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Jump to: Beginners - Measuring Progress - Archery Rounds - Shooting Etiquette - Downloads
Beginners
Archery is a relaxing and rewarding sport for all ages. Like any sport, to become a top archer you need to commit time it. However if all you want is gentle exercise, to meet people and an afternoon in the fresh air, then archery could be the sport for you!
Our beginner courses will teach you correct shooting technique and will ensure you know how to shoot safely within a club environment.
Beginners' courses are run in January, April and October, by fully qualified, DBS checked coaches.
Click here for further information on this course.
Measuring Progress
There are several ways in which you can measure your progress, from measuring group sizes to scoring rounds. In addition there are classifications, award schemes and a handicap system.
Awards
There are various awards available to archers. To claim an award you must obtain the standard in an record status competition.
FITA Stars
These awards are open to all Archers shooting at a F.I.T.A. Star tournament. The awards are for achieving a score equal to or better than those laid down by F.I.T.A.
Rose Awards
These awards are open to all Archers shooting at a G.N.A.S. Record status York/Hereford Rose Tournament. Gentlemen must shoot the York round and Ladies the Hereford round. The awards are for achieving a score equal to or better than those laid down by G.N.A.S.
EAF English Crosses
These badges can be claimed for scores at any record status FITA shot in England. Each badge can be claimed once with a score matching or higher than those on the badges.
Six Gold End Badge
This badge is for shooting Six arrows into the gold in one end at either of your two longest distances. This badge can be obtained at either a club target day or at a competition.
Classifications
To gain a classification an Archer must shoot three rounds of, or better than, the qualifying scores as laid down by the G.N.A.S. Bowman, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class can be achieved at club target days. A lapel badge will be awarded to those Archers who achieve a given classification. Master and Grand Master Classifications can only be achieved at Tournaments and must include at least two F.I.T.A. rounds.
The score required for each classification depends on your bow type and gender. Tables giving the score for each round can be found in the GNAS handbook.
Handicap System
The handicap system ranges from 0 to 100, 0 being the best (for reference a Gents recurve 1st class equates to a handicap of 44). The handicap system allows archers of different abilities and different bow types to compete against each other fairly. For each round shot there is an allowance associated with each handicap. By adding this handicap allowance to your score you can fairly compare scores with an archer of a lower handicap. If you shoot to your handicap your score plus the handicap allowance should equal 1440.
A handicap is calculated for both the Outdoor and Indoor session. The Outdoor year runs from 1st January to 31st December and the Indoor year runs from 1st July to 30 June.
How to calculate handicaps
To obtain a handicap you must shoot at least three officially recorded rounds within one year at a GNAS meeting, a meeting organised by a body affiliated to GNAS or a target day at an affiliated club.
The handicap tables can be found in the GNAS Handbook. The tables are divided into the different rounds. If the score you achieve is not listed then the nearest lower score should be used. The appropriate handicap value will then be found at the side of the table. Your initial handicap is the average of the handicaps for the first three rounds recorded (rounded up to the nearest whole number).
Example: If you get handicaps of 75, 71, 68 for the first three rounds this will be round up from 71.33 to 72.
Updating your handicap
Each time you shoot a round with a lower handicap than your current one, you should submit that score to your records officer. Your handicap will be reduced by half the difference between this new handicap and your current one (rounded up to the next highest number). If you shoot a round less than your current handicap, then it remains unchanged.
Example: If you shoot a round of 45 and your handicap is 48 your handicap will be reduced to 47 (46.5 rounded up).
At the end of the year:
Your handicap for next year is recalculated as the average handicap of your best three rounds in the previous year, rounded up to the nearest whole number. If you have less than three rounds in the previous year then your new handicap is the average of those you have shot and the handicap you started the previous year with, rounded up to a whole number.
If you have not shot any rounds in the previous year then the handicap remains unchanged until you shoot three rounds and your handicap is calculated from new.
Archery Rounds
Archery rounds consist of a number of arrows shot over a selection of distances. The furthest distance is shot first and then the target is moved forward. For Imperial rounds the scoring is 9-Gold, 7-red, 5-Blue, 3-Black and 1-White. For Metric rounds each coloured zone is divided into two section giving a scores from 10,9 for Gold, 8,7 for Red etc. If an arrow cuts the line between two scoring zones, the score is the higher of the two zones.
More Information on: Imperial Rounds - Metric Rounds - Indoor Rounds
Shooting Etiquette
Please consider your fellow archers.
- When awaiting your turn to shoot, make sure you are ready to walk up to the shooting line as soon as the others on your target have finished.
- When waiting to shoot you musy be at least five yards back from the shooting line in order to avoid disturbing those who are shooting, as well as for your own safety.
- If an archer on your target is left alone on the shooting line, that is to say everyone on all the targets have finished shooting, it is recommended that someone returns to the line to keep the archer company. He or she would feel less exposed.
- If a shoot has been arranged for a certain time try not to be late. Assistance may be required to put up targets etc. If you are late shooting may be delayed.
- When putting up an extra target wait until all other archers have gone up to score their arrows, that is to say, the whistle has blown.
- Never walk behind the target to retrieve arrows before giving your score to the scorer.
- Do not talk on the shooting line as this will most certainly disturb the concentration of other archers.
- Do not spend too long looking for a lost arrow. If an arrow is reluctant to reveal itself you can look again next time you return to score, or in the interval between distances. Rest assured we seldom fail to find a lost arrow, eventually!
- When shooting is finished, please offer to help put away targets and stands - its much quicker when everyone helps!
If everyone follows these few points it will ensure that all archers in our club (and yours) will be able to enjoy their sport to the full and the shooting can proceed smoothly with the minimum of interruptions.
Downloads
Excel spreadsheet useful for recording your scores