Standard Party Range Rules & Procedures
Our certified instructors and coaches begin each party by reviewing standard range rules and procedures.
The following is an overview of those rules. There may be others not stated here. As safety is not limited to just these rules and procedures - common sense also applies.
As a party organizer, you might want to share these with your group before attending - just as a heads up. It never hurts to reinforce safety.
At ArcheryUSA, it's always "Safety First"!
- The most important rule is that archers never point an arrow at anyone at anytime, even if's not on the bow.
- Archers keep all arrows points down inside their issued side quiver until they are called to the shooting line by the instructor AND the command word is given to start shooting.
- Archers place one foot on each side of the yellow shooting line facing the correct direction as determined by their dominate eye (not handedness).
- When shooting, arrows are always pointed down range at the targets (never at the ceiling, center post, wall, side windows, lights or sprinkler).
- Should an arrow fall to the ground when loading the bow, the archer may reach for it provided it does not fall forward into another archers lane when that archer is shooting, AND it can be reached without crossing over the yellow shooting line.
- After shooting, each archer steps back from the yellow shooting line, returns their bow to the bow rack, and remains at least five feet back of the shooting line until all archers have shot their arrows, returned their bows to the rack , AND the command words are given to retrieve arrows.
- Archers always walk at a "normal pace" when retreiving arrows. Running is not permitted on the range or anywhere else in the store.
- Upon retreiving arrows, archers always pick their arrows off the ground first and immediately return them to their quiver (points down), and then proceed to the target wall to collect any arrows that have been shot there.
- When at the target wall, archers always check behind themselves when pulling arrows, just to be sure that no one is standing closeby. Arrows are always pulled one-at-a-time, and immediately returned to the quiver (points down).
- Either on or off the shooting line, an archer never pulls the string of a bow back without an arrow - NEVER. This prevents a potentially dangerous situation called a dry fire.
ALL shooting at Archery USA is controlled by either Voice Commands and/or whistle blasts.
The four basic commands are:
#1 - ON LINE (two whistle blasts)
This command is given to call all the archers to stand correctly in their assigned shooting lane with their equipment. At this point all arrows remain points down inside their quiver.
#2 - BEGIN (one whistle blast)
This is the signal to begin shooting at their assigned target.
#3 - CLEAR TO RETRIEVE (three whistle blasts)
Signals that shooting everywhere on the range has been completed, equipment has been returned to the bow rack, and it is now safe to walk and proceed to the target wall.
#4 - HOLD AND LET DOWN (four or more whistle blasts)
This is an emergency STOP SHOOTING command used only in the event of an emergency. The instructor will fully explain what constitutes an emergency and how to take the pressure off the bow safely without releasing the string.
Important Note To Parents:
All shooting sports come with an acknowledgement of assumed risk on the part of the participant, including the organizer on behalf of young participants. That stated, in the interest of everyone's safety - should the instructor have to use this command twice within a party, the party will be immediately cancelled. On average, ArcheryUSA hosts 150 parties each year. Our cancellation rate is about 3% per year. Our average safety rate for the past 15 years is 100%. We ask all parents and party organizers to help us maintain our good record. |
