Archery Club Eberbach: When the arrows fly to music and grilled food – Eberbach

By Peter Bayer

Eberbach. They roam through the forest like Robin Hood used to do through the famous Sherwood Forest. However, they do not target the soldiers of the Nottingham sheriffs, but wild boar, bear and rabbit – of course only as a 3-D replica. If the members of the Archery Club (BSV) Eberbach going on the course is anything but a short walk through the forest. “We are already on the road for three to four hours,” says Chairman Peter Schäffler.

Even if the still young club does not have its own course, they learn the technical requirements of archery here on the club grounds in Rockenau. The course is a few kilometers further on BSC Allemühl. “We have a cooperation with the BSC, so we can use it,” explains Schäffler. They have a cooperation not only with this, but also with the Eberbach Community School. There is also therapeutic shooting.

“Archery, for example, is ideal for hyperactive children,” says Schäffler, emphasizing a positive aspect of the sport. Because “when shooting you have to stay calm, otherwise it won’t work”. The surroundings of the club’s premises – above the Curata senior citizens’ monastery in the middle of the forest – are helpful. It’s quiet here, only the birds are chirping. Also ideal for the adult members to relax or “come down after a hard day’s work”, according to the chairman. The Eberbach archers have been on this site for eight years and have found a home here.

Not all bows are created equal. This is demonstrated by Peter Schäffler with the first bow he bought and Christopher Schanne with his high-tech device for Olympic archery. Photo: Peter Bayer

Even though most of the 48 members are adults, there are also eight young people who Christopher Schanne trains. If you have “got the hang of it”, you can try your hand at various targets: large and small targets, 3-D targets or sacks that hang or swing on ropes. “That promotes spatial thinking and seeing,” says Schäffler. And as with all other sports, one thing is very important in archery in order to become good: training, training, training.

Like so many other things, this fell victim to the pandemic in the past few months, as the halls had been closed in the “winter season” since September. So the youth training is currently still a bit in a deep slumber, but this should change quickly with better weather.

The same goes for the adults. Because even if the arrows have been flying in the fresh air again in the club since March by arrangement, it is not so much fun in the current weather and the low temperatures. Quite different when the sun is smiling again. “Barbecue, music and shooting in this environment – what more could you want?” Says Peter Schäffler.

The archery people came to their current site by accident. Admitted to the sports committee of the Eberbach clubs on March 29, 2010, the initially small club trained for two years on the outdoor area of ​​the handball home. But the club was popular, grew bigger and bigger, so it needed a new place of activity. Also to accommodate the material. “We tried it across the city first, but nothing went,” says Schäffler, looking back. Then he got the tip “Rockenau” – below the soccer field. However, nature conservation and the lack of sanitary facilities spoke against it.

The Curata area, where there used to be a dog park, was the longed-for direct hit. “That’s it!”, Peter Schäffler thought immediately. A lot of time and work had to be invested before the overgrown area could be used for shooting and became a “feel-good factor”. And it has to be maintained on an ongoing basis. Lots of leaves and also smaller branches from the surrounding trees land on the lawn. “We have to pick it up and clean it up once a week,” says Peter Schäffler.

Financially the association is on its own, practically lives from the contributions of the meanwhile 48 members, eight of them young people. There are no big events, and at barbecues for smaller groups hardly anything gets stuck. The association is all the more pleased about donations, such as the new disc from the Curata Seniorenstift. “We have been working together for a long time, I wanted to do something good for the association,” says home manager Vanessa Geier, explaining her commitment. “We will use the disc for youth training,” says youth leader Christopher Schanne.

The chairman and youth leaders hope that this will be possible at this site for a long time to come. Because a renovation of the Curata retirement home is under discussion. How it will go on is completely open, a suitable replacement site in Eberbach would be difficult to find. “I’ll try everything,” promises Vanessa Geier and encourages the club members to train here in the years to come and continue to enjoy the “feel-good atmosphere”.

Info: Training times are Wednesdays from 5 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. for children and afternoons for adults.

–