11.Chapter 11Athletes Equipment
This article lays down the type of equipment athletes are permitted to use when shooting in World Archery competitions. It is the athlete’s responsibility to use equipment which complies with the rules. Any athlete found to be using equipment contravening World Archery Rules may have scores disqualified. Described below are the specific regulations that apply to each division followed by the regulations that apply to all divisions.
The regulations set forth in Chapter 21 - Para-Archery, shall apply only to that discipline and shall take precedence in any case of conflict.
11.1.Recurve Division
For the Recurve Division, the following items are permitted:
11.1.1.
A bow of any type provided it complies with the common meaning of the word "bow" as used in target archery, that is, an instrument consisting of a handle/riser and grip, (no shoot-through type) and two flexible limbs each ending in a tip with a string nock. The bow is braced for use by a single string attached directly between the two string nocks, and in operation is held in one hand by its handle (grip) while the fingers of the other hand draw and release the string.
Bow Grip interpretation
Barebow weights interpretation
Use of thumb to hold string interpretation
11.1.1.1.
Multi-coloured bow risers and trademarks located on
the inside of the upper and lower limb or on the riser are permitted.
11.1.1.2.
Risers including a brace are permitted provided the
brace does not consistently touch the athlete’s hand or wrist.
11.1.2.
A bowstring of any number of strands.
11.1.2.1.
Which may be of multi-coloured strands and serving and of the material chosen for the purpose. It may have a centre serving to accommodate the drawing fingers, a nocking point to which may be added serving(s) to fit the arrow nock as necessary, and, to locate this point, one or two nock locators may be positioned. At each end of the bowstring there is a loop which is placed in the string nocks of the bow when braced. In addition, one attachment is permitted on the string to serve as a lip or nose mark. The serving on the string shall not end within the athlete’s vision at full draw. The bowstring shall not in any way assist aiming through the use of a peephole, marking, or any other means.
Nocking Point interpretation
11.1.3.
An arrow rest, which can be adjustable and have more than one vertical support, is permitted.
Arrow Rest interpretation
Arrow Rest interpretation
11.1.3.1.
Any moveable pressure button, pressure point or
arrow plate may be used on the bow provided they are not electric
or electronic and do not offer any additional aid in aiming. The
pressure point may be placed no further back than 4cm (inside)
from the pivot point of the grip.
11.1.4.
One draw check indicator, audible, tactile and/or visual may be used provided it is not electric or electronic.
Use of visual and audible clicker interpretation
11.1.5.
A bow sight is permitted, but at no time may more than
one such device be used.
11.1.5.1.
It shall not incorporate a prism, magnifying
lens/lenses, or any magnifying device, levelling, electric or electronic
devices, nor shall it provide for more than one sighting point.
11.1.5.2.
The overall length of the sighting circle or point
(hood, tunnel or tube, sighting pin or other corresponding extended
component) shall not exceed 2cm in the line of vision of the athlete.
Long fiber optic pins must bend after 2cm with the opposite end of
the fiber optic pin outside the athlete’s line of vision.
11.1.5.3.
A sight attached to the bow may have windage and elevation adjustment and is subject to the following provisions:
- A bow sight extension is permitted;
- A scale and or tape with distance marking may be mounted on the sight as a guide for distance markings, but shall not in any way offer any additional aid.
11.1.6.
Stabilisers and vibration dampeners on the bow are
permitted.
11.1.6.1.
They may not:
- Serve as a string guide;
- Touch anything but the bow;
- Represent any danger or obstruction to other athletes.
11.1.7.
Arrows of any type may be used provided they comply with
the common meaning of the word "arrow" as used in target archery,
and do not cause undue damage to target faces or butts.
11.1.7.1.
