Scoring rings
The target face has ten concentric rings scoring 10 down to 1 from the centre out. An arrow touching a dividing line scores the higher value, and a miss scores zero.
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INDIVIDUAL · World Archery · AAI
Archery
Archery is a precision sport in which competitors shoot arrows at a target face divided into ten scoring rings. Olympic recurve is shot at 70 m onto a 122 cm face; compound is shot at 50 m. Ranking rounds set the seedings, and head-to-head matches are then decided by sets or cumulative score.
group
PLAYERS
Individual, plus team and mixed team events
schedule
DURATION
Ranking round ~2 hrs · matches ~15 min
stadium
PLAYING AREA
Outdoor field, 70 m (recurve) or 50 m (compound)
scoreboard
SCORING
1–10 per arrow, inner 10 for tie-breaks
HOW IT IS PLAYED
Core Rules
The ranking round
Archers shoot 72 arrows in ends of six to establish a seeding. The scores set the bracket for elimination matches; they do not carry into the matches themselves.
Recurve set system
Individual recurve matches are decided by sets of three arrows. Winning a set scores two points, a tied set one. The first archer to six set points wins the match.
Compound cumulative scoring
Compound matches are shot over five ends of three arrows and decided by the highest total score across all fifteen arrows.
Shoot-off
A tie is broken by a single arrow each. The arrow closest to the centre wins; if they are indistinguishable, another shoot-off arrow is shot.
Time limits
Archers have 20 seconds per arrow in alternating-shot matches and 2 minutes for an end of three arrows. Shooting after time expires forfeits the highest-scoring arrow of that end.
The shooting line
An archer must straddle the shooting line with one foot on each side. Drawing before the start signal, or shooting outside the sequence, brings a warning and can cost an arrow.
Bounced and hanging arrows
An arrow that rebounds off the target or hangs in it still scores according to the mark it made, provided the mark can be identified. Arrows passing through the target are scored the same way.
Equipment limits
Recurve bows may not use magnifying sights, releases or stabilisers beyond specification, and compound bows are capped at 60 lb draw weight. Equipment is inspected before competition.
WATCH OUT
Fouls & Penalties
- errorShooting before the start signal or after the time limit expires.
- errorShooting more than the permitted number of arrows in an end.
- errorTouching another archer's equipment or the target before scoring is agreed.
- errorCrossing the shooting line to retrieve arrows before the whistle.
- errorUsing non-conforming equipment, or receiving coaching from beyond the designated area.
WHO DECIDES
Match Officials
- sportsDirector of shooting — controls the whistle signals and timing.
- sportsJudges — verify scores, rule on line-cutters and inspect equipment.
- sportsScorers — record every arrow and confirm the running total with the archer.
- sportsJury of appeal — hears protests against judges' decisions.
GOVERNED BY WORLD ARCHERY · AAI
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