Field Captain’s Role and Responsibilities
Background
The Archery GB Rules of Shooting (section 305(a)(i) states that ‘At all times, whenever shooting takes place, it must be under the control of a Field Captain.’
This means that during club nights only a trained Field Captain can take on the role.
Field Captains take overall responsibility for the safe conduct of archery, whether at a practice session or club night or at a club round. They should have a good understanding of the Archery GB Rules of Shooting.
If a Field Captain has to leave the range for any reason, they should nominate another Field Captain for the duration of their absence and notify the archers of the change. The new Field Captain must also be competent to perform the role.
Responsibilities
Field Captains are responsible for:
- The overall safety of the shoot.
- Ensuring that the Archery GB Rules of Shooting and club rules are followed.
- Ensuring that the ropes and signs are put out in accordance to the club rules before shooting takes place.
- Ensuring that any non-archers present also abide by any relevant rules of shooting. If they wish to walk to the targets (i.e. cross the shooting line when shooting has finished) the Field Captain must ensure they are wearing suitable footwear and that no running takes place on the range.
- Controlling the shooting. To achieve this, the Field Captain will:
- Ensure that all archers know who is acting as Field Captain and that they are responsible for the safety of the shoot.
- Pay close attention to the shooting line and safety boundaries at all times whilst shooting is in progress. (If the Field Captain is also shooting, there should be another member who is qualified as a Field Captain to perform this function whilst the Field Captain is shooting.)
- Blow the whistle in accordance with the Archery GB Rules of Shooting to signify start of shooting (one blast) and collection of arrows (three blasts). Alternatively shout unambiguous commands to start shooting (‘commence’) and for collection of arrows (‘collect’)
- Ensure that they are the last person to cross the shooting line after scoring each end, making sure that there is nobody still on the range (including checking behind targets) before giving the signal to start shooting.
- During club evenings or rounds, ensuring a smooth and relaxed shoot by:
- Allowing sufficient time to search for lost arrows including searching between subsequent ends in order to keep the shoot moving. (see Lost Arrow Procedure)
- Although all archers are responsible for observing range safety and noting any potential hazards or dangers, particularly cricketers, dog walkers and their dogs, footballers etc., ultimate responsibility lies with the Field Captain.
- A call of ‘FAST’ should be used by any archer to stop shooting in an emergency, and archers will remove arrows from their bows and wait whilst a hazard is removed from the range. The Field Captain will ensure compliance with this rule and check the range for safety when the emergency has passed before giving the instruction for shooting to recommence.
- Record any accidents or incidents as appropriate to the club secretary.
- If an arrow is lost during shooting, then the following procedure must be adhered to.
- On the loss of an arrow the archer must report it to the Field Captain and look for it with the help of other archers on the completion of the end.
- If after 5 minutes if the arow has not been found, then shooting may recommence and the search continues after the completion of the next end.
- This procedure will continue until the missing arrow is found.