Club Etiquette

Club rules, Safety and Etiquette

Club specific rules

  1. Only members who have the express permission of the Committee may solo shoot at the Churston Target field.  Any application for solo shooting should be addressed to the Secretary.
  2. Shooting must occur within the marked limits of the Churston field, with all archers shooting a compound bow, or any archer shooting a distance of over 60 yards only shooting in the left boxed section of the field.  This is to facilitate the required level of overshoot area as specified in the Archery GB rules of shooting.  Side protection zones must also be adhered to.
  3. The foam bosses that are permanently erected in the left boxed section are for the use of compound and recurve archers who have achieved a First Class classification only.  The bosses are expensive to produce, and suited to stopping high velocity arrows.  Repeated hits to the wooden structures and damage from longbow arrows will significantly reduce their life-cycle and result in increased shooting fees.
  4. Session start and end times are provided as the times that shooting will commence, please ensure that you arrive in good time to assist with setting out the range and your equipment, where possible, in advance of these times to prevent delaying other archers.
  5. Subsequent to the Beginners course, all new members should complete the club familiarisation course, currently held on Thursday evenings.  This will enrich your understanding of the sport as well as helping you to meet other members and learn how to make the most out of your archery.

For your own and other’s safety make sure you follow these safety rules:

  1. Never draw a bow, even without an arrow, except when facing the target standing on the shooting line
  2. Never aim a bow anywhere except at the target
  3. Never start shooting unless the field captain / coach approves (whistle)
  4. Immediate compliance with the word “FAST”. It can be shouted by any archer who sees any sign of danger. As soon as you hear the word “FAST” stop shooting at once, bring your bow down and return the arrow to the quiver
  5. Never go in front of the shooting line until the field captain / coach approves (whistle)
  6. Never run, always walk towards the target. Look at the ground so as not to walk into or tread on any arrows that may have fallen short
  7. Never stand behind an archer who is pulling arrows out of a target you may get an arrow nock in the face
  8. Never let go of a drawn bow without an arrow in it (dry shot). The energy that usually causes an arrow to fly can seriously damage the limbs of a bow and cause personal injury

The following are the rules of Etiquette from the GNAS Rules of Shooting. Please try to observe them at all times:

  1. Does not talk in a loud voice whilst others are shooting
  2. Does not talk to another competitor who obviously prefers to remain silent
  3. Does not make any exclamation on the shooting line which might disconcert a neighbour in the act of shooting
  4. Does not go behind the target to retrieve his arrows before his score has been recorded
  5. Does not walk up and down the shooting line comparing scores
  6. Does not touch anyone else’s equipment without permission
  7. Does not leave litter
  8. When calling scores does so in groups of three, for example ‘7-7-5’ pause ‘5-5-3’
  9. If he breaks another’s arrow through his own carelessness, pays for it in cash on the spot
  10. Thanks the Target Captain at the end of each round for work in his behalf