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© Companions of the Longbow
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Members Rules
Members Rules
Amendment 1: 23rd March 2010. Non Scheduled Shoots (section 7.0).
Our club rules of shooting are generally those of medieval field archery. We have a minimum of rules, as the aim of the club is to enable people to enjoy a day’s archery using medieval equipment in good company, pleasant surroundings, and above all, in safety. Despite the amount of safety rules identified, most of them are just commonsense ones, and none of them interfere with a day’s fun.
1.0 Responsibilities
1.1 The club has determined the need to identify responsibilities of the club and key officers of the club. Ultimately the committee is responsible for all safety matters of the club and the rules that are to be applied to all shoots.
1.2 Captains are qualified and approved by the committee. Qualification is achieved by being trained by a qualified GNAS member who holds an appropriate training certificate.
1.3 The field captain is responsible for the safety of the shoot and will decide if a shoot should be cancelled due to weather or due to any safety risk within the environment. The field captain will have the authority of the club to exclude an individual from a shoot for any reason relating to safety matters. Such exclusion will be reported to the committee.
1.4 The range captain will be responsible for the shooting range. The captain will control all matters relating to the range and the archers on the range. The range captain will issue the appropriate commands to control the archers on the range.
1.5 Members are responsible for their safety and the safety of others at the shoot. All members will be advised of the Fast command and the use of that command to stop a shoot for any safety reason.
1.6 New members will be briefed on all safety matters. They will be advised of the responsibility of the captains and the authority they hold within the club. The shooting rules and safety rules will be given to these new members for their reference and adherence.
1.7 Members and guests must agree to follow all safety rules and to follow the directions of the range captain with regard to safety.
1.8 All safety rules will be followed.
1.9 Safety rules will be applied at all shoots organized by the club. For shoots on a location not directly controlled by the club, the location rules will apply except where the club rules override the locations rules by virtue of their existence or their greater level of safety consideration.
1.10 Guests are the responsibility of the host member
2.1 We shoot with traditional long bows in woodlands, fields, and rough ground. This style of archery is extremely challenging and a lot of fun, relying only upon the techniques of longbow shooting developed by archers over the centuries.
2.2 The bows we use are traditional medieval bows that are predominantly English longbows. Other similar bows of the period are also welcomed. Takedown and compound bows are not to be shot within the club.
2.3 Members are responsible for the condition of their own archery equipment. Arrows in particular should be checked regularly for damage. Damaged arrows must be discarded immediately.
2.4 The condition of archery equipment owned by the club is the responsibility of the committee.
2.5 Club blunts must only be shot against appropriate targets.
2.5 No visual aids (such as binoculars, etc.) may be used.
2.6 No extras are allowed on bows (e.g. stabilizers, sights, etc.).
2.7 No marks are allowed on a bow that may be used as a range finder or a sight.
2.8 The use of compound bows and non-wooden arrows is strictly prohibited. It is dangerous to use such equipment on a course specifically designed for medieval equipment (The bosses, for example, are not designed to stop carbon arrows).
2.9 No release aids are allowed, apart from tabs or gloves for finger protection.
2.10 All arrows must be wooden with feather fletching.
2.11 Archers are not allowed to measure distances (either by pacing or using a measuring device) between targets and shooting pegs / line.
2.12 If wearing a back quiver be careful when leaning forward (for example, when drawing arrows from the boss) that your arrow nocks are not at eye level and a danger to archers near you.
3.1 Suitable clothing must be worn during a shoot.
3.2 Suitable shoes must be worn during shoots. Note that we shoot in a field on uneven ground. Open toed shoes / sandals are not permitted.
3.3 Body piercing from the face and upper body must be removed. Large earrings are particularly at risk.
3.4 Long hair should be tied back to avoid being hit by the bowstring.
3.5 Check to ensure that clothing does not get in the way of the bowstring.
4.1 For safety reasons a shoot cannot take place without at least one Captain present.
4.2 Archers will only be permitted to shoot when it is safe to do so.
4.3 The field captain will have ultimate jurisdiction over the whole shoot.
4.4 The range captain will have jurisdiction over the shooting range.
4.5 Captains will be responsible for setting out shooting ranges.
4.6 When fast is called all archers will stop shooting immediately. Note that anyone can call fast if they see anything they consider unsafe.
