National federations gather in Flüeli-Ranft for World Archery Management Seminar

Delegates from 30 of World Archery’s national member associations travelled to Switzerland for a three-day programme of presentations, workshops and networking activities last weekend.

As well as strong representation from African federations, active and high-tier associations such as Great Britain, China, and France, among others, attended. Specialists from the Archery Trade Association, TSE Consulting and Sinergi – who coordinated the meeting – lent their expertise.

“The next stage of our World Plan centres around the development of our national federations,” said World Archery Secretary General Tom DIELEN. However the Management Seminar is not a new concept for the organisation, which first held an event of this type in 2009.

“We’re acutely aware of the gap between the level of our international events and our national competitions. It’s just one example of where we need to better support World Archery’s member associations in progressing the quality of their product.”

The Netherlands national federation is one that has successfully modernised and integrated itself into key markets for archery development.

Harm VAN DER HOFF explained the Dutch association’s standardised beginner training course – being used in schools and clubs – which engages participants with regular emails solidifying learning. The federation office now sends a personalised certificate to every person who completes a course.

Among the other presentations was Austria, displaying its central membership and registration system, Ireland’s club press officer drive and Chinese Taipei – organiser of the Asian Championships in 2013.

That event was quite unique: organisers were able to mobilise a professional cheerleading squad from a local baseball team to promote the tournament. Baseball is a huge sport in the region, and it brought welcome media attention. In Flüeli-Ranft, the Chinese Taipei delegates managed to get the workshop to dance the same routine the cheerleaders used.

It sounds a little crazy and out-of-the-box… but it’s this out-of-the-box, active and action-based thinking that is needed in member federations.

Sharing success stories and knowledge with other delegates was the pillar of the workshop programme, explained Tom DIELEN: “We wanted to identify which federations can teach and which can learn – and in which areas.”

“We will now work to ensure the knowledge sharing continues, and all our federations continue to grow, develop and attract more practitioners to our sport.”

Delegates left the Management Seminar with self-assessment action plans of their own associations – and a list of other federations they could contact, in focus groups, to help them progress the areas that need most work.

Some of this progress will be easy to measure at the next World Archery Congress in Copenhagen next July – when World Archery launches its first project awards.

As well as identifying the best project of 2014 from member federation submissions, a commission will assess applications for future projects and award a grant towards the delivery of the best.

“The award programme has only one goal,” said Tom DIELEN, who cited the example of the world record for the largest archery tournament achieved recently in the Philippines.

“Encourage innovation, resourcefulness and action in archery federations around the world.”

Learn more about World Archery’s development initiatives.