A reminder to all:
When shooting rounds, even at the club, it is a good idea to practice the correct rules and etiquette that are expected at tournament level.
Remember: there is not a race to shoot all your arrows as quickly as possible. You should develop your own speed and rhythm necessary to shoot each arrow as effectively as you are able.

Imperial Rounds
(Target distance in yards and five zone scoring).
At a tournament, the first ‘detail A’ has up to two and a half minutes to shoot an end of three arrows during an Imperial Round.
Then when the shooting line is cleared, ‘detail B’ step forward to shoot their three arrow end within two and a half minutes.
After ‘detail B’ has shot their first three arrows, then ‘detail A’ step forward again to shoot their remaining three arrows within another two and a half minutes.
When the line is vacant yet again, ‘detail B’ shoot the last arrows of the end.
Altogether a total of up to ten minutes has been allowed for everyone to shoot their six arrows.
It is recommended, at club practice sessions, to always step off the line after three arrows. This will train and prepare you to shoot correctly at competitions.

Sighters for Imperial Rounds
Only ONE end of six sighters is allowed at the farthest starting distance of a round on any one day. NO other sighters are allowed on that shooting range on that same day.
You are NOT allowed several practice ends and then start to score. This would invalidate the round.
You must make up your mind at the start as to whether you intend to shoot a proper round and only shoot the six arrow sighters that are allowed, before you start to record your score.

Six Gold End for Imperial Round tournaments
To qualify for the GNAS ‘Six Gold End’ award: the six arrows must be shot in two separate three arrow ends (leaving the shooting line between each three)

Metric Rounds (Target distance in metres and ten zone scoring)
N.B. It may be that when shooting the longer distances of some FITA Metric rounds (particularly at a record status event) that four minutes are allowed to shoot all six arrows without leaving the shooting line. This will be stated on the entry form for the event.

Sighters for FITA Metric Rounds
N.B.At some FITA events, a period of forty five minutes may be allowed for several sighter ends before the event begins.

Six Gold End for FITA Round tournaments
When shooting under the FITA rules, then a ‘Six Gold End’ award may be gained by shooting all six arrows without a break.

Remember to be considerate to other archers – don’t rush - but don’t dally.

A 'round' is the name given to shooting a total of several dozen arrows at targets set at varying distances.
For instance: a NATIONAL Round is shot as follows:
A full size 122cms target face with five concentric rings of different colours is pinned onto a target 'Butt' or 'Boss', usually made of straw.
The concentric rings of the target face are scored as follows: Gold (centre) = 9: Red = 7: Blue = 5: Black = 3: White = 1. Any arrows missing the scoring zones, are recorded as a 'Miss' by writing the letter 'M' on the score sheet.
The target is first placed 60 yards from a marked shooting line.
The archer first shoots six arrows ( an 'End' ) at the target, whilst standing astride the shooting line, adjusting the sight of the bow until the arrows hit the centre ( Gold ). These arrows are called 'sighters', and are not counted towards the total score.
After retrieving the 'sighter' arrows and walking back to the shooting line, the six arrows are shot again but this time before withdrawing the arrows from the target the score of each arrow is recorded on the score sheet.
Those arrows are shot again from the shooting line and again the score is written down.
One dozen scoring arrows (two 'Ends') have now been shot and the score recorded.
This shooting pattern is repeated until four dozen scoring arrows have been shot in 'ends' of six arrows.
Now the target is moved towards the shooting line and placed 50 yards from the shooting line.
Two dozen more arrows are shot at this distance, but this time without the benefit of sighters.
Now the points scored by the 72 scoring arrows are added up. On the score sheet will be recorded the total number of 'Hits' (scoring arrows), the total number of arrows hitting the centre of the target 'Golds' and the total score for the round.
Usually, only one round can be shot and recorded in any one day.
By matching the total score for the round with the score in the 'Handicap Tables', the handicap number and classification for that particular round can be worked out.
Beginning archers will start without a handicap number or classification.
After shooting three rounds it is possible to work out an average handicap number and if exceeding the threshold scores in the tables for any given round, a classification may be attained. A threshold must be shot three times (not necessarily the same round) to qualify.
The higher an archers' score, the higher the class attained.
The classifications start at 'Novice'. Next threshold would be 3rd class. Then 2nd class: 1st class: Bowman: Master Bowman: Grand Master Bowman.
There are a lot of different 'Rounds'. Each round comprises a set number of dozen arrows shot at targets ranging from 20 yards to 100 yards. These rounds have names such as: York: Hereford: Bristol: Windsor: etc.
Some rounds are at distances that young junior archers can reach. Some are at distances more suitable for senior archers to shoot. Every time a round is completed, hand the recorded score to the club Records Officer, who will keep track of and record the progress made by each member of the club.

All club archers would benefit from buying their own GNAS Rule Book and Handicap and Classification Tables.

The Rule book and handicap tables can be bought from the 'Grand National Archery Society' at Lillishall, in Shropshire.
The rules within an A5 ring binder cost £5.00. The cost of the Handicap and Classification Tables (they are punched to also fit the binder) are a further £5.00.
I believe this price includes delivery.

