Neurodivergent and looking for a Sport? Try Archery!

By Imi Hudson

Incase you don’t know me, Hi! My name is Imi and I am a diagnosed Autistic, Dyslexic and I also have combined type ADHD- fair to say I won the neurodivergent lottery. All this means my brain functions very differently the majority of the world, and one of my big struggles was finding clubs, hobbies or sports that worked with me and my quirks and not against them. After trying (and giving up) many different extra-curricular activities in my time at school, I was faced with the task of doing the DofE Bronze Award which created a new problem. . . I needed to find a physical activity I could do consistently for 3 months. Now this may seem easy to most- but given my track record, I was worried. After searching around for sports that interested me I settled on archery, mainly because I was a fan of the Pixar movie Brave and I thought it would be cool to be like Merida. What I didn’t expect was for it to be a great fit for me and my neurodivergent brain.

Previously, most of the clubs/hobbies I’d tried only brought me stress, frustration, and overstimulation- this caused me to quickly loose interest, spending my weeks dreading the day I had to go again, and eventually breaking down while convincing my parents I was too tired to go anymore because I couldn’t handle it. But when I started archery I actually felt like I was having fun, the structured nature of the shooting appealed to me and there was no pressure to be the best or do anything you didn’t want to in the name of progressing faster. Unlike a lot of clubs I’d tried it wasn’t held in a hall full of loud children but in a quiet field, it didn’t require mandatory uniforms with itchy tags or scratchy fabric which created a sensory nightmare- I could go in my own clothes and be comfortable- all this created a calm environment where I felt like I could enjoy being myself as well as focus on my shooting. It was a breath of fresh air in my weekly routine, offering a refuge from school stress, and I felt surrounded by kind, patient people who love to support each other.

Apparently I am not alone in this feeling, as in the Winter 2025 edition of ArcheryUK magazine they wrote an article about archery’s benefits for neurodivergent people. If you haven’t read this article I highly recommend you taking a look at it, neurodivergent or not it has some great points to keep in mind and expresses some interesting points of view you may not have even considered before. According to the article, out of 226 neurodivergent archers, 92% found archery helped with focus, concentration and offered a feeling of mindfulness which stems from the repetitive, structured nature of shooting rounds and the calmness of their surroundings. The effects are also felt beyond the archery field as many neurodivergents feel their social skills have improved since joining their archery club, they are more able to socialise throughout the week when they go to archery than when they don’t. I can relate to this sentiment as I always felt a boost in my confidence and energy after archery sessions which would allow me to cope better with daily life through the next week, also the slight dopamine increase archery gave me really helped with my mental health at the time.

However, with all these positives, the article also calls out some areas of archery clubs that still need some work when it comes to facilitating neurodivergent archers. The biggest point in my opinion is that every neurodivergent person is different- some may need more support than others or different teaching techniques to reach their full potential, some may require more personal space on the shooting line or a dedicated hush while loosing arrows (no music or loud talking). It’s important to recognise that even though you may have had experience with a neurodivergent archer before that doesn’t mean the new neurodivergent member will be exactly the same and have the exact same needs. Speaking as a neurodivergent, my message to coaches is- don’t be afraid to ask members what they need to feel comfortable, don’t be hesitant to try out new methods of teaching (for example: focusing on showing instead of exclusively telling) and encourage members to be confident in expressing if they need some further modifications, alterations or support if they are struggling. These three little things mean so much to a lot of people like me and should set down a solid foundation for neurodiverse archers to help them feel seen, heard and respected. If we work together we can better our clubs and offer more inclusive spaces where everyone can enjoy the sport they love, because- after all, archery is for everyone and no one should have to feel excluded, embarrassed or anxious because they are different.