Modern competitive archery
Modern competitive archery involves shooting arrows at a target for accuracy and precision from a set distance or distances. This is the most popular form of competitive archery worldwide and is called target archery. A form particularly popular in Europe, North America, and South America is field archery, shot at targets generally set at various distances in a wooded setting. There are also several other lesser-known and historical forms, as well as archery novelty games.
The World Archery Federation, composed of 156 national federations and other archery associations, is the governing body recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Various other large organizations exist with different rules.
Target archery
Modern competitive target archery is often governed by the World Archery Federation, abbreviated as WA. Olympic rules are derived from WA rules.Target archery competitions may be held indoors or outdoors. Indoor distances are. Outdoor distances range from. Competition is divided into ends of 3 or 6 arrows. After each end, the competitors walk to the target to score and retrieve their arrows. Archers have a set time-limit in which to shoot their arrows. 3 arrows are shot in 2 minutes, and 6 in 4 minutes.
Targets are marked with 10 evenly spaced concentric rings, which have score values from 1 through 10 assigned to them. In addition, there is an inner 10 ring, sometimes called the X ring. This becomes the 10 ring at indoor compound competitions. Outdoors, it serves as a tiebreaker with the archer scoring the most X's winning. Archers score each end by summing the scores for their arrows. Line breakers, an arrow just touching a scoring boundary line, will be awarded the higher score.
In the past, most targets in competitive archery used some kind of stalks of grain or grass and might be constructed of marsh grass woven into a rope, then wrapped around into a target. However, in modern times, most archery targets are made of synthetic foam, or woven plastic bags stuffed with cloth.
Different rounds and distances use different size target faces. These range from to .
Field archery
Field archery involves shooting at targets of varying distance, often in rough terrain.Three common types of rounds are the field, hunter, and animal. A round consists of 28 targets in two units of 14. Field rounds are at 'even' distances up to , using targets with a black bullseye, a white center ring, and black outer ring. Hunter rounds use 'uneven' distances up to, and although scoring is identical to a field round, the target has an all-black face with a white bullseye. Children and youth positions for these two rounds are closer, no more than, respectively. Animal rounds use life-size 2D animal targets with 'uneven' distances reminiscent of the hunter round. The rules and scoring are also significantly different. The archer begins at the first station of the target and shoot their first arrow. If it hits, they do not have to shoot again. If it misses, they advance to station two and shoots a second arrow, then to station three for a third if needed. Scoring areas are vital and nonvital with points awarded depending on which arrow scored first. Again, children and youth shoot from reduced range.
Image:DFRArcheryTarget.jpg|thumb|A home-made Archery target
One goal of field archery is to improve the technique required for bowhunting in a more realistic outdoor setting, but without introducing the complication and guesswork of unknown distances. As with golf, fatigue can be an issue as the athlete walks the distance between targets across sometimes rough terrain.
IFAA Field and International rounds are used in European Professional Archery competition.
Other modern competitions
The following are listed on the World Archery website. These competitions are not as popular as the two listed above, but they are competed internationally.3D archery
3D archery is a subset of field archery focusing on shooting at life-size models of game and is popular with hunters but that's not all. Being a dynamic sport that requires walking along a path through vegetation with shooting ranges, it's also popular with those seeking a realistic and natural setting. Furthermore, the targets are made of rubber, making it an animal-friendly sport. Unlike field archery, distances are almost always unknown, and you need to hit the target in specific points that are much less visible than the concentric colored rings.So although the original focus was on hunting, the discipline of offering shooting ranges surrounded by vegetation, with silhouettes that recreate a natural environment, is increasingly catering to non-hunters as well. Broadheads are not used to avoid excessive damage to the foam targets; instead, regular target or field broadheads of the same weight as the broadhead are used.
In the past 10 years 3D archery has taken new light with a competitive edge. There is a whole new group of competitions that are no longer considered hunting practice. Competitions are held in many U.S. states with the totals from each state being added together to crown a single winner within each division. Some competitors will travel thousands of miles a year to compete to try and claim the world title in 3D archery. This competitive style has been growing in many other countries and should continue with strong support for many years to come.