An arrow consists of a shaft with a tip (point), nock, fletching and, if desired, cresting. The maximum diameter of arrow shafts shall not exceed 9.3mm (arrow wraps shall not be considered as part of this limitation but may not extend further than 22cm toward the arrow point when measured from the nock groove where the bowstring sits to the end of the wrap). The tips/points of the arrows may not exceed 9.4mm in diameter. All arrows of every athlete shall be marked with the athlete's name or initials on the shaft. All arrows used in any end shall be identical in appearance and shall carry the same pattern and colour(s) of fletching, nocks and cresting, if any. Tracer nocks (electrically/electronically lighted nocks) are not allowed.
11.1.8.
Finger protection in the form of finger tape, shooting glove (wrist
strap allowed), finger tab or a combination of finger protection to draw
and release the bowstring is permitted, provided they do not incorporate
any device that assists the athlete to draw and release the bowstring.
Thumb ring interpretation
11.1.8.1.
Finger protection may incorporate an anchor plate for
anchoring, thumb or finger rests for non-drawing fingers, finger straps
around fingers to secure finger protection to the hand, finger separator
between fingers to prevent pinching the arrow, tab plate/s for securing
tab materials/layers together and plate extensions for consistent hand
placement may be used. Finger protection may be made of any number of
layers and material. No part of the finger protection may extend around
the hand between thumb and fingers or beyond the wrist joint or restrict
wrist movement. On the bow hand an ordinary glove, mitten or similar
item may be worn but shall not be attached to the grip of the bow.
11.1.9.
Binoculars, scopes and other visual aids may be used for spotting arrows:
11.1.9.1.
Provided they are not used for ranging or represent any
obstruction to other athletes.
11.1.9.2.
Scopes shall be adjusted so the highest portion of the
scope is no higher than the armpit of the athletes.
11.1.9.3.
Prescription glasses, shooting spectacles and sunglasses
may be used. None of these may be fitted with micro-hole lenses, or
similar devices, nor may they be marked in any way that can assist in
aiming.
Shooting Glasses interpretation
11.1.9.4.
Should the athlete need to cover the non-sighting eye and
or glasses lens, film or tape may be used to obscure vision, or an eye
patch may be used.
11.1.10.
Accessories are permitted:
Drawhand elbow device interpretation
Kinesio tape and compression shirts interpretation
11.1.10.1.
These include arm guard, chest protector, bow sling, finger sling and a quiver which may be worn on the belt, back, hip or monunted in the ground. Devices to raise a foot/feet or part thereof, attached or independent of the shoe, are permitted provided they do not present an obstruction to other athletes at the shooting line/peg or protrude more than 2cm past the footprint of the shoe. Wind indicators (non- electric or non-electronic) may be attached to the equipment (e.g. light ribbons).
11.2.Compound Division
For the Compound Division, the following equipment is described. All types of additional devices are permitted, unless they are electric, electronic, compromise safety or create unfair disturbance to other athletes.
Anti-torque hand piece interpretation
11.2.1.
A Compound Bow, which may be of a shoot-through type
riser, is one where the draw is mechanically varied by a system of pulleys
or cams. The bow is braced for use by cables or bowstring(s) attached
directly to the cams, the string nocks of the bow limbs, cables or by other
means as may be applicable to the design. No equipment may be electric
or electronic.
11.2.1.1.
The peak draw weight shall not exceed 60 lbs.
11.2.1.2.
Cable guards are permitted.
11.2.1.3.
A riser brace or split cables are permitted, provided they
do not consistently touch the athlete’s hand, wrist or bow arm.
Touching Bow interpretation
11.2.1.4.
A bowstring of any type which may include multiple serving/s to accommodate nocking points and include other attachments such as a lip mark (e.g. kisser button), a nose mark, a peep-hole, a peep-hole ‘hold-in-line’ device, D loop bowstring, string silencers, bowstring weights, and any other attachments are permitted, provided none of the attachments are electric or electronic.
Adjustable peep sight interpretation
11.2.1.5.
The pressure point of the arrow rest which can be
adjustable shall be placed no further back than 6cm (inside) from the
throat of the handle (pivot point of the bow grip).
11.2.1.6.
Any number of Stabilizers are allowed, but may not touch
anything but the bow.
11.2.2.
