National Archery in the Schools Program Shooting Tips

Safety Tips Always listen to the archery range instructor. Always inspect equipment for cracks or damage. Observe courtesy and sportsmanship ideals. Only approach the shooting line after hearing 2 whistle blasts. Keep your arrows in your quiver until a whistle is blown one time to load your bows and begin shooting. Your arrows should always be pointed downrange while loading the bow. Shoot only at the target directly in front of you. Always look downrange and beyond the target to be sure that there are no obstructions and the range is clear beyond the targets. Shoot with one foot on each side of the shooting line. Stop shooting immediately and set your bow down if there are five or more whistle blasts. Only approach the target after hearing 3 whistle and hearing the command to walk to the targets. Always carry arrows with one hand on the points and the other hand placed around the shafts just below the fletching.

RANGE SET UP SHOOTING LINE TARGETS WAITING LINE TARGET LINE

NASP Range Rules: Know and obey all range commands and instructors. Always keep your arrows in your quivers until told to shoot with the “one whistle” command. Only use the arrows your instructor gave you. Remember what they look like. Always keep your arrows pointed down to the floor or at the target. Only aim and shoot at your target downrange. If you drop an arrow, leave it on the ground until you are told to retrieve all your arrows. Always walk on the archery range. Always be courteous to the shooter next to you. Stand behind the waiting line when you are finished or not shooting. Only one archer may retrieve their arrows from the target at a time. Be sure no one is behind you when re moving your arrows. Walk back to the waiting line and return your arrows to your quivers after retrieving them. SAFETY IS ALWAYS FIRST PRIORITY!

Whistle Signals for Archery Safety 2 whistle blasts: Walk from the waiting line and get a bow. Walk to the shooting line.   1 whistle blast: Remove an arrow from the quiver/stand and shoot. 3 whistle blasts: Go get arrows 5 or more whistle blasts: An emergency has occurred on the range. Stop what you are doing, put arrows in quiver/stand and return bow to rack. Stand behind the waiting line.

11 Steps to Archery Success Stance Nock Arrow Drawing Hand Set Bow Hand Set Pre-Draw Draw Anchor Aiming Shot Set-up Release Follow-through

Step 1: Stance Straddle the shooting line with one foot on either side. Right-handed shooters with left foot over the shooting line, left-handed shooters with right foot over the shooting line. Move the front foot (one closest to the target) back till toes are even with the mid-point of the back foot. Move front foot toward the target until feet are shoulder width apart. Turn front foot toward the target. Rest the bow on your front foot/toe until the shooting whistle command. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 2: Nock Arrow With the bow in your bow hand, grasp the arrow at the nock with three fingers of your drawing hand. Keep bow parallel to your body (brace it on your leg if you want), Carry the arrow over the bow keeping the arrow point down and away from all archers. Snap the nock under the nock locator with the different colored fletching pointing away from the string. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 3: Drawing Hand Set With the bow at arm’s length and pointed down, place the first three fingers of the drawing hand on the string under the arrow nock. String should be at the joint of the 1st and 3rd finger and inside the joint of the middle finger. Keep thumb pointing down, back of the hand flat. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 4: Bow Hand Set Place hand in the bow grip with meaty part of the thumb inside the grip to the lifeline of your palm. The knuckles of the bow hand should form a 30- to 45-degree angle. Rotate your elbow down to the left (right handed-opposite for left handed). Bow hand should be relaxed –do not hold tightly-bow will not fall out of your hand Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 5: Pre-Draw Start with bow arm hanging relaxed at your side. Lift your arm allowing it to hinge at the shoulder with drawing hand on un-drawn bow. Drawing hand, arm and elbow should be parallel to floor and slightly higher than bow arm. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 6: Draw Pull or draw the string toward the right side of your face (opposite for left handed shooters). Rotate your hips and shoulder until your elbow is slightly in front of the arrow line. You should feel the upper back muscles being activated. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 7: Anchor Touch your index finger to the corner of your mouth. Keep muscles active while maintaining full draw. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Align the arrow with the target while keeping the muscles active. Step 8: Aiming Align the arrow with the target while keeping the muscles active. Your master eye is your rear sight and needs to be consistent in location as it relates to the anchor. Sighting is an alignment between your eye, the string and your front site (the arrow or some part of the bow riser). Allow the bow to move naturally. Be aware of the target and the sight. Keep your muscles active during the sighting process. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 9: Shot Set-Up Reach your anchor and sight alignment. Create a slight movement from your drawing shoulder and/or arm to the rear. Almost like a “shoulder shrug”. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 10: Release Relax your fingers and the back of your hand in a single instant. Arm and back muscles remain active. Hint- the string may feel like it “falls off the fingers” Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Step 11: Follow-through At release, your drawing hand will move rearward with your fingers relaxed. The thumb will end up touching or near your drawing shoulder. The bow hand moves slightly forward, down and left (right for left-handed shooters). Bow should rock in your shooting hand. Reflect upon your shot and adjustments needed for the next shot. Click target to return to 11 steps for Archery success

