Rules

Health and Safety

Most of these rules were extracted from the Archery GB Rules of Shooting.

1. The shooting line is indicated by a clearly marked line on the floor. No one will cross this line during shooting
2. Sound signals will be used to indicate when arrows can be shot or collected.
   One sound signal means shooting is in progress, no one will cross the shooting line.
   Three sound signals means arrows may be collected, no one is to shoot.
3. If shooting must be halted for safety reasons, that person must call "FAST". On hearing this call, all archers must immediately stop shooting, returning all unshot arows to the quiver. If necessary, "FAST" should be repearted by other archers to ensure everyone has heard and stopped shooting.
4. An archer may only draw his bow, with an arrow, standing at the shooting line, pointing at the target.
5. When drawing back the string of the bow an archer shall not use any technique which could, if accidentally loosed, allow the arrow to fly beyond a safety zone or safety arrangements (overshoot area, net, wall, etc).
6. Listen to your coaches and do not experiment. They may tell you to 'come down' which means do not shoot as your coach wants to give you some advice.

Etiquette

Extracted from the Archery GB Rules of Shooting

• Does not talk in a loud voice whilst others are shooting.
• Does not talk to another competitor who obviously prefers to be silent.
• Does not make any exclamation the shooting line that might disconcert a neighbour in the act of shooting.
• Does not go behind the target to retrieve his arrows before his score has been recorded.
• Does not walk up and down the shooting line comparing scores.
• Does not touch anyone else's equipment without permission.
• Does not leave litter.
• When calling scores does so in groups of three, for example '7 - 7 - 5' pause '5 - 5 - 3'.
• If he breaks another's arrow through his own carelessness, pays for it in cash on the spot.
• Thanks the Target Captain at the end of each round for work on his behalf.

The following etiquettes below are not in the rule book but many archers in the UK follow them:

• Some may prefer you to only approach/leave the shooting line when neighbouring archers are not at full draw.
• Some may prefer you remain on the shooting line to keep company with another archer still shooting.

Dress code in competitions

Extracted from the Archery GB and World Archery Rules of Shooting.

• The recognised dress of GNAS is plain dark green and/or white.
• Sport shoes shall be worn by all athletes and officials except for disabled athletes when included on their classification card. Sport shoes may be different styles but shall cover the entire foot.
• Members of the Society shooting and officiating at tournaments granted UK or World Record Status by GNAS are required to wear clothing that is appropriate, clean, in good condition (ie not frayed or worn, either deliberately or by use) and conventional in style and appearance. In particular:
  • Women shall wear dresses, skirts, divided skirts, shorts (these may not be shorter than the athlete's fingertips when the arms and fingers are extended at the athlete's side) or trousers, and blouses or tops (covering the front and back of the body, be fixed over each shoulder and not strapless while still covering the midriff when she is at full draw).
  • Men shall wear trousers or shorts (these may not be shorter than the athlete's fingertips when the arms and fingers are extended at the athlete's side) and long or short sleeved shirts (covering the midriff when at full draw).
  • No denim, jeans or camouflage clothes may be worn nor any oversize or baggy type pants or shorts.
  • Due to weather conditions, protective clothing such as sweaters, track suits, raingear, etc. may be worn following approval by the Technical Delegate of the event or, in his absence, the Chairperson of the Tournament Judge Commission.
  • Headwear is optional.
  • Clothing manufacturers' trade marks are allowed. The wearer's name is allowed.
  • Individuals, and members of clubs and other archery organisations that are commercially sponsored may wear sponsors' logos and names during the sponsorship period only.
  • Other wording or badges on clothing must represent archery organisations.
• Members of the Society who are officiating as the Chairman of Judges, Judge or Director of Shooting at a UK or World Record Status tournament shall wear GNAS recognised Judges official dress.
• A member of the Society who has represented Great Britain (GBR) as an archer at an international tournament may wear their international shooting uniform for the remainder of that season and the following one.

Timing systems

Extracted from the Archery GB Rules of Shooting.

In the UK, there are 2 main timing systems used in tournaments. Archers will shoot ends of three or six arrows, as required by the round being shot, under one of the following methods controlled by the Judge:

Method 1 (Untimed)

• One sound signal shall indicate when the first shooting detail shall take their place on the line and begin shooting.
• Each archer shall shoot three arrows and immediately retire, being replaced by the archer from the subsequent detail.
• If the round requires six arrows to be shot per end, when all on a target have shot the process repeats starting with the first detail, and each archer shall shoot three more arrows.
• If an archer persists in shooting more than three arrows consecutively, he may be disqualified by the Judge.
• When all archers have shot, three sound signals shall indicate that archers are to move forward to score and collect arrows. No archer shall advance from the shooting line before receiving the signal.
• The order of the shooting detail rotates at every end.
• Two and a half minutes shall be the maximum time for an archer to shoot three arrows, the time to start from when the archer steps on to the shooting line.
• Any archer who is observed to be exceeding the time limit of 2.5 minutes for three arrows shall be advised of the time error after retiring from the shooting line. The scoresheet for that archer shall be marked at that end to record the warning in the following manner - "Time warning". The archer will also be advised that any further violation of the 2.5 minute time limit will result in the top scoring arrow of that end being disallowed. Should this continue to the detriment of the shoot or the other archers on that target, the offending archer will be asked to retire from the tournament.

