Archery GB Neurodiversity Training: Neurodiversity inclusion within the archery community

Hansen, M ORCID: 0000-0002-5053-9667, Dixon, L ORCID: 0000-0002-2844-4610, Kilby, B, Melis, C ORCID: 0000-0001-8033-8404, Gaston, L ORCID: 0000-0002-5706-1635 and Christiaens, M ORCID: 0000-0003-0866-8884 (2026) Archery GB Neurodiversity Training: Neurodiversity inclusion within the archery community. Project Report. Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool.

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Abstract

This report assesses the inclusivity of archery for neurodivergent participants by examining current practices within the sport. Drawing on perspectives from both Archery GB archers and coaches, the report identifies achievements alongside areas requiring further development, thereby offering UK sport providers actionable insights that will benefit both practice and policy. Additionally, this study establishes a baseline for measuring the impact of Archery GB's workshops with Access Sport held in the first half of 2025. These workshops aimed at developing coaches' and volunteers' skills for working with neurodivergent archers.

Between 29th January, 2025 and 1st April, 2025 two surveys were launched targeting specifically Archery GB coaches and neurodivergent archers. A total of 226 surveys were completed by archers and 53 by coaches. It is worth noting that respondents of the archers survey had to identify as neurodivergent to be able to participate in the survey. Each survey also contained a number of qualitative questions (open-ended), which resulted in the collection of considerable qualitative data, which was analysed thematically.

From the results of this study not only archery emerges as a neurodivergent-friendly sport but also as a practice that positively impacts the social wellbeing of archers. Furthermore, while archery is perceived as inclusive by most archers, results identified some challenges in the actual practice. Increasing awareness on neurodivergences emerges as the necessary step to transform both attitudes and actual practices within the archery community.

The report concludes with a set of recommendations in the direction of transforming attitudes towards neurodivergence; fostering inclusive archery environments that support neurodivergence; enhancing awareness of archery as a neurodivergent-friendly sport and enabling effective coaching of neurodivergent archers by co-creating solutions WITH neurodivergent archers and coaches.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Liverpool Centre for Olympic Research on Inclusion (LCORI)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure > GV561 Sports
Divisions:	Liverpool Business School
Publisher:	Liverpool John Moores University
Date of first compliant Open Access:	12 November 2026
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2026 11:51
Last Modified:	12 Nov 2026 11:51
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29832

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