Safety Rules

General

  • Bows and arrows are lethal weapons, never mess around with archery equipment
  • Only put bow and arrow together when standing on the shooting line and permission to shoot has been given
  • Only draw the bow when facing the target
  • Do not shoot an arrow upwards into the air
  • Do not “dry fire” a bow (that is, draw it and let go without an arrow in it) – this can seriously damage the bow and injure the archer
  • Obey all the commands of the Field Captain.

Before Shooting

Ground layout is vital to ensure safety and the AGB Rules of Shooting must be observed in order to maintain insurance cover.

  • The Waiting Line should be 5yds behind the shooting line.
  • An overshoot distance of at least 50yds behind the targets must be allowed for.
  • Please set out warning notices and flags by the top and bottom gates as marked on the map above. The signs must be easily visible to any person or vehicle entering the field through the marked gates.
  • There is a public footpath across the back of the school ground, keep an eye open for ramblers, dog walkers etc.
  • Although the school ground is private it tends to be used by local children, so look out for them.
  • Keep an eye out for animals on the field.
  • Ensure that all targets and stands are properly pegged down.
  • Always appoint a Field Captain (someone in charge of the whistle) for each shooting line.

REMEMBER: EVERYONE AT AN ARCHERY SESSION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAFETY. DON’T LEAVE IT TO SOMEONE ELSE!!!

Please note that recent changes to the Rules of Shooting (introduced in May 1994 to satisfy our insurers) require that all shooting must be from a common shooting line; and that if two groups of archers are using the ground at the same time (e.g. beginners having lessons and experienced archers shooting a round), then they should be separated by at least 50 yards. The insurers also insist that where the public have access to a shooting ground (even though not as of right), it will no longer insure an adult archer shooting on their own: they must be accompanied by someone else, who need not be affiliated, but who must be an adult.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WHEN JUNIOR ARCHERS ARE SHOOTING, WHETHER INDIVIDUALLY OR IN GROUPS, THEY MUST BE SUPERVISED BY AN AGB AFFILIATED ADULT MEMBER

Also before starting a beginners’ session: all equipment should be checked including bows, strings, arrows, nocks, fletchings etc., Any damaged equipment should not be used and should be put on one side for the attention of the Club Captain; all beginners should be appropriately dressed – loose clothing must be avoided, as should jewellery; long hair should be tied back; all beginners must be shown how to brace and unbrace bows correctly and safely, and advised that if they cannot do it, they should ask a Club Member for help; all beginners must be told about the need to have long enough arrows; all beginners must know and understand about the use of the whistle and the meaning of the word “fast” in an emergency.

During Shooting

When shooting the following rules should be followed:

  1. Progress to the shooting line when told.
  2. Only commence shooting when told (or the whistle is blown once).
  3. When finished shooting, archers step back from the line to the waiting line so that the Field Captain can tell when the shooting line is clear.
  4. When not shooting, archers should stay behind the waiting line.
  5. Archers must not cross the shooting line unless and until the signal to do so is given.
  6. Beginners should be told how to react to the command “fast” and the relevant whistle signal (usually several blasts of the whistle).
  7. After Shooting walk, don’t run, to the target; watch out for arrows on the ground in front of the target.
  8. Take care to draw arrows correctly without twisting and bending; make sure no-one is standing behind you when you draw; equally, don’t stand behind someone drawing arrows.
  9. Arrows stuck in the ground should be pulled out backwards, not upwards, without bending the shaft, but if the fletchings are buried in the grass, it may be necessary to pull the arrow forwards (again, without bending), to avoid damage to the fletchings.
  10. Everyone should help look for missing arrows – there is a metal detector in the hut; all missing arrows MUST be accounted for – if an arrow can’t be found, it must be reported to the Club Committee and noted in the minute book in accordance with the terms of the AGB insurance scheme. In addition, we would ask that any missing arrow be recorded in the attendance book kept just inside the hut door, together with an indication of its likely whereabouts in the field.