AGB Rule 304

ArcheryGB Rule 304, the protocols for shooting, taken from ArcheryGB Rules Of Shooting, October2025.

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ArcheryGB Rule 304. Shooting

(a) Shooting shall be from an unsupported standing position with the body above the shooting line. Disabled archers may use appropriate support.

(b) Order

(i) The order in which archers shall shoot at their respective targets shall be the order in which they appear on the target list and the drawing up of the target list shall be a matter for arrangement by the Tournament Organisers. Unless otherwise directed, the archers in each target shall be designated A, B. C, D, etc. in the order in which they appear on the target list. The archer designated C shall be the Target Captain and the archer designated D shall be the Lieutenant. The Captain shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of shooting in accordance with these Rules of Shooting.

(ii) The order of shooting at all Record Status Tournaments shall rotate. For other Tournaments, including Club Target Days, rotation shall be optional.

(c) At a tournament if, for any reason an archer is alone on a target they must notify the Judge who shall arrange for scoring integrity to be maintained. This may be achieved by transferring archers between targets or by arranging for an archer on an adjacent target to participate in scoring the lone archer’s arrows.

(d) The maximum number of archers on a target shall be six.

(e) Composition of Ends

(i) For all Imperial rounds, the Long Metric rounds and the two longest distances of the Metric I-V rounds, six arrows shall be shot at an end.

(ii) For other Metric rounds either three or six arrows may be shot at an end.

(f) Timing of Ends. Archers will shoot ends of three or six arrows, as required by the round being shot, under one of the following methods controlled by the Judge:

(i) Method 1.

a. One sound signal shall indicate when the first shooting detail shall take their place on the line and begin shooting. Each archer shall shoot three arrows and immediately retire, being replaced by the archer from the subsequent detail. When all on a target have shot, the archer, if required, shall shoot three more arrows. If an archer persists in shooting more than three arrows consecutively, they may be disqualified by the Judge.

b. When all archers have shot, three sound signals shall indicate that archers are to move forward to score and collect arrows. No archer shall advance from the shooting line before receiving the signal.

c. Two and a half minutes shall be the maximum time for an archer to shoot three arrows, the time to start from when the archer steps on to the shooting line.

d. Any archer who is observed to be exceeding the time limit of 2½ minutes for three arrows shall be advised of the time error after retiring from the shooting line. The scoresheet for that archer shall be marked at that end to record the warning in the following manner — “Time warning”. The archer will also be advised that any further violation of the 2½ minute time limit will result in the top scoring arrow of that end being disallowed. Should this continue to the detriment of the shoot or the other archers on that target, the offending archer will be asked to retire from the tournament.

(ii) Method 2. Shooting shall be in timed ends controlled by audible signals which may be supplemented with lights (three separate lights should be used) and countdown timing clocks. The sequence and arrangements are as follows:

a. Two audible signals for archers in the first detail to take their positions on the shooting line. Lights are to show RED

b. After 10 seconds one audible signal for shooting to commence. Lights are to show GREEN.

c. After 3 minutes 30 seconds(if 6 arrows are to be shot) or 1 minutes and 30 seconds (if 3 arrows are to be shot), lights are to show YELLOW, indicating there are 30 seconds shooting time remaining.

d. After 4 minutes (if 6 arrows are to be shot) or 2 minutes (if 3 arrows are to be shot), or earlier if shooting line is clear, 2 audible signals indicate that the archers remaining on the shooting line shall retire and the next detail take their place. Lights are to show RED

e. After 10 seconds one audible signal for the second detail to commence shooting. Lights are to show GREEN.

f. And so continue until all details have shot when 3 audible signals shall indicate that archers are to move forward to score and collect arrows. Lights are to show RED

g. An arrow shot before or after the allotted time will be considered as part of that end and will cause the archer to lose the highest scoring arrow of that end whic h will be scored as a miss.

h. The time allowed for an archer to shoot each make-up arrow shall be 40 seconds

(g) Archers shall retire from the shooting line as soon as their last arrow has been shot except that an archer may remain on the shooting line to keep company with another archer still shooting.

(h) While shooting is in progress, only those competitors whose turn it is to shoot may be on the shooting line. All other competitors with their equipment, shall remain behind the waiting line save that an archer may leave a spotting scope on the shooting line between ends providing it does not create an obstacle for any other archer. A Judge shall use discretion in allowing disabled archers and/or their equipment to remain on the line if circumstances permit.

(j) At any Meeting six arrows may be shot as sighters before the beginning of each round, but only after competitors have come under the Judge’s orders at the Assembly. Such sighters shall not be recorded.

(k) An archer may only compete once, the first time of shooting, in any event regardless of the class of equipment used, the number of sessions in the event and whether the event extends over more than one day.

(l) Whilst an archer is on the shooting line, they shall receive no information by word or otherwise from anyone except the Judge.

(m) If for any cause, other than failure of their equipment, an archer is not prepared to shoot before all have shot, such archer shall lose the benefit of that end.

(n) In the event of an equipment failure the archer shall signal a Judge. Extra time up to a maximum of 15 minutes may be allowed for the correction of the failure. The archer shall shoot any remaining arrows from the end at the earliest opportunity under the supervision of the Judge.

(o) Should an item of equipment other than the arrow be projected beyond the shooting line, the Judge may call ‘Fast’ at the conclusion of that end to permit retrieval of the item, the failure to be rectified and the archer allowed to shoot any remaining arrows before the field advances to score.

(p) In the event of an archer shooting more than the specified number of arrows at an end the archer shall be penalised by losing the value of their best arrow(s) in the target, and such arrow(s) shall not be measured for a Gold prize.

(q) Provided that it has not rebounded, an arrow shall be deemed not to have been shot if part of the arrow shaft lies within 3 metres of the shooting line. In this case another arrow may be shot in its place. If another arrow is not available the archer may retrieve the arrow only with the Judge’s permission.

(r) Archers arriving late shall not be allowed to make up any ends that they have missed.

(s) Retiring

(i) An archer may retire from competition at any time by telling the Target Captain who will mark the archer’s scoresheet ‘retired’ and the archer will sign it.

(ii) If a Target Captain perceives that a target companion has deliberately not shot an end they must draw this to the judge’s attention. Unless the archer has obtained the judge’s permission to miss the end the judge will instruct the Target Captain to mark the scoresheet ‘retired’ and the judge will sign it.

(iii) Any score marked ‘retired’ will not be eligible for a placing in the results but will be shown separately at the end of the results with the score at retirement and the number of dozens shot. The archer will be eligible for awards achieved to that point e.g. best gold, distance award or six gold badge but not for inclusion in a team score or any other Archery GB award. An archer whose scoresheet is marked ‘retired’ may recommence shooting only with the judge’s permission and if it is convenient but their score will no longer be recorded.