Safety
Archery is a very safe sport. But it requires all participants to understand how to shoot safely.
Range Safety
Field Captain has responsibility for safe conduct of archery (see Field Captain Field Captain Information – Tyndale Archers)
Every archer is expected to shoot in a safe manner:
– *Always* follow the Field Captain’s instructions
– *Do* shout “FAST” when you see anything potentially unsafe
– *Immediately* stop shooting when you hear “FAST” called
– Do *not* distract archers on the shooting line
– Do *not* shoot distances beyond your ability (see Increasing Distances Safely)
– *Do* shoot shorter distances when weather conditions are not ideal
– *Do* shoot short distances when trying new equipment or setup changes
– No more than four (outdoor) or two (indoor) archers per boss shooting at the same time
Every archer is responsible for their equipment. For example:
– Bow weight is not too heavy
– Bow components are assembled correctly (e.g. limbs or string upside down, brace height, nocking point)
– Bow components (sight, rest, plunger, rod, etc) are not loose
– Arrow shafts, fletchings and nocks are undamaged
– Know how many arrows you have in your quiver (max 7)
– Check arrow points when pulling arrows and mark holes when points are lost
– Do *not* use Carbon arrow shafts at Woodfield (Aluminium, Wood or Aluminium-Carbon-Composite only)
Every archer is responsible for their lost arrows (see Lost Arrows)
Every archer is expected to follow club etiquette (see Etiquette [[link]])
Increasing Distances Safely
Every archer should be hitting the boss with the vast majority of their arrows
If regularly missing the boss then shoot a shorter distance
Do not move up a distance without being confident/consistent on the shorter distance(s)
Earning a 252 award is a good guide for being consistent enough
When shooting a new distance, request another archer refrain from shooting and act as spotter
If the boss is missed by two (or more) arrows in a single end, consider not shooting any more arrows that end
Lost Arrows
Arrows are never to be left on a shared sports field
Searching for arrows is not fun and is time consuming
The best way to avoid losing arrows is to hit the boss
Arrows that miss the boss must be looked for after the end is scored
Double-check the number of arrows in the archer’s quiver – how many are missing?
Search until arrows have been retrieved from all target faces
Field Captain decides when shooting recommences
Archers with lost arrows do not shoot until they have found their arrows
If the arrows are still lost after two more ends, then all shooting stops and all archers search
Archer has responsibility to ensure all reasonable steps are taken to find their missing arrows
Field Captain must report lost arrows to the Club Secretary and Chairman (who will report it to the field owner)
Searching will continue (the next day if necessary) with as many volunteers as can be found. You are expected to help!
Repeat the last point until the arrow is found!
If an arrow is found that *has not* been reported as lost, the archer responsible will be subject to a disciplinary procedure
Search best practices
Line shuffle:
– Volunteers form a line, no more than an arrow’s length apart
– Move forward together as a line
– Instead of stepping, drag feet along the ground to feel for anything under the grass
Rake:
– There are metal rakes in club equipment
– The rakes can be used to ‘scrape’ the grass
– This should hit any arrow shafts just under the surface
Metal detector:
– There is a metal detector in club equipment
– Sweep the area to detect metal objects
UV lamp:
– Many arrow nocks/fletchings/wraps glow under UV light
Archer Etiquette good archer does not:
- Talk in a loud voice whilst others are shooting.
- Talk to another archer who prefers to be silent.
- Offer advice unless asked.
- Exclaim on the shooting line, for themselves or others, in joy or disgust.
- Walk off the shooting line while a neighbour is at full draw.
- Touch another archers equipment without their permission.
- Walk up and down the line comparing scores.
- Shoot distances beyond their capability, continually missing and holding up shooting.
- Takes into account other archers shooting on the same target when positioning his foot markers, and allows sufficient space for them.
- Disturb people with loud mobile phone ringtones or speaking on the phone on or around the shooting line.
- Smoke near the shooting or waiting line.
- Leave litter on the archery ground
A good archer always:
- Helps to put out the equipment and put it away.
- Pays to replace another’s arrow damaged through their carelessness.
Etiquette when scoring (GNAS Rules appendix A)
A good archer:
- Does not go behind the target to retrieve arrows before the scores have been taken.
- When calling scores, does so in groups of three, and in descending order, for example, ‘X-10-9’ pause ‘9-8-7’.
- While calling scores, points to each arrow as it is called, without touching the arrow or target face (106/b).
- Does not touch any arrow or the target face until all arrow values have been recorded and checked.
- When required to do so, takes their turn at scoring.
- Only withdraws the arrows of others if this has been agreed by them.
At the end of the round thanks the Target Captain for the work done by them.