water. Other factors may also be responsible - such as temporary deficiency of magnesium, potassium or calcium, or the influence of female hormones on these minerals.

A person who is regularly experiencing cramps should ensure that they are drinking sufficient amounts of water.

What About Salt for Athletes?

As with any form of intense work or exercise, the amount of water loss is much greater than the loss of salt.

Sodium functions to control the amount of water that is inside the body cells and the spaces between the cells. When water is lost during heavy sweating, the concentration of sodium in the body fluids is increased. To effectively dilute the sodium, water is drawn out of cells into the spaces between the cells.

However, water is required within the cells for energy production. So, ingesting extra salt instead of replenishing water losses can be injurious to sports performance. Other possible outcomes include nausea and vomiting.

Once and athlete restores the losses in the cells by drinking water, any salt losses will be replaced from the food they eat. In summary salt supplementation (tablets or otherwise) are not necessary for sportspeople.

Taken from "Shake the Salt Habit"
by Sanitarium Nutrition Education Service

Welcome to New Members Roger Irving Bob Pagano Peter Tait

For Sale

1. A minimum order will need to be made before these will be available (I think). Prices will depend on order size.
   
2. These prices are approximate only.
   (See the secretary or recorder for confirmation of prices and availability of goods.)

"The Answers"

Q: What is a Fistmele

A: A Fistmele is the breadth of a fist with the thumb stuck out. About 7 inches. Used to check the brace height.

Q: What is a Filq?

A: A Filq is a wooden arabic bow of two pieces joined by a splice.

"The Questions"

Q: What is an Ascham (ask-am)?

Q: What is a Benn?