Safety Rules

• Never point your bow at anyone, even if there’s no arrow drawn (this is important for creating proper shooting habits).
• Never fire the arrow high into the air as you cannot predict where it’s going to land. An exception is when you’re participating in a flight archery competition.
• Keep your arrow aimed towards the ground as you nock it.
• It’s strongly recommended that you wear an arm guard.
• Never draw an arrow if there are any people between you and your target, even if you don’t intend to shoot yet.
• Never over-draw your recurve bow (over-drawing is when you pull the string further than the actual length of your arrow). This can result in serious injury and damage to your equipment.
• Always use a bow-stringer when stringing your bow.
• If you are using wooden arrows, always check them for cracks or splintering before your shooting session.
• Make it a habit to always check the bow limbs for any damage before you start shooting.
• If you notice signs of wear on the string (for example separation of the string serving), replace it immediately – do not wait for it to become completely non-operational.
• Take off your watch and/or jewelry before you begin shooting.
• Make sure your cellphone battery is charged so you can call for help in case an accident were to occur.
• Make sure your string is waxed regularly (if unsure of how often to do it, wax the string once every 100 arrows shot)
• Finish each shooting session by un-stringing your recurve bow.
• Never dry fire your bow (pulling and releasing the string without an arrow seated); this will be dangerous to both you and your recurve.

Indoor/Outdoor Range Safety Rules

• Listen carefully to commands given by your instructor. If you can’t hear them, ask the instructor to speak louder.
• Make sure the range you shoot at has a first-aid kit. If they don’t, let them know they should have one and don’t visit them until they buy it.
• Never approach the shooting line if you haven’t inspected your bow/arrows/string for any damage.
• Never run while retrieving your arrows; you could hurt yourself with an arrow lodged in the ground, or fail to stop in time and hurt yourself with the arrows lodged in the target (yes, it happens).
• Keep standing behind the shooting line and never cross it until the instructor gives a clear command for everyone to stop shooting.
• Do not nock or draw an arrow unless you are at the shooting line and unless the instructor has given everyone the command to do so.
• If you drop anything in front of the shooting line, even if it’s within reach of your arm, do not retrieve it until the command has been given for everyone to stop shooting (usually “bows down” or “all clear”).
• Always use field points at a regular archery bow range (avoid hunting broad-heads as they are more dangerous to handle and will damage most practice targets)
• Make sure no one is standing immediately behind you when pulling out an arrow from the target, as you could accidentally hurt them when forcefully pulling the arrow out.
• If one of your arrows travels too far and lands behind the target, make sure your instructor is aware of this as you go to retrieve your arrows once the “all clear” command has been given.
• If you hear the command “HOLD,” do not shoot an arrow even if it’s already nocked and the bow is drawn.

Age divisions:

Equipment

The most important and basic equipment are a bow and 3 arrows. There is a possibility to buy a lot of other accessories.

1. The bow:
   1. limbs
   2. cam
   3. tiller
   4. arrow rest
   5. string
   6. bowsight
   7. trigger bar
   8. stabilizers
2. The arrow
   1. arrow heads
   2. fletchings
   3. F.O.C.
   4. nock
3. Finger protection
4. Mechanical release
5. Quiver
6. Wrist-guard
7. Arm-guard
8. Chest-guard
9. Target
10. Target sheets

Stringing a bow

Understanding how to string an archery bow is an essential skill for any archer. Each type of bow is designed differently and requires a specific technique to be strung properly. Some are straight and simple, others are more complex with a recurve and still others are even more complicated with cams and pulleys. Knowing how to use the correct stringing method for each type will ensure that the bow is strung safely and securely.

Foot bracing is an effective technique for stringing lighter, straight bows such as long bows. The method begins with the archer placing the upper string loop over the upper limb and nocking the lower string loop on the lower limb. The archer then braces the tip of the lower limb against the inside of one foot. The hand on the side of the bracing foot holds the bow at the center and pulls while the other hand presses the upper limb away, bending the bow. At the same time, the hand pressing the upper limb slides the bow string into place on the limb nock. Once in place, tension can be released, and the bow is strung.

Another tried and true method for stringing a bow is called the step-through technique. First, one string loop is properly nocked on the lower limb. The other is loop is held in one hand, and the upper limb in the other. The archer steps through the space between the bow string and the bow itself, with the leg on the side of the upper end of the bow. The archer then places the face of the lower limb against the shin of the other leg and braces the center of the bow against the back of the inside leg. The archer then bends the upper limb forward until the string loop can be placed on the nock. Once the loop is firmly in place, the archer can then step out of the bow.

The correct position and grip

Foot placement during a shot can affect arrow flight. Your body has a natural centering point and if your feet are not positioned properly, your shot may be directed towards your centering point in a fraction of a second during the shot. There are three basic foot positions all of which should be shoulder’s width apart:

Squared stance = feet are in line with each other, drawing a line perpendicular to the target.

Closed stance = Archer’s hips are closed to the target.

Open stance = Archer’s hips are open to the target.

Without your bow and your feet in your desired shooting position, stand upright. Slightly bend your knees to act as shock absorbers. Now look towards the target. This is your head’s natural unstressed position. When you shoot your bow, try to keep your head in its centered location. Leaning forward or tilting your head back will stress your body and add to inconsistency. 

If you do not have the proper grip, you will not only have a hard time tuning your bow, but you will also suffer from inconsistent shooting. The bow is most accurate when it bounds forward off the holding hand unaffected from hand torque during the shot. Hand torque is the result when an archer squeezes the grip, holds the bow in the crease / crotch of the holding hand and unintentionally twists or torques the bow during the shot. You want your bow (grip) to bound off the center of the meaty part of your palm which is in line with your thumb. This will allow the bow to bound forward truly from an untorqued position. Your fingers should be limp or positioned in a safe area while not grabbing the bow. Do not “shake hands” with or squeeze the bow’s grip. The holding pressure of a fully drawn bow will keep the bow on the meat of the thumb while your other fingers will merely act as a light support.