The Role of Archery Coaches in Shaping Athlete Character from an Early Age

KUDUS – Applause invariably greets every arrow that strikes the bullseye. Athletes are called to the podium, medals are draped around their necks, and their achievements become stories they carry home. Yet, behind each milestone stands a figure often lingering just meters behind the firing line. Though their role may be understated, they are a vital part of the process that allows an athlete to flourish.

In archery, success is determined by more than just accuracy. The development process begins long before an athlete enters a competition. Fundamentals, discipline, concentration, and emotional control are cultivated through gradual, structured training. Throughout this journey, the coach serves as a guide, helping athletes grow not only as competitors but also as individuals.

One such mentor is Ahmad Abdul Aziz Muslim. The 38-year-old from Klumpit Village, Kudus Regency, works as an administrative staff member at the Kudus Regency Social Affairs Agency. After his duties as a civil servant, he spends his time at the archery range mentoring dozens of children learning a sport that demands composure, precision, and focus.

For Aziz, coaching involves more than teaching how to draw a bow and release an arrow. He believes athletic development must be paired with character building from a young age.

"The first thing we teach isn't archery techniques, but rather norms, etiquette, and how to respect one another. Children must learn to support each other rather than belittle one another," he said.

From Curiosity to Professional Licensing

Aziz’s archery journey began in 2016. Driven by curiosity about the sport, he began actively developing the traditional archery community in Kudus. Alongside his colleagues, he introduced the sport to the public, culminating in the organization of a Java-wide traditional archery championship in 2017, which drew approximately 250 participants from Central, West, and East Java.

Aziz also secured second place at a traditional archery championship in Sragen in 2018. However, his experience as an athlete reinforced his belief that success on the field is inseparable from a daily training process.

At the time, the number of archery coaches in Kudus was limited. This reality prompted Aziz to pursue coaching education, eventually earning his license from the Central Java branch of the Indonesian Traditional Archery Arts Federation (Fespati). Since 2022, he has been actively coaching at the Panahmu Club and several schools in Kudus.

His motivation is straightforward: to provide broader opportunities for children to discover the sport of archery.

“Every child has the opportunity to learn archery. The important thing is that they understand the correct techniques from the start and learn to be independent in maintaining their equipment,” he said.

Training Approach Tailored to Athlete Character

Currently, Aziz coaches approximately 40 athletes, ranging from elementary school age to adulthood. According to him, every child possesses different character traits, abilities, and learning styles, meaning they cannot be trained using a one-size-fits-all approach.

Before determining a training method, he first observes each athlete's personality. For example, children who are overly dependent on their peers will have their training schedules separated to encourage self-reliance. They are also encouraged to participate in various tournaments to build confidence in facing competition environments and opponents from other regions.

“Every child has different potential. Some are physically strong, while others may need their mental fortitude built first. A coach's duty is to find the best way to bring out that potential,” he explained.

Evaluation is also a crucial part of the process. Each training session concludes with results recorded in a scorebook. From these notes, athlete progress is monitored periodically.

If performance declines, Aziz does not immediately assume the athlete's skill has waned. He first investigates the cause, whether it stems from technique, concentration, physical condition, or psychological factors. In this way, every athlete receives guidance tailored to their needs.

Leading by Example as Part of Training

For Aziz, discipline is not built through punishment. He chooses to set an example before asking his athletes to do the same.

He always strives to arrive early, maintain a neat appearance, and strictly adhere to the rules on the field.

“If the coach is late, how can we expect the children to be disciplined?” he said.

In archery, discipline is also a matter of safety. Every athlete must follow instructions both on the firing line and when retrieving arrows from the target area. A minor error can put both the individual and others at risk.

To keep training sessions engaging, Aziz occasionally incorporates games into the routine. He sets varied targets and introduces simple challenges with small rewards for successful athletes, a method that helps maintain the children's motivation.

Cultivating Positive Habits at Home and School

The approach used by Aziz has had a direct impact on one of his pupils, Ahmad Maulana Umar Al Fatih. He believes that archery training teaches more than just marksmanship—it fosters positive habits.

“The biggest lesson I have learned is how to remain consistent, disciplined, and focused. We often have challenges during training, and if we succeed, we usually get a reward,” he said.

Fatih noted that his coach always warns against becoming complacent after achieving success, a piece of advice he now applies to his daily life.

“I am much more focused and disciplined now, not just during training, but also at home and at school,” he added.

This transformation has also been observed by Fatih's father, Ahmad Noor Fajrin. He chose to entrust his son's training to Aziz due to the coach’s experience and professional credentials, as well as the open communication maintained throughout the training process.

“At first, he lacked enthusiasm. After seeing the results and starting to win competitions, he is now much more eager to train. Communication with the coach has also been excellent,” he said.

Coach Quality is Vital for Athlete Development

The training process led by Aziz is beginning to yield results, evidenced by the achievements of several of his athletes. Fatih has secured another opportunity to compete in the National Championship in Malang. Other athletes, including Mikyal, have placed third in a national tournament, while Devan, Safea, Shanum, Santi, and Zainal have also achieved success in various regional and national-level competitions.

However, Aziz emphasized that every achievement is part of an ongoing learning process that must be sustained.

"New and better athletes emerge every year. Because of this, I always remind them to remain humble, continue training, and consistently evaluate themselves," he said.

Bambang Widjanarko, chairman of the Kudus Regency chapter of the Indonesian Archery Association (Perpani), identified coach quality as a crucial factor in athlete development. He noted that coaches are responsible for more than just planning training sessions; they must design a comprehensive development pathway covering equipment familiarization, physical conditioning, technical mastery, mental preparation, and character building.

"Children cannot simply be told to shoot. They must gradually familiarize themselves with the equipment and develop technique, discipline, patience, and a competitive mindset," he explained.

He acknowledged that archery development in Kudus faced challenges following the passing of senior coach Hadi Sunaryo. Now, regeneration is underway through the arrival of several nationally licensed coaches. Additionally, training for physical education teachers, facilitated by the Djarum Foundation, is helping to expand the sport within schools.

Meanwhile, the biannual MilkLife Archery Challenge has further increased youth interest in the sport. The rise in participants has created new challenges, as the demand for certified coaches continues to grow.

Despite these circumstances, Aziz maintained his routine on the field. He closely observed each athlete drawing their bows, correcting body positioning, refining fundamental techniques, and offering encouragement when training results fell short of expectations.

For him, archery training is not merely about achieving high scores on the target or collecting medals. The daily process serves as an opportunity to instill discipline, patience, responsibility, and humility in the athletes.

He hopes that when these athletes eventually leave the competitive arena, these values will remain integrated into their daily lives. For any coach, true success is measured not only by athletic achievements but by the character cultivated throughout the process. (FZ/mainkekudus)