Safety is our absolute priority and you are responsible for your and everyone else safety.
Archery can be enjoyed at many levels as a casual social activity or for the competitively minded at club in either state, national and international level.
Archery is a safe sport but has some clear potential of dangers, however the sport is a very safe sport as all archers and visitors are required, as a condition of entry to the grounds or participation in club activities, to follow some basic safety rules. By becoming a member of the club you recognise that there are inherent dangers in the sport and you agree to abide by the rules that keep you and everyone else safe.
If you have any medical, physical or intellectual condition or injury that may be aggravated by the sport or that impair your ability to participate you must seek medical advice and tell an Instructor/Coach or member of the Management Committee.
Always follow the directions of the club officials.
Sign In/Sign Out
Before you participate in any club activity you MUST sign in using the attendance book. Signing the Attendance Book is a Liverpool Council requirement as well as an Archery Australia requirement to ensure compliance with the insurance policy. We ask all visitors to sign in. In the case of a minor, we ask the parents or guardian to sign in as this is part of Child Protection Procedures. The venue is a large area, including a field course, if there is an emergency and a need to evacuate, the sign in and sign out will be used to check who is on the venue at any given time. The Evacuation and assembly point is located near the entry gate. You must not shoot unless you have either temporary or full current membership that includes affiliation with Archery NSW and Archery Australia. If you shoot and you are not a current financial member you do so without the clubs’ permission and will not be covered for public liability insurance, this is a serious breach of club policies and will result in penalties. The use of the Target range and Field course will only be permitted from sunrise to sunset, and the indoor range can be used after sunset, but you must leave the grounds by 9:00pm.
Field Control
During Club events a Director of Shooting will be appointed, this person will have overall authority to control shooting and safety on the entire Field of Play including the Indoor Facility, from the commencement of official shooting.
In the absence of the Director of Shooting the most senior club official or designated senior member will take control. In the absence of one of these officials the most experienced archer.
A Director of Shooting (DOS) shall control a shooting line whenever there is more than one target being used.
Archers shall follow strictly the directions of the DOS. When a DOS is on duty that person has control of the shooting line and all other associated parts of the “Field of Play” and directs shooting.
Shooting Practice
Archers shall shoot together and shall retrieve their arrows together. Unless there are 3 clear targets between archers, for example: target 1 is in use, then target 5 is the closest space archers can shoot and retrieve out of sequence.
No shooting is allowed while archers or anyone else is at or behind the target area or forward of the shooting line.
When archers are shooting together 6 arrows only are to be shot at a time.
An archer may only draw a bow, with or without an arrow, when standing on the shooting line or at the nominated field peg or practice line or if under the direction of a coach.
No ear buds or headphones are to be worn whilst shooting. There is no shooting from under the awing on target range.
Shooting Rules
An archer may only draw a bow, with or without an arrow, when standing on the shooting line or at the nominated field peg or practice line or if under the direction of a coach.
Archers must not under any circumstances use a “High draw” to draw their bow, consult one of the coaches for advice.
Never “dry” fire a bow, this means shooting the bow without an arrow, this can cause damage to the bow.
Only ever aim towards the target, never point the bow at a person even if you don’t plan to shoot or have an arrow on the bow. Before shooting always check that the field is clear both in front and behind the targets, never shoot if there is someone on the shooting field. If there is the slightest chance that an arrow may hit anyone either directly or from a ricochet shooting must not proceed.
Archers shall shoot only at the designated targets. If in any doubt don’t shoot.
Archers shall not disturb or approach other archers during shooting except in an emergency.
When more than one archer is shooting on the Target Range and the targets they are shooting on are less than 20m apart everyone will start shooting when given the “commence shooting” signal and will approach the targets together, they shall not approach the targets independent of each other.
When target are less than 3 lanes apart no person shall approach or go forward of the shooting line while anyone is still shooting. Wait until the “all clear” signal has been given.