The major 3D archery groups are the IBO and the ASA are primarily based in Eastern United States. They each have different rules and scoring methods. They host a number of competitive shoots across the Eastern United States. There are several classes in each organization that range from hunter all the way up to professional classes. Each class shoots at maximum yardages that vary by class.
At a global level, World Archery coordinates around 160 national federations that organize continental 3D archery events and the World 3D Archery Championships takes place every two years.
Clout archery (G.N.A.S. rules in the United Kingdom)
Similar to target archery, except that the archer attempts to drop arrows at long range into a group of concentric circular scoring zones on the ground surrounding a marker flag. Traditional clout archery, up to Elizabethan times, was shot at 'twelve score',. The flag is square and is fixed to a stick. The flag should be as near to the ground as is practicable. Archers shoot 'ends' of six arrows then, when given the signal to do so, archers proceed to the target area. A Clout round usually consists of 36 arrows. Clout tournaments are usually a 'Double Clout' round. They can be shot in one direction or both directions. All bow types may compete.- Scoring. A 'rope' with a loop on the end is placed over the flag stick. This rope is divided into the scoring zones of the target: Gold, Red, Blue, Black and White. The rope is 'walked' around the target area and arrows falling within a particular scoring zone are withdrawn and, on completion of the full circle, are laid out on the rope on the corresponding colours. The designated scorer would then call out the archers' names and the archers would call out their scores as they pick up their arrows. The scores must be called in descending order as with target archery.
Crossbow archery (IAU rules internationally)
Field-crossbow archery was first adopted by the IAU during their General Assembly at Frütigen, Switzerland in 1977. Since then the sport has become the most popular, in terms of worldwide activity, of the IAU's three target crossbow disciplines. A feature of this sport is that many crossbow archers make their own equipment. By following the detailed guidelines issued by the IAU's Technical Committee it is possible to construct a field crossbow from locally available archery materials and target shooting accessories. The IAU's Field regulations call for the wearing of light-weight sports clothing, thereby eliminating the need for specialized shooting clothing. Shooting takes place on open sports fields or in sports halls using portable archery target buttresses, once again avoiding the need for the expense of permanent shooting ranges.
Crossbow archers shoot from the standing position and they must draw the bow string by hand without mechanical assistance. At outdoor competitions Bolts are shot in "ends" of three at multi-coloured 10-zone archery target faces. A time limit of three minutes is allowed per three shots. After a sound signal from the official in charge of shooting, all competitors walk forward together to score and collect their bolts from the targets. This sequence is repeated until the completion of the competition 'round'.
Image:IAU field xbow.jpg|thumb|A typical Field-crossbowEquipment – Field-crossbows are designed to specifications laid-down by the International Crossbow-shooting Union. These rules limit the power, weight and physical dimensions of equipment for use in archery-style competition. Other restrictions include the use of mechanical triggers and open sights only. The bowstring has to be drawn by hand without the use of mechanical assistance. The materials used in construction include laminated hardwoods, aluminium alloy and composites. The prod, or bow, is usually made from laminated carbon-fibre or glass-fibre which is fitted with a bowstring made from synthetic fibres. The maximum permitted draw weight is at a maximum power stroke of. Shooting a bolt this set up will generate an initial velocity of around. Field crossbow bolts are made from tubular aluminium or carbon-fibre archery shaft materials.
The majority of the crossbows used in this sport are custom made in small quantities, often by the archers themselves.
IAU Championships Timeline – 1958 1st European Match-crossbow Championships Gent Belgium, 1979 1st World Match-crossbow Championships Linz Austria, 1982 1st World Field-crossbow Championships Mikkeli Finland, 1989 1st European Field-crossbow Championships Wolverhampton England, 1992 1st Asian Field-crossbow Championships Tainan Taiwan ROC.