Competitive Archery

In competition format, archery involves firing arrows at a target from a fixed distance, where points are awarded based on accuracy. This format of the sport, which is by far the most common, is known as target archery and can be held outdoors or indoors. Outdoor distances vary between 30-90m, whereas indoor ranges are shorter at typical distances of 18m or 25m. Whilst the precise rules of competitive archery can vary between organisations, the rules of the International Archery Federation (or FITA as it is known) are the most recognised and respected. In fact, the rules of archery in the Olympic Games are based on FITA rules. Target archery competitions are divided into so-called 'ends' where 3 or 6 arrows must be fired in a specified time limit. Targets in archery are circular and marked with 10 concentric rings, evenly spaced, and a central circle or bulls eye. The size of the target varies; for example, FITA indoor rules at an 18m distance specify a target diameter of 40cm. Each ring is assigned a points value from 1-10 through outer to inner rings (i.e. inner rings score higher than outer rings). The total score in any one end is the sum of all the arrows shot. Where an arrow penetrates the boundary line between rings (known as a 'line breaker'), the higher of the two scores (the score of the inner ring) is awarded.

Field archery, popular in Europe and the USA, incorporates the same principles of target archery albeit at various distances, sometimes unmarked, and typically in a woodland location. Fitness and conditioning comes into play more with field archery, since competitors must walk between targets, often across rough terrain, within a large overall competition area. Common types of rounds include the field, animal and hunter rounds. Field rounds incorporate set distances between archer and target in the same way as standard target archery, whereas animal and hunter rounds are played at irregular distances to loosely simulate hunting conditions. As well as having different rules, animal rounds use a cut-out picture of an animal as the target, whilst hunter rounds incorporate conventional circular targets. In fact, the same rules are adopted in hunter rounds as they are in field rounds.