If an arrow falls to the ground in front of you or you miss fire, never step over the line or past the peg to retrieve your arrow until the signal is given to move forward to score, check with an official in most cases you will be able to shoot another arrow.
Running on the field is not permitted, with or without arrows in your hand.
Archers must not pull an arrow from the target with someone standing behind the arrow.
A maximum of two archers should draw arrows from a target and they must stand in a position each side of the target. When approaching a target, approach from the side i.e. the space between the targets, never walk straight up to the arrows.
It is the responsibility of the archer to wear appropriate protection equipment such as arm guards, finger tabs and chest protectors, and to use sun protection such as hats and sunscreen. When shooting archers should be wearing enclosed footwear, thongs and sandals should not be worn.
Archers should also avoid baggy shirts and baggy sleeves or chest pockets with buttons and remove pens, pencils, sunglasses etc from shirt pockets, avoid necklaces, dangling earrings, nose rings, face pins and tie long hair back.
While tap water is provided at the club house, it is the responsibility of the archer to supply water to prevent dehydration. Archers should seek out shade in hot weather at every opportunity and should stop shooting if the temperature becomes excessive and retire to the shade.
Outdoor shooting should be halted on the approach of or during thunder storms and you must leave the field for cover when lightening is about, in strong winds or if lightening is present, archers should not to stand under trees.
Archers must step back from the shooting line when they have finished shooting their arrows to enable the DOS to check that all shooting has been completed and it is clear to give the “all clear” signal.
Incident Reports
All injuries and incidents are to be recorded within a reasonable timeframe by means of an incident report register. This can be done in person to a club official, or by emailing info@liverpoolcityarchers.org.au and detailing the issue to be reported with as much detail as possible (including photos). The management committee will then assess the incident and act where appropriate. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit, AED and snake bite kit are located in the Office and Mens bathroom, look for appropriate signs.
Signals
A verbal command shall be used to indicate that archers may move to the Shooting Line or this command may be combined with the “commence shooting” command or blasts of a whistle while competing.
If a sound signal is being used the signals shall be
Two Blasts – Move to the Shooting Line
One Blast – Commence Shooting
Three Blasts – Shooting completed, proceed to the target to score and retrieve arrows.
Multiple blasts – Stop shooting immediately, a dangerous situation.
If a sound signal is not being used the voice commend “commence shooting” will be given.
When shooting has been completed and a sound signal is not being used the voice command “move forward” will be given.
If there is an emergency and no sound signals are being used the voice command “hold fast” is the traditional cry of danger and for shooting to cease immediately.
Listen for verbal commands from the DOS, like “hold the line” which means do not move forward, or “ignore the electronic timing device while it is being reset”.
During private practice please move in unison to collect arrows and keep 3 lanes clear.
Equipment
You are required to maintain your own equipment in safe working order for the safety of yourself and fellow archers. You are required to inspect your equipment before use, to seek advice contact a Coach, Club Official or senior member.
Archers must not attempt to shoot broken or damaged arrows in particular “Carbon Arrows”, these should be disposed of only in the appropriate manner.
Disposing of Carbon Arrows
It is your responsibility to disposed of damaged or broken carbon arrows. Always follow the recommended process by using a “Arrow Saw” or “Hacksaw” cut the arrow into two or three pieces, wrap in newspaper and tape up securely and place into the bin.
Clout
The shooting of clout is only permitted under particular conditions. The Clout range has only one target and shooting positions are all along the same line so care must be not to shoot over the heads of other archers. Archers shooting Clout must work together and archers shooting shorter distance MUST shot first. When completed shooting they MUST either move out of line or move back and stand behind archers shooting longer distances.
As the Clout range is located within the Target Field adjutant to the Field Course, no Clout Shooting can take place if any archers are shooting on the western side of the Target Range or Field course. Ideally Clout Practice should happen early in morning after the entrance has been appropriately sign posted.
It is the responsibility of the archer/s shooting Clout to ensure that their arrows do not go beyond the boundaries of the club, and breaches of this requirement may lead to disciplinary action even expulsion for serious or a repeated breach.