For new members 'starting out'.

If you have just recently joined the club, you can start here as it has general notes on what we have to do to be safe in the sport and how to feel as if you know what the basic set-up is. I suspect that most members may read this only once, but it does remain as a reference whenever you need a reminder? If you had taken a beginner's course with our club you should have been shown a simple way to erect or dismantle a target stand and boss. Once coming to club days or evenings it is beneficial if everyone can help set up and take down to allow the maxumum time for shooting. Many hands, they say, make light work! Also, on this club web site you may wish to view and/or print your own copy of a 'Welcome to Killingworth Archers' booklet put together by James and linked to the 'site map' page. Look for the link at the lower left of the page.

The sport of Archery, similar to golf, is based on a 'handicap' system, but in Archery, where the lowest level is 100 and the highest level is 1. Unlike other sports we have no 'league' system so any club will have a variation in ability, possibly up to international level within the membership. Please do not feel inimidated by this possibility upon starting! Firstly it must be stressed that as Archery is a projectile sport, as you have seen, and safety is paramount in it’s running and all rules concerning safety MUST be enforced. Please ensure that you look at the information on this site and advertised at various venues, and fully understand why these requests are made.

Through the G.N.A.S. (Grand National Archery Society / ArcheryGB) we ensure ourselves against liability provided that certain precautions are taken.

Outdoors On the outdoor range these rules result in us having to create a boundary around the targets called a 'safety overshoot zone'. This area is a minimum of 20 yards to the side of the range and 50 yards behind the range, where no-one can pass without coming up against the barrier. At the club we set the safety zone to be the maximum at all times. Also you must never shoot alone! You must always have someone available to be with you to act as a ‘spotter’. This does not infer that the second person must shoot, but must be a registered member of G.N.A.S. The public have a tendency to believe that arrows do NOT stick in people and often ignore notices or warning tape! Please be aware also that a junior may not act as a spotter, you must have a second adult for two adults to shoot. If either rule is not enforced the insurance becomes invalid.

Indoors at any venue, often back-stop netting is provided. This may slow down an arrow missing the target but is not arrow proof! Where space is at a premium please be aware of the whereabouts of others to prevent any accident happening. We normally use a designated 'field captain' who will control shooting, but it benefits us all if we work together to shoot in safety.

These notes, however pedantic, are in the interests of safety but should in no way remove the enjoyment gained from Archery. Other rules may seem a little ‘fussy’ but please remember that we must work within a structure of competence.

The club elected to register 'club colours' in 2010. For Record Status COMPETITION where regulations on 'dress' apply, we have the option of shooting in either the club colurs of Burnt Orange top and black trousers OR the accepted Green / White combination that is accepted as the standard dress by G.N.A.S. (ArcheryGB). We shouldn't mix both options! Thanks go to Isabel who modelled the colours for us!

It is best if, in the early stages, you try to adopt the basic skills of being on the range in the Archery environment. That is vastly different to the ‘nuts and bolts’ of learning to shoot, but still important. Please have a look at the web-site entry of 'etiquette' also, that will appear under 'jargon' and to some new members will appear a little 'fussy' but does help make the experience a little easier.