The answers to all questions about rules of shooting and information about all the GNAS Archery Rounds are to be found in these pages.

The book contains sections on the GNAS rules covering Outdoor Target Archery - Indoor Target Archery - Field Archery - Clout Archery - Flight Archery -Popinjay Archery - Archery Golf - Archery Darts.
There are also sections on Etiquette - Insurance - and more.
Annual amendments are available each year, usually from the club secretary.

The Handicap and Classification Tables are well worth having. These pages will soon become well thumbed as you analyse the improvements or otherwise in your own archery performance.

Your Initial Handicap

To achieve your initial h/c number you will have to shoot three recognised 'Rounds' on three separate days.
Each completed round scored correctly and handed to the Club Records Officer will be recorded.
The corresponding h/c number for your score for the round shot is recorded.
The next two corresponding h/c values from each of the next two rounds are also recorded.
All three h/c values are then added together and then divided by three to give an average number. This number would then be your initial handicap rating.
i.e. 85 + 83 + 79 = 247. Divide 247 by 3 (round up to the next whole number) The initial h/c number is therefore 83.
Your next h/c number that is a lower value (the better you shoot -the lower the number) is added to your initial number and then the sum of the two is divided by 2 to give you a new lower h/c.
Each time a lower number is achieved, it is again added to the previous h/c and divided again by 2.
For scores falling between two h/c values, the higher value is used.

Classification

In the classification tables, are score thresholds for Ladies or Gents of each category of bow style.(Recurve Freestyle, Compound Unlimited) and each age range for junior archers.
Each gender, age and bow style has a corresponding score threshold for a classification for each round.
i.e. Outdoor:- Third Class, Second Class, First Class, Bowman, Master Bowman or Grand Master Bowman. The outdoor season is from 1st Jan. to 31st Dec. each year.
Indoor Classifications are:- H,G,F,E,D,C,B,A. The indoor season is from 1st July to 30th June each year.
Only when three scores of three rounds shot on different days, are equal to or greater than the thresholds required for a given class, have you become an archer with that classification. Each of the three Qualifying rounds may be different rounds but have to be shot within the same season.

All this becomes abundantly clear when you start to record your scores and have your own Rule / Handicap Book to refer to.

Just remember that it will be unlikely that every round shot will be better than the previous one. Your standards will most likely vary, sometimes wildly. Don't be disheartened. Just try to make each shot feel the best yet. You will improve.

Whatever, ENJOY YOUR SHOOTING and remember to show good humour and consideration.

These targets (bosses) are made from specially twisted and tightly coiled straw rope. The rope is slightly wedged shape in section.
When the rope is coiled to make a large disc, a slight convex surface is deliberately produced. This is to help the target withstand the many arrow impacts.

You may notice a label stapled to the back concave surface of the target when they are new. If these have come off with use then look for the metal staples.

New targets, when bought by the club, are usually marked on the back with the date of purchase, using spray paint.
One or two targets have been painted on the wrong side, so again, please look for the staples.

It is advisable to always carry the bosses across the field. Do not roll. To avoid injury or strain, use one of the trailers. Careful handling will prolong the life of both the boss and the paper face.
.
The coloured target faces must be attached to the convex surface. The FITA symbol on the paper face should be at the top left corner. To hold the faces firmly in place, a 'nurses tuck' should be used at each corner and held with pins into the back.

When preparing for a 'Record Status' shoot, the paper faces should be pinned in place on the day of the event only after the 'Judge' has measured for tolerance. (If left overnight, the paper may be affected by damp and be deemed not suitable).
It is especially important when pinning smaller target faces on to a boss for a 'Record Status' shoot, to put the target pins in carefully so as not to leave extra holes in the unused face.

Both the target and the stand should be securely anchored. For stability and the safety of arrows, make sure the middle back leg of the target stand is centered and the stand is tied down. The wire pins for the tie downs should be put into the straw boss at a height level with the top of the red scoring circle. In very windy conditions, double up with the tie downs.

The targets should be inclined by 15 degrees with the pinholes (spider) 130cms above the ground.
The whole face should be visible and none of the scoring zones (eg white) obscured by a large lip on the supporting arm of the stand.

Easy really!!!

John has been kind enough to supply the information in a easily readable format to share with everyone. Take a look and I am sure even the most experienced archers may learn something of use.

These are classification tables for indoor rounds shot on recurve or compound. They are hopefully laid out in an easy to read and understand manner. These can be downloaded in the individual sections or as one complete list.
(Please note there appears to be some discrepency in the figures quoted in newer editions of the GNAS rules of shooting. We have contacted the GNAS and have been informed that older editions are correct and they are working on a solution to the problem)

These are printouts for you to record all you bow details. Thinks like bracing height, knock point, draw wheight, string material etc. There is a version each for Compound and Recurve bows.

Here you will find the links required to download the necessary software to view the files on this site

Excel Veiwer

Adobe Reader