General advice for the novice archer

If you are intereted in taking up archery or simply want to try the sport for the first time then please check our beginners course page. This is perhaps the best introduction to the sport you could possibly have.

General etiquette

Extract from the GNAS rule book "Etiquette". A Good Archer:

• Does not talk to another competitor who prefers to be silent.
• Does not make any exclamation on the shooting line which 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 any litter.
• When calling scores does so in groups of three, for example 7-7-5 pause 5-5-3.
• Thanks the target captain at the end of each round for work on his/her behalf.
• Children must be supervised at all times.
• Pets must be kept on a lead at all times.
• Always be considerate to members and guests who are on the shooting line. Excessive noise from behind the shooting line could disturb a shooter affecting their score.
• Spotting and sighting for another archer is not allowed in a tournament, however when practising at the club archers may sight for each other.
• When pulling arrows out of the targets always ask if the archers mind you pulling their arrows. Please do not take offence if an archer refuses the offer, remember top class arrows can be expensive.
• At all club events the gentlemen are expected to help move their targets and the ladies targets at changes of distance.

Basic safety guidelines

• Do not use arrows that are too short and come inside the bow.
• Do not draw a bow with an arrow in it unless you are on the shooting line pointing towards the target.
• When large numbers of people are shooting wait for the whistle before starting to shoot, wait for the whistle before retrieving arrows, always go together.
• When approaching the target always look for arrows that have fallen short, do not tread on them.
• Do not stand behind people pulling arrows out of the target.
• A copy of the GNAS and FITA rules of shooting can be purchased through:
  The Grand National Archery Society
  Lilleshall National Sports Centre
  Newport
  Shropshire, TF10 9AT
  Telephone: +44 (0)1952 677888
  Facsimile: +44 (0)1952 606019
  E-Mail to:- Enquiries@GNAS.org
  (There is a copy in the clubhouse should you wish to refer to it, but please do not remove it from the clubhouse.)

Beginners

Coursed members will often be prepared to help and advise you, but there is no specific time or day allocated for coaching. Do please remember when seeking advice is that you are taking up someone elses shooting time—be courteous!

Visitors

Members who bring visitors to shoot or have-a-go are expected to pay a visitors fee per person. All visitors must sign the visitors book and are restricted to a maximum of five visits per year.

Club Equipment

• As a club member you are partly responsible for looking after all club equipment and the grounds. Any damage should be reported to the appropriate person on the committee, or, if you are confident and competent enough, repair damage instead of leaving it to someone else.
• We have to keep the ground and clubhouse clean, so please take all your rubbish home. The club does not have a refuse collection.
• Work parties are needed to keep all club property in good order and to repair any equipment damaged through time. If you do not help at these work parties somebody else has to do your share—this is not fair as all members pay the same subscription fees. Every member should attend these work parties. The grass needs cutting regularly so please take your turn.
• To save wear and tear on the bosses all members are requested to put the target faces off centre when shooting at short ranges (i.e. when using 80cm, 60cm and indoor target faces at 30m or less).
• We use creosote or old engine oil to mark out the field, so if you have any please put it in the mower shed.

Shooting

• Always ensure the target is staked down properly before shooting at it.
• When you arrive at the club and someone is already shooting, it is only courteous to ask if you can join them on the boss, as some people prefer to shoot alone.

Competitions

• Archery can just be a leisure activity that you enjoy at the club or you may wish to enter a few competitions—look on the notice board for entry forms.
• To attract other archery clubs to our competitions we must give them our support as well by competing at outside competitions. We can make new friends and generate good publicity for our own events.
• At tournaments the only people allowed up to the targets are the competitors and judges, each archer must point to their own arrows (but not touch them), and call them out in groups of three, as explained above. Check that the score is written down correctly and that the other archers on your target are scoring correctly.
• Most archers now have small tents and umbrellas to protect themselves and their equipment from the elements. These are put 10 yards behind the shooting line. Always try to leave space around your tent for people to move around.
• At FITA tournaments you are controlled by time lights and whistles. There is one blast to take your position on the shooting line, and 20 seconds later another blast to start shooting. You then have 4 minutes to shoot ends of six arrows at the longer distances (90 and 70 meters for gentlemen and 70 and 60 meters for women). At the shorter distances (50 and 30 meters) you have 2 minutes to shoot each end of three arrows. Signal lights/boards will be used to indicate the last thirty seconds. Once the time limit has been reached, another whistle to stop shooting will sound and if any arrows are left they are lost.
• At English rounds (rounds where the targets are placed at imperial distances i.e. yards) there is no time control system but the field captain will warn archers who are taking excessive time on the line. You shoot ends of six arrows, three arrows at a time, retiring from the line to let the other two archers on your target shoot their three arrows before returning to shoot your last three.
• Spectators are not allowed up to the targets at competitions.
• If you have any doubts on procedures, consult the rule book or the judge.