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28 Academy of the Bow ? A.S. XXXVI
Running an Archery Range
Gilbert Ost Westly
Do not assume that these things will just take care of themselves. You have to make them happen, or they wont
BEFORE
1) Find out when is the next time your branch is holding an event.
2) Review the various competition rules. Make notes if you need to.
3) Find out who the autocrat of the event will be.
4) Coordinate with and advise the autocrat on archery activities. With the autocrat, determine
which archery activities, if any (archery is not appropriate at some events), will be held
at the event prior to the writing of the event announcement. With the autocrat, determine the
suitability of the site selected for the event for safely conducting the archery activities
desired. If the site will not support the desired archery activities, either get a site that
will safely support what you want to do, do only those archery activities that the site will
safely support, or don't do archery at that event.
5) Make sure that what is printed in the event announcement is what you are planning on doing.
If it isn't, either a) make a correction in the second announcement, b) change your plan to
fit the announcement if the site will support such a change, or c) send out a correction to
all the branches.
6) Determine if the local branch has enough archery range equipment; boundary ropes and poles,
targets of the appropriate type, pavises, etc., for the size of range required for the amount
of participation anticipated at the event. If the local group has enough equipment, fine.
However, if not, the additional equipment must be either purchased, built, borrowed, or the
plan must be changed (back to the drawing board). If borrowed, make arrangements to return
the equipment in at least as good a condition as it was when you borrowed it.
7) Determine the condition of the branch's equipment prior to the event. Arrange for any needed
repairs prior to the event.
8) Review the various competition rules. Make notes if you need to.
9) Determine the amount of help you will need to set up, run and disassemble the range. If
circumstances prevent you from running the range, make appropriate arrangements for running
the range.
10) Determine the time the archery range is to be active. Arrange for transportation for the equipment and setup of the range
before that time. Also arrange for transporting the range
equipment back to its storage area.
11) Arrange for a time to practice setting up the range. It is best to find out that you need
something before the event than when people are standing around waiting to shoot.
12) If the range is not to be open all day, determine when it will be open.
13) At the control point for each range being run, make sure you have the following. These
are the minimums.
a) A copy of the rules for the competitions to be run.
b) Stop watch in working order (two would be preferable).
c) Have a sufficient
number of clipboards for score keeping, plus a few extras.
d) Score sheets for the type of competition being run. Make plenty. It is better to
have too many and save them for the next event, than it is to run out.
e) One ink pen per clipboard plus extras. Paper, stapler, paper clips, etc. should
also be there.
f) Tools such as a wrench, staple gun with staples of the proper size for the gun, or
whatever your targets may require to repair any damage incurred during the shoot.
g) If it's a IKAC range, be sure to have plenty of new target faces.
h) Creature comforts such as; shade, water, chairs, table, bug spray, etc. should be
considered and provided if possible.
i) If possible, have some loaner gear available.
14) After the range is setup, but before it opens, review the various competition rules. Make
notes if you need to as it is difficult to run a range for a competition if you don't know
the rules.
15) Will there be an Archer's Flight. If so, as hosting group, you should provide a table,
trash bags and disposables for the pot luck lunch.
16) Have the range rules printed on a sign to be placed at the entrance of the range, or be
prepared to give a safety briefing to the archers prior to shooting.
DURING
1) Insure that the range is set up and ready to run prior to its scheduled time.
2) Have the range rules printed on a sign to be placed at the entrance of the range or be
prepared to give a safety briefing to the archers prior to shooting.
3) Check each archer?s equipment prior to entering the range. Do not allow unserviceable
equipment to be used on the range.
4) Conduct the competition according to the rules of that competition. If necessary, refer
to a copy of the rules to answer questions or for clarification. Should a question arise
not covered by the rules, use your best judgment with safety being the overriding
consideration.
5) Monitor the safety of the competition. Pay particular attention to actions of non-archers.
Keep the spectators where they are supposed to be.
6) Take such disciplinary actions as are necessary (i.e. verbal warnings, removal from the
range, etc.) to maintain the safe operation of the range. Range etiquette requires the
spectators and other archers to not disturb the archers on the line.
7) The number of participants will, to a large degree, determine the number of firing orders,
and the time for each firing order to shoot. At the smaller events, if the range is to be
open all day, firing orders will probably not be necessary.
8) Once an archer has finished shooting for score, make sure that their score sheet is properly
filled out. Store the completed score sheet
in a safe place till the end of the event.
9) Observe the condition of the archers. Require them to drink water and take breaks if needed.
There is no reason for a heat injury to occur on any archery range.
AFTER
1) Identify the range equipment that requires repair and make arrangements for that repair.
2) Disassemble the range and clean up the range area.
3) Transport the range equipment back to its storage area.