Draw check indicators, audible, tactile and/or visual may be used
provided they are not electric or electronic.
11.2.3.
A bow sight attached to the bow.
Compound sight interpretation
11.2.3.1.
Which may allow for windage and elevation adjustments
and may also incorporate a levelling device, and/or magnifying
lenses and/or prisms.
11.2.3.2.
The sight points may be a fiber optic and if desired
illuminated by a chemical glowstick. The glowstick shall be encased
so as not to disturb other athletes.
11.2.4.
A release aid may be used provided it is not attached to the bow in any way except for the bowstring or a D-loop. Any type of finger protection may be used.
Use of thumb to hold string interpretation
11.2.5.
11.3.
For athletes of all divisions the following equipment is not permitted:
Drawhand elbow device interpretation
11.3.1.
Any electronic or electrical device that can be attached to the
athlete's equipment.
Mantis device interpretation
Tablet use as a scope interpretation
11.3.2.
Use of any electronic voice communication device, headsets or noise reduction devices in front of the waiting line.
Electronic devices used for monitoring physiological data, like wrist worn fitness trackers, smartwatches and heart rate chest bands are permitted and data is allowed to be communicated electronically to the paired electronic device, as long as the monitoring device on the athlete is not visually intrusive (e.g. no eye-tracking devices, no head-mounted EEG devices etc.).
Mobile devices such as mobile phones are permitted in front of the waiting line for running software that simply allows the athlete to plot arrow impacts on the target as one would on printed paper used for the same purpose is permitted. No software that aids in bow sight adjustments may be used anywhere on the archery field (which includes any space either in front of or behind the shooting line up to the spectator area).
Loop hearing aid interpretation
Tablet use as a scope interpretation
Noise/frequency reduction devices interpretation
11.3.3.
Athlete equipment shall not include camouflage colours of any
kind.
Definition of camouflage colour interpretation
11.4.Barebow Division
For the Barebow Division the following items are permitted:
Subconscious trigger device - Barebow interpretation
11.4.1.
A bow of any type provided it complies with the common meaning of the word bow as used in target archery, that is, an instrument consisting of a handle/riser and grip (no shoot through type) and two flexible limbs each ending in a tip with a string nock. The bow is braced for use by a single string attached directly between the two string nocks, and in operation is held in one hand by its grip while the fingers of the other hand draw and release the string.
The bow as described above shall be bare except for the arrow rest and free from protrusions, sights or sight marks, marks or blemishes or laminated pieces (within the bow window area) which could be of use in aiming. The unbraced bow complete with permitted accessories shall be capable of passing through a hole or ring with a 12.2cm inside diameter +/-0.5mm.
Use of thumb to hold string interpretation
11.4.1.1.
Multi-coloured bow risers, and trademarks located on the inside of the upper and lower limb or on the riser are permitted. However, if the area within the sight window is coloured in such a way that it could be used for aiming, then it must be taped over.
11.4.1.2.
Risers including a brace are permitted provided the brace does not consistently touch the athlete’s hand or wrist.
11.4.2.
A bowstring of any number of strands.
11.4.2.1.
Which may be of multi-coloured strands and serving and of the material chosen for the purpose. It may have a centre serving to accommodate the drawing fingers, one or two nocking points to which may be added serving(s) to fit the arrow nock as necessary, and to locate the nocking points. No lip or nose mark is permitted. The bowstring shall not in any way assist aiming through the use of a peephole, marking, or any other means. The end of the center serving where it transitions to bowstring material shall not end within the athlete’s plane of vision at full draw.
11.4.3.
An arrow rest, which may be adjustable and have more than one vertical support, is permitted.
Placement of rest interpretation
11.4.3.1.
An adjustable pressure button, pressure point or arrow plate may all be used on the bow provided they do not offer any additional aid in aiming. The pressure point may be placed no further back than 2cm (inside) from the pivot point of the grip.
11.4.4.
No draw check device may be used.
Sear tab interpretation
Draw check with fingers interpretation
11.4.5.
