JT Mathews, a seventh-grader, used a compound bow to shoot a 24-inch arrow toward the 30-meter target. Several feet away, Serenity Curry, an eighth-grader, shot an arrow toward the 30- and 40-meter targets.
After hearing a three-whistle blast from Billy Shelnutt, archers retrieved their arrows. Then, they waited for the two-blast command that gave permission to step forward to the line and a single whistle blast signaling “begin shooting.”
Shelnutt, Will Elder and Seth Robinson supervised Oglethorpe County’s 4-H archery team practice on Feb. 9 at the Oglethorpe County Middle School soccer field to prepare for the state archery match on May 3 at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center.
For safety purposes, teams must have one coach for every five archers, Rita Shelnutt said, per Rock Eagle 4-H Center regulations.
Shelnutt and her husband Billy participate to prevent the team from “(going) away” and encourage more parent involvement.
“We started with our son, and actually, our son already graduated, but we’re still involved because not a lot of parents like to get involved, honestly,” Rita said.
Billy and Rita “stuck with” coaching and logistically helping the 4-H team after their son’s graduation from high school three years ago. In total, they have assisted the team for 11 years.
Billy said some parents have shown interest in coaching, but show hesitation.
“When they got to go spend the whole day in class, or two days in class, they sort of frown on it, say, ‘I got better stuff to do with my weekend, and this and that,’” he said.
This year’s team includes about 15 archers between the ages of 9-18 and three coaches. Eight of the active archers were present at practice.
Each coach walked among the archers to help adjust the wooden, fiberglass and metal bows and offer advice.
To guide the archers, Billy recommends holding the “string against your face” and “(relaxing) your grip.”
Marcus Eason, the county’s 4-H agent, hopes the archery program will continue to grow.
“It has its ebbs and flows,” he said. “The more kids that we can impact, the better. You always want a program to grow and for you to be able to reach as many kids as you can.”
Eason added the archery team helps bring families together.
“A lot of these coaches, they think it’s important enough to stick with it, even though the kids have graduated and moved on,” he said. “They enjoy it so much, and it brings the community together.”
For Billy Shelnutt, increased parent participation would allow the other coaches more time with the children and for him to “be in the background.”
“I don’t mind filling in, but I want to step back as head coach and let some of these other guys have a time with the kids,” he said.
Despite a lack of coaches, Rita said this year is “better” in terms of new archers and growth of the program.
“I hope to continue to see it grow, but with growth, we have to have more involvement from parents,” Rita said.