Scoring an End (5 arrows shot in competition) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Long bow

Recurve bow

Recurve bow

Archery accessories

Parts of an arrow Shaft: The long spine of the arrow. Modern arrow shafts are made of wood, fiberglass, aluminum, or carbon. The arrow, regardless of shaft material, must have the correct stiffness to match the bow. As an arrow is released, the shaft bends before straightening in flight. Incorrect stiffness will cause the arrow to fly erratically and inaccurately. Fletching: The plastic vanes or feathers on an arrow. Fletching creates wind drag and also can cause the arrow to spin similar to a rifle bullet, providing stability and accuracy in flight. Fletching is made up of three or more vanes or feathers. One of the feathers will be a different color and is called the “cock” feather. The remaining feathers are referred to as the “hen” feathers. Arrowhead: The point of the arrow. Many different kinds of arrow points are available, each with a different purpose and advantage. Nock: A slotted plastic tip located on the rear end of the arrow that snaps onto the string and holds the arrow in position. There is a certain point on the bowstring, called the “nocking point,” where arrows are nocked. Fine tuning of this location, by moving it up or down the bowstring, is usually required.

Common types of arrowheads Bullet Point: Steel point used for target shooting and small game hunting. Blunt Point: Used for small game hunting and some types of target shooting; made of steel, hard rubber, or plastic. Field Point: Steel point used for target shooting and small game hunting. JUDO Point: Designed with spring arms attached to catch in grass and leaves, preventing arrow loss; used for "stump" shooting and small game hunting. Fish Point: Long, barbed or spring-loaded arrowhead that spears fish and secures them until landed with an attached line. Broadhead: Used primarily for big game hunting. The number of steel blades it contains may vary. The only arrowhead that may be used for big game hunting is the broadhead. It must be solidly built and always razor-sharp. Many states have laws governing the minimum diameter and number of cutting edges of the broadhead used to hunt big game.

Mechanical (Expandable) Blade Broadhead: Blades are retracted close to the ferrule before the shot. Upon impact, the blades expand to expose the cutting edges. These are recommended for use only with bows rated 50 pounds or more because most require additional energy to open upon penetration.

Broadhead safety and skills Many archers’ injuries come from broadheads. Broadheads must be kept razor-sharp for hunting, which creates a safety problem if they are handled carelessly. To prevent injury: Use a special wrench to screw on broadheads. This device covers the blades while a broadhead is being tightened on an arrow. If a wrench isn’t used, the slightest slip can cause a serious cut. When sharpening broadheads, always stroke the blade away from your hands and body. Keep broadheads covered with a quiver while traveling to and from the field. Many arrow injuries occur while loading or unloading equipment in vehicles. While dressing bow-killed game, remember that the broadhead may remain in the animal. Use great caution until all parts of the broadhead have been found.