Face and string walking are permitted.
11.4.6.
No stabilisers are permitted.
11.4.6.1.
Vibration dampeners are permitted. They may be installed in the riser by the manufacturer, or by attaching aftermarket dampeners directly to the riser or to weight(s). Any combination of weight(s) and vibration dampener(s) must pass through a ring with an inside diameter of 12.2 cm (+/- 0.5mm) without having to flex vibration dampeners to fit through the 12.2 cm ring. Weight(s) and dampener(s) may be added below and above the riser’s grip, but must not aid the athlete in aiming or ranging in any way. Also permitted are limb dampeners.
Powder vibration dampener interpretation
11.4.7.
Arrows of any type may be used provided they subscribe to the accepted principle and meaning of the word arrow as used in target archery, and that these arrows do not cause undue damage to the targets.
11.4.7.1.
An arrow consists of a shaft with a tip (point), nocks, fletching and, if desired, cresting. The maximum diameter of arrow shafts shall not exceed 9.3mm (arrow wraps shall not be considered as part of this limitation but may not extend further than 22cm toward the arrow point when measured from the nock groove where the bowstring sits to the end of the wrap). The tips/points of the arrows may not exceed 9.4mm in diameter. All arrows of every athlete shall be marked with the athlete's name or initials on the shaft. All arrows used in any end shall be identical in appearance and shall carry the same pattern and colour(s) of fletching, nocks and cresting, if any. Tracer nocks (electrically/electronically lighted nocks) are not allowed.
11.4.8.
Finger protection in the form of finger stalls or tips, gloves, or shooting tab or tape, to draw and release the string is permitted, provided they do not incorporate any device that shall assist the athlete to hold, draw and release the string.
Sear tab interpretation
Thumb ring interpretation
11.4.8.1.
A separator between the fingers to prevent pinching the arrow may be used. An anchor plate or similar device attached to the finger protection (tab) for the purpose of anchoring is permitted. The stitching shall be uniform in size and colour. Marks or lines may be added directly to the tab or on a tape placed on the face of the tab. These marks shall be uniform in size, shape and colour and may have up to two different lengths. Additional memoranda are not permitted. On the bow hand an ordinary glove, mitten or similar item may be worn but shall not be attached to the grip of the bow.
Barebow tab 1 interpretation
Barebow tab 2 interpretation
Barebow tab 3 interpretation
Sear tab interpretation
11.4.9.
Binoculars, scopes and other visual aids for spotting arrows:
11.4.9.1.
Provided they are not used for ranging or represent any obstruction to other athletes.
11.4.9.2.
Prescription glasses, shooting spectacles and sunglasses may be used. None of these may be fitted with micro hole lenses, or similar devices, nor may they be marked in any way to assist in aiming.
11.4.9.3.
Should the athlete need to cover the non-sighting eye and or glasses lens, plastic, film or tape may be used to obscure vision, or an eye patch may be used.
11.4.10.
Accessories are permitted:
Drawhand elbow device interpretation
11.4.10.1.
Including arm guard, chest protector, bow sling, finger sling, belt, back, hip or ground quiver. Devices to raise a foot or part thereof, attached or independent of the shoe, are permitted provided that the devices do not present an obstruction to other athletes at the shooting line/peg or protrude more than 2cm past the footprint of the shoe.
11.5.
For Olympic Games no electronic communication device is allowed
on the competition field unless required by the Organising Committee.
Loop hearing aid interpretation
Book 3
Target Archery
Documents
Chapitres
- Chapter 11 - Athletes Equipment
- Chapter 12 - Shooting and Conduct
- Chapter 13 - Order of Shooting and Timing Control
- Chapter 14 - Scoring
- Chapter 15 - Consequences of Breaking Rules
- Chapter 16 - Practice
- Chapter 17 - Questions and Disputes
- Chapter 18 - Team Officials
- Chapter 19 - Appeals
- Chapter 20 - Dress Regulations
- Chapter 21 - Para-Archery