Method 2 (Timed)

Shooting shall be in timed ends controlled in the following manner:

• Two audible signals for archers in the first detail to take their positions on the shooting line.
• After 10 seconds one audible signal for shooting to commence.
• After 4 minutes (if 6 arrows are to be shot) or 2 minutes (if 3 arrows are to be shot), or earlier if shooting line is clear, 2 audible signals indicate that the archers remaining on the shooting line shall retire and the next detail take their place.
• After 10 seconds one audible signal for the second detail to commence shooting.
• And so continue until all details have shot when 3 audible signals shall indicate that archers are to move forward to score and collect arrows.
• The order of the shooting detail rotates at every end.
• An arrow shot before or after the allotted time will be considered as part of that end and will cause the archer to lose the highest scoring arrow of that end which will be scored as a miss.
• The time allowed for an archer to shoot each make up arrow shall be 40 seconds.

Notable Rules

These are a selection of notable rules from the Archery GB and World Archery Rule Book. Please obey them.

• The arrows of each competitor shall be marked on the shaft with the competitor's name or initials and all arrows used for the same end of 3 or 6 arrows shall carry the same pattern and colour(s) of fletching, nocks and cresting, if any.
• Scoring:
  • Archers shall identify their arrows by pointing at the nocks.
  • Neither the arrow nor the target face shall be touched until the final decision as to the score has been given and any such interference with the target or arrow shall disqualify the archer from scoring the higher value.
  • It is mandatory to adopt a system of scoring which prevents any archer being the sole recorder of his own score.
  • All scores must be recorded in a permanent blue or black medium i.e. not pencil or erasable ballpoint.
  • Scores are recorded on a score sheet with the highest scoring arrow recorded first, for example "9-7-1". An arrow that does not score is called a miss and is marked ‘M’ on the score sheet.
  • The scorer shall enter totals as required on the scoresheet. The archer and the scorer shall then check the score sheet and sign it as correct.
  • It is each archer's individual responsibility to ensure that all aspects of his scoresheet are correct when they sign. A tournament organiser is not required to check the additions on a score sheet but, if an error is discovered, has discretion to alter totals accordingly.
  • If an arrow touches two colours or any dividing line it shall be scored as being of that of the higher value.
  • If any doubt or dispute as to arrow value shall arise it shall be decided by the Target Captain subject to appeal to the Judge, whose decision shall be final.
  • Any alteration to the recorded arrow value must be initialled by the Judge in a different coloured ink prior to the withdrawal of the arrow from the target.
  • No arrows shall be withdrawn from the target (without the express direction of the Target Captain) until all the archers' scores have been entered on the score sheet and the Target Captain is satisfied that they are correctly entered.
  • An arrow in the target, which has or may have been deflected by another arrow already in the target, shall be scored according to the position of its shaft in the target face.
  • An arrow on the ground believed to have hit and rebounded from another arrow shall be scored the value of the struck arrow, if the latter is found in the target with its nock damaged in a compatible manner.
  • If an arrow fails to enter the boss and is hanging in the target face, then all archers using that boss shall stop shooting and signal a judge. The archer with the hanging arrow shall go to the target with the judge, who shall score the arrow, remove it from the target and place it behind the target. A hanging arrow that falls out before it can be scored shall be treated as a bouncer.
• If for any cause, other than failure of his equipment, an archer is not prepared to shoot before all have shot, such archer shall lose the benefit of that end.
• In the event of an equipment failure the archer shall signal a Judge. Extra time up to a maximum of 15 minutes may be allowed for the correction of the failure. The archer shall shoot any remaining arrows from the end at the earliest opportunity under the supervision of the Judge.
• In the event of an archer shooting more than the specified number of arrows at an end the archer shall be penalised by losing the value of his best arrow(s) in the target.
• Provided that it has not rebounded, an arrow shall be deemed not to have been shot if part of the arrowshaft lies within 3 metres of the shooting line. In this case another arrow may be shot in its place. If another arrow is not available the archer may retrieve the arrow only with the Judge's permission.
• Archers arriving late shall not be allowed to make up any ends that they have missed.