Archery 'Etiquette'

Let me give a few do’s and don’ts for shooting, advice on taking part and tips on sporting etiquette. Important if you ever enter a competition but still polite if only around the club.

1 – If scoring, do point to the arrow nock but do not touch the arrow itself. (see ‘line-cutter’ in glossary). This ensures that if you ever enter competition, then you will be used to the stricter application of the rules that will be used then and will avoid any distress at what may be your first competitive attempt away from the club.

2 – Learn to call out scores in groups of three arrows e.g. 999, 731. This makes it so much easier for the person scoring to write down your scores.

3 – Thank your target captain (see glossary) and/or your scorer for their help. These are often extra jobs that are carried out by archers in addition to shooting. It's not always the easiest job when trying to shoot at your best AND score for everyone on the target, so a polite 'thanks' is the least we can do?

4 – Try not to distract others while they are shooting. Distractions, when learning to shoot, especially when a you're a novice, can spoil much of the fun. Also it makes some of us down right grumpy!

5 - Our sport is open to all from the age of 10 and most often you will be in mixed company. Please be aware of those with you.

6 – If you are taking part in a ‘round’ (the name given to a complete 'game' in archery) and you miss the target, please call out your scores before going behind the target to look for arrows. More usual shooting outdoors than indoors, you will find that far more help will be given to assist you in looking for missing arrows if you follow this recommendation. If you 'disappear' to look for your arrow(s) scoring comes to a stop. My advice, get the scoring done and you'll usually find all your target companions will then help you look! Arrows can mysteriously dissapear even in the shortest grass and will 'tuck' themselves flat to the ground to make life more difficult for you!

7 – While shooting or setting up the field, if you find that the face on the target you use is worn then please change it. We try to provide a number of faces ready for use to cover for those damaged or weathered and you don't need a 'more experienced' member to give permission.

8 – If you finish shooting and the person either just behind or just in front of you is at full draw please wait until their arrow is shot before leaving the shooting line. This is just good archery manners. It's highly likely you will still be visible from the corner of your companion archer's eye.

9 – Finally, please try to keep the range clean of our own litter either at your own club or when visiting elsewhere….. take it away with you! Sports facilities look upon this behaviour favourably and this allows us to use facilities annually.