4.7 For fast or come down the archers will not loose the arrow but will ease the load on the bow and bring the bow down safely.
4.8 Come down will be said to individuals in order to stop them shooting.
4.9 Arrows must not be knocked if the archer is not on the shooting line or if there is anyone between the shooting line and the target.
4.10 No one is allowed to join in the shoot after the range captain has started a shoot.
Children must be strictly monitored at all times by a parent or guardian. This person should also ensure that they are familiar with the safety rules.
4.11 The point of the arrow should not be drawn past the edge of the bow. This is very important! If you are unclear on this point ask a captain or another club member if a captain isn’t around. If an arrow is drawn inside the bow it could cause serious injury.
4.12 When two or more archers are shooting they should stand side by side, not one ahead of the other.
4.13 When walking towards the target to collect the arrows, be careful of any in the grass, the rear end of which could stick in your leg. A nock can easily injure a foot or an ankle. This is the most common form of injury.
4.14 Don’t stand behind anyone pulling arrows from the target; they can jerk out very suddenly and strike a person in the face chest. For the same reason, if pulling out arrows yourself, check there’s no one directly behind you.
4.15 If searching for arrows around the target area, one person should stay by the target and keeps an eye out for other archers approaching to take a shot in order to prevent them doing so. Also, leave your bow leaning against the target face so that other archers know that you are there.
4.16 NEVER shoot an arrow directly up into the air. It could land anywhere on its return.
4.17 NEVER cross in front of an archer taking a shot; he or she will be concentrating on the target and will not necessarily be aware of your presence.
4.18 NOBODY should ever be at the target end when shooting is taking place, regardless of how far off to one side they are.
4.19 NEVER double back on the course to look for lost arrows, etc. while the shoot is in progress. It is very dangerous to do this.
4.20 ALWAYS make sure everyone has finished shooting before walking towards the target. The range captain is responsible for allowing archers to move towards the target.
5.1 The field shoot is under the supervision of the range captain.
5.2 The field captain is responsible for the field course to be in a safe condition for shooting.
5.3 All archers must be familiarized with the course before shooting.
5.4 Some of the targets are under range captain control. These will be identified to the archers before the shoot.
5.5 Archers will shoot in groups of no more than four persons.
5.6 When moving between targets, archers must keep to the designated paths.
5.7 The signal for fast will be three blasts of the range captain’s whistle. On hearing the signal, all archers will stop shooting immediately.
5.8 Searching for lost arrows should be carried out after the shoot has finished. Archers must not wander into the undergrowth looking for arrows during the shoot.
6.0 General Behaviour
6.1 NEVER point a drawn bow at someone, even in fun. Bows are weapons, not toys, and the slightest slip could kill or seriously injure someone.
6.2 NEVER draw a bow in front of someone even if there is no arrow in the bow. If the bow broke it could cause serious injury to the person facing you.
6.3 NEVER draw and release a bow without an arrow in it, as this can break the bow and injure yourself or someone near you.
6.4 ALWAYS keep behind the person shooting if you are not shooting.
6.5 When moving around the range, bows should be carried upright.
6.6 The consumption of alcohol is forbidden during a shoot.
6.7 The field or range captain have the right to prevent an archer from shooting if they suspect that their ability to shoot safely is impaired in any way.
7.0 Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Shooting
7.1 Scheduled shooting times are decided by the committee.
7.2 Members may shoot outside scheduled shooting times so long as they apply for permission to do so, in writing, to a field captain. Copies to the club secretary and treasurer. A written confirmation will be given.
7.3 In order to obtain permission to run a non-scheduled shoot, the following information must be given to the field captain:
a. Date and time of the shoot.
b. Names of all the archers who will be shooting.
c. Name of the range captain.
7.4 Shooting fees must be paid in advance of a non-scheduled shoot.
7.5 A minimum number of two archers are allowed to attend a non-scheduled shoot, one of which must be a range captain.
7.6 All of the club shooting rules apply during a non-scheduled shoot.
7.7 No guests are allowed to attend a non-scheduled shoot.
Please obey the safety instructions of the captains and shooting party leaders.