When sport meets science!

 On Friday 6 March, the Polish Archery Federation presented some leading-edge technologies they use to improve the shooting of their archers. When sport meets of science!   “Today we will show you something that you cannot see with the naked eye,” Mr. Mariusz STRZECHA said as an introduction. The Polish Archery Knowledge Team actually presented to the participants of the Indoor World Championships 2009 some innovative technologies that can be used to improve shooting.   STRZECHA presented a two-part platform that measures the pressure and balance of both legs when an archer is shooting. Demonstration was done with Polish elite archers such as Justyna MOSPINEK and Rafal DOBROWOLSKY, as well as a member of the junior Polish team and a beginner in archery. One could see that the elite archers have more control on their balance than the others. The platform transmits the data to a computer that very precisely shows the variations during the aiming and the whole shooting sequence. The data are shown on easy-to-use graphics that can help an archer improve its posture.   The Polish Archery Knowledge Team also developed an unstable platform that allows practicing one’s balance by playing computer games. Something like the Nintendo Wii but with more difficulty to master the balance!   Finally, STRZECHA also showed a sensor that can be put on the wrist, elbow or even the bow hand of the archer. It measures in three dimensions and with a lot of accuracy the acceleration and movements of an archer’s arm when he releases an arrow. This can help an archer adapt his release for more accuracy on the target.   The overall presentation shows that nowadays details often make the difference in sports. Technology can help sports. However, it is necessary that the archers and the coaches use it wisely to relate the data into practical improvements and exercises for the archers.   Didier MIEVILLE FITA Communication