4) Make any required repairs.
5) Return any borrowed equipment.
6) Notify your Regional Archery Marshal immediately after the event if any disciplinary actions
were necessary or if any accidents occurred.
7) If scores were shot, send them to the appropriate person. If you don't know who these are,
check with the Regional or Kingdom Archery Marshal.
LESSONS LEARNED
These are a few of the
things I've learned doing IKAC and IKCAC tournaments over the years.
You can make the same mistakes if you must, but the stove is actually hot and the paint is wet.
1) Practice improves your scores.
2) Using your own equipment improves your score.
3) Do not shoot when you are tired.
4) Don't wear flowing sleeves when shooting. They get caught in the bow string and adversely
affect your score.
5) Try to be able to shoot all three days of a three day event.
6) Have someone help with setting up and tearing down the range.
7) Set times that the range will be opened and closed. This will allow you to see something
of the event and not be stuck on the range all day.
8) One target is enough to do the competition, but more targets will allow more to shoot in
less time, as will each archer having 24 arrows to shoot in the IKCAC.
9) If you can provide loaner gear, do so. The guy who borrows at
one event may turn out to
be the third place archer in the Kingdom. This actually happened one year.
10) If in doubt, keep safety foremost in your mind, and use your common sense.
11) Make sure all your distances are correct. If they are not, you're either cheating us,
or you are cheating the rest of the Known World. So use things that don't stretch like
a tape measure or a chain.
12) For the IKCAC, prior to shooting for score, have your scorer or someone down at the
Scorer's Pavise let you know how your shots are falling.
13) While practicing for the IKCAC without a helmet or face mask is acceptable, it is highly
advisable that, before going for score, you practice with a helmet or face mask on. It is
a whole different world in there.
Running an Archery Range
Gilbert Ost Westly
Do not assume that these things will just take care of themselves. You have to make them happen, or they wont
BEFORE
1) Find out when is the next time your branch is holding an event.
2) Review the various competition rules. Make notes if you need to.
3) Find out who the autocrat of the event will be.
4) Coordinate with and advise the autocrat on archery activities. With the autocrat, determine
which archery activities, if any (archery is not appropriate at some events), will be held
at the event prior to the writing of the event announcement. With the autocrat, determine the
suitability of the site selected for the event for safely conducting the archery activities
desired. If the site will not support the desired archery activities, either get a site that
will safely support what you want to do, do only those archery activities that the site will
safely support, or don't do archery at that event.
5) Make sure that what is printed in the event announcement is what you are planning on doing.
If it isn't, either a) make a correction in the second announcement, b) change your plan to
fit the announcement if the site will support such a change, or c) send out a correction to
all the branches.
6) Determine if the local branch has enough archery range equipment; boundary ropes and poles,
targets of the appropriate type, pavises, etc., for the size of range required for the amount
of participation anticipated at the event. If the local group has enough equipment, fine.
However, if not, the additional equipment must be either purchased, built, borrowed, or the
plan must be changed (back to the drawing board). If borrowed, make arrangements to return
the equipment in at least as good a condition as it was when you borrowed it.
7) Determine the condition of the branch's equipment prior to the event. Arrange for any needed
repairs prior to the event.
8) Review the various competition rules. Make notes if you need to.
9) Determine the amount of help you will need to set up, run and disassemble the range. If
circumstances prevent you from running the range, make appropriate arrangements for running
the range.
10) Determine the time the archery range is to be active. Arrange for transportation for the equipment and setup of the range
before that time. Also arrange for transporting the range
equipment back to its storage area.
11) Arrange for a time to practice setting up the range. It is best to find out that you need
something before the event than when people are standing around waiting to shoot.
12) If the range is not to be open all day, determine when it will be open.
13) At the control point for each range being run, make sure you have the following. These
are the minimums.
a) A copy of the rules for the competitions to be run.
b) Stop watch in working order (two would be preferable).
c) Have a sufficient
number of clipboards for score keeping, plus a few extras.
d) Score sheets for the type of competition being run. Make plenty. It is better to
have too many and save them for the next event, than it is to run out.
e) One ink pen per clipboard plus extras. Paper, stapler, paper clips, etc. should
also be there.
f) Tools such as a wrench, staple gun with staples of the proper size for the gun, or
whatever your targets may require to repair any damage incurred during the shoot.
g) If it's a IKAC range, be sure to have plenty of new target faces.
h) Creature comforts such as; shade, water, chairs, table, bug spray, etc. should be
considered and provided if possible.
i) If possible, have some loaner gear available.
14) After the range is setup, but before it opens, review the various competition rules. Make
notes if you need to as it is difficult to run a range for a competition if you don't know
the rules.
15) Will there be an Archer's Flight. If so, as