Every able-bodied freeman was expected to spend sunday afternoons shooting longbows. Failure to do so would collect a fine. It was a device to ensure a plentiful supply of troops in case of war, of course.
I find mention made of this during the reigns of Edward III and Richard II; have you perhaps mixed up the reigns of the King Richards? Or was this part of a Robin Hood story you’ve read? (The legends of Robin Hood vary considerably as to when they took place. I’ve certainly dates as late as Edward III. It was only in later centuries that they merged around King John I.)
Anyway, if you have any sources, I’d be quite interested to learn more. (Maybe it was that the non-Freeman were not allowed to own bows?)