Dodge Archery craze set to sweep across Shropshire

An exhilarating new game that incorporates archery, dodgeball and paintball is sweeping the across the county.

With the equipment needed for Dodge Archery are, from left to right, Tamsin Foster, of Wem, Joe Lockley, of Telford, and business owner Ed Ryder, of Shrewsbury, at Sundorne Sports Village.

Dodge archery looks set to be the new craze for schools, stag parties and team building events after a Shropshire businessman introduced the idea from the USA.

Ed Ryder, 34, who brought bubble football to Shrewsbury three years ago, has now introduced the new game, which involves firing arrows with rubber ends at each other, to his portfolio.

He said it has been a big hit across the pond and hopes it will catch on in Shropshire.

He said: “It is an exhilarating and new mix of archery, dodgeball and paintball – but without the paint.

“To get started we show players the basics of archery, getting everyone to a proficient level with the bow and arrow.

“After this we move on to some practice dodging and catching the arrows before we move in to the games themselves where we pit two teams against each other, marking out a pitch space and placing bunkers around to use as shields to take cover behind.

“There are a variety of team games, but essentially it involves firing the soft rubber tipped arrows at your opposition with a hit meaning they lose points.

“Even though it is very safe, there is a real feeling of fight or flight with big adrenaline rushes.

“I took the plunge and set up West Midlands Bubble football, based in Shrewsbury, three years ago. This has been great fun and gone really well.

“I wanted to add another activity to offer customers. I wanted something to compliment the bubble football in terms of group sizes which was suitable for adults and children.

“It is great to see the smile on people's faces as they take their masks off. The activity is following a very familiar route to bubble football.

“Three years ago people thought it looked fun but weren't entirely sure what it was. We are in the same place with the dodge archery now.

“I'm convinced this will follow the same trajectory as bubble football and people will hear dodge archery and know instantly that it is loads of fun and a real go to event as an enjoyable group activity with a difference.”

To find out more about Dodge Archery visit wmdodgearchery.co.uk