GENERAL SAFETY RULES

1. Check your equipment before shooting. Check the limbs for cracks. Never shoot a cracked or bent arrow.
2. Never place an arrow in the bow until you are ready to shoot it.
3. Never loose an arrow when you cannot see where it will land.
4. No archer shall draw a bow with the bow hand higher than the head
5. Never loose an arrow straight into the air (except in regulated clout shooting)
6. Never pull a loaded or unloaded bow in anybody’s direction.
7. Never point an arrow at a person.
8. Never throw an arrow.
9. Never stand forward or to the side of an archer about to shoot; not only can you destroy the archers concentration but you place yourself in danger from a mis-nocked arrow which can flirt in any direction on release.
10. Whilst someone else is shooting keep your eyes and mind alert for possible danger, at the moment of loosing the archers concentration is solely on the target.
11. Where possible danger exists shout STOP! or FAST! If you have doubts of any nature state loudly DON’T SHOOT!
12. At least one adult member of a group should always remain standing in front of the target if other members are searching for arrows. Alternatively, prop at least one bow or branch in front of target face.
13. Always keep to the marked path from each target to the next shooting stand. Don’t just think things are safe. MAKE SURE.
14. Juniors/cubs should never leave a group without adult supervision.
15. Nobody should ever RUN on an archery range.
16. Check to see if anybody is in the way (behind you) when pulling arrows
17. Brightly coloured clothing, preferably hi-vis, is recommended.
18. Note that camouflage clothing could be a contributory factor to an incident and should not be worn without some additional hi-vis extra.

COURSE RULES and PROCEDURE for Shoot Organisers

• No competition may start until the course has been inspected for safety.
• A course inspector cannot be from the host club or anyone else who helped set up the course
• The shoot organiser must inform the safety officer which person is checking and signing off the course at least one week before the shoot
• A course inspection sheet and, if a Record Status event, the course specifications i.e. printed details of target number, target group (or size) and distances (exact or within specified range) must be available for the course inspector(s)
• If it has failed measures can be taken, namely -
• The fault(s) can be rectified in time, reinspected, and the event proceed
• The fault(s) are safety issues which cannot be rectified in time and the shoot is to be cancelled
• It's a Record Status shoot and the faults are incorrect shoot parameters which cannot be rectified so the shoot can proceed but without its Record Status
• The course inspection sheet to be sent to the safety officer no later than the Tuesday after a shoot by post or e mail

All courses are different, and inspectors must judge timing of the inspection using their knowledge and experience

• If the course is the same or nearly the same as that of a previous competition and complete in all details it may be inspected at any time before the event starts
• If the course is new or radically different it must be ready for inspection (complete with pegs, faces, 3Ds, direction markers etc.) the day before the event or sooner
• If the event is record status the distances will be checked for accuracy on a random or complete basis


No person should be allowed on the course before the event starts with the exception of course inspectors, course layers and the event organiser, who may also be competitors.
Competitors must be aware that they should not make or refer to any personal notes or memoranda containing information relating to target distances, target groups or positioning of scoring zones
Any competitor who is disqualified can have this so marked on the results page but the reason for the disqualification would not be published
There must be a clear and loud signal for the start of any shoot or part thereof, and for terminating the event if necessary.

RECORD STATUS EVENTS
Record Status Events are IFAA Field, IFAA Hunter, IFAA Unmarked Animal Round and the IFAF Standard Big Game
For the rules of the IFAA rounds see the IFAA rulebook HERE

IFAF STANDARD BIG GAME
The round will be called ‘IFAF Standard Big-Game Round’ and will have IFAF record status. It will also be the basis of the IFAF Incentive Awards Scheme, i.e. for bronze, silver, gold and star gains.
The round, unmarked, will consist of a single unit of 18 targets (shot twice) or two units of 18, using 3D’s or paper faces or a mixture of both.

PEGS
There will be 4 pegs, white with 1, 2, 3, or 4 green bands.
Irrespective of bow style -
Adults shoot pegs 1, 2, 3
Juniors shoot pegs 2, 3, 4
Cubs Shoot Pegs 3,4,4
SHOOTING
Archers in the group are to shoot in rotation e.g. 1234,2341 etc. unless otherwise agreed. This does not apply to juniors or cubs.
You must have your leading foot (left for right handed archers and vice versa) within 6 inches of the peg, to the side or behind but not in front.
All your arrows must be identical in all respects except colour. They must be clearly marked 1, 2, and 3.
You shoot up to 3 arrows in number order and from the correct pegs. If an arrow is shot in the wrong order, you must inform the target captain of such before shooting another arrow. An arrow shot from the incorrect peg cannot score.
You may stop shooting when a hit is made but you are not obliged to do so.
You should not pull arrows until scoring is complete.
No binoculars to be used.
If you find that you cannot see the whole target at whatever stance or consider the shot to be dangerous in any way e.g. slippery footing, you can, with the consent of the rest of the group, move to a safer place to make the shot, usually to one side.
SCORING
Double scoring is to be used i.e. 2 scorers per group
Arrow 1: kill 20, wound = 16
Arrow 2: kill = 14, wound = 10
Arrow 3: kill = 8, wound = 4
PAPER FACES
Heart/lung areas found on some faces will be ignored. Inner and outer kill zone count as one kill zone.
3D's
Only the kill area facing the archer at peg 1 can count for scoring. Inner and outer kill zone count as one kill zone. Horns and bases don't score but hoofs may. Any arrows glancing off the target don't count. Any arrow witnessed to bounce back off the scoring area of a target may be scored as such. If there is doubt as to which part of the scoring area was hit, a wound score will be given.

BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD ARROW AWARDS



These enable members to assess their archery skills and give an incentive for them to improve. It is similar to the IFAA Classification system but tailored to our domestic circumstances.
Gains can be made only on the IFAF Standard Big Game round (SBG)
If any SBG rules are modified, it will not affect any Gains or Records already won
There are 4 levels of Award - Bronze Arrow, Silver Arrow and Gold Arrow, and the IFAF Star, each represented by a modest pin badge, as illustrated. At a SBG shoot, you will be going for a Gain. You need 2 Gains for any of the Arrows, i.e. you need to pass the qualifying score twice to win an arrow
Gains are decided by your score of the day. The score you need to get a Bronze, Silver, Gold or Star gain in your particular style are shown below.
You can change styles from one event to another but a Rating Arrow is obtained from the 2 needed Gains in the same style. At any SBG you can shoot for a gain in any recognised style.
Where you enter the Ratings is dependent on your current skills. Some competitors may start with a Silver or even Gold Gains. Most archers should be able to attain a Bronze.
You can only ever get one Bronze or Silver Arrow for any shooting style. You can win a maximum of three Gold Arrows. On qualifying for a fourth Gold Arrow you will be designated as an "IFAF HOTSHOT", entitled to wear the Hotshot patch.

Get the latest gainschart by clicking    HERE



Time Limit. Arrows are given for shoots within any calendar year, i.e. all "unused" Gains (except Gold) are cancelled at the end of the year.

IMPORTANT This scheme is NOT designed to bring archers up to any recognised international standard. IFAF will be willing to assist in this matter if and when the occasion arises.

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