The club is open to all students and staff of the University of Cambridge, and we run a beginners' course throughout each Michaelmas term to train those new to archery on how to shoot safely and effectively. Once the course is complete, newly-trained archers are then welcome to shoot with us as a normal member of the club and can borrow club equipment if necessary.

Each year at the beginning of Michaelmas term, we run a have-a-go session for all those who are interested in the beginners course but want to try out archery before signing up.

Our main taster session in 2025 has passed. Please follow our social media for other opportunities to try out the sport.

The beginners' course will take place over four Sunday mornings in Michaelmas term, starting on the 19th of October in 2025, and contains all the coaching necessary to allow you to shoot safely and independently, as well as introducing you to the wider sport of archery. All required equipment will be provided by the club.

All four sessions of the course are mandatory.

The 2025 beginners' course costs £10 to attend, on top of the club's annual membership fees, which are as follows:

• Students

  University of Cambridge only
  £90
• Non-students

  University staff/alumni
  £120

Those who successfully complete the beginners' course, thus proven capable of shooting independently to a safe standard, will be provided with a certificate. They will then become a full member of the club for the rest of the year, and are welcome to shoot at any of the regular club sessions for no extra fee. However, your development as a beginner will not stop here, as there are many further opportunities such as coaching and seminars throughout the year.

A novice in archery is anyone who is within their first 12 months of learning the sport, and the Novice Squad refers to our team of competitive beginner archers. Members of the Novice Squad are expected to keep up with a range of training commitments during term and represent the club in a number of competitions, in exchange for perks that will support their growth in the sport such as additional coaching and exclusive opportunities to rent higher quality bows from the club.

The Novice Squad is selected from the cohort of new beginners each Michaelmas term. We are looking for enthusiastic beginners who are willing to put in the extra effort to develop their archery to a competitive level, who want to learn and improve, and want to be part of the team representing the university at various events. If you're interested, make sure to register your interest with your coaches during the beginners' course. We don't expect you to shoot like an expert right away - only that you will be enthusiastic to start your journey in the sport!

See below for more details on the relevant commitments and perks of being on the Novice Squad. Further questions can be directed to the Novice Officer who is responsible for making the squad selection and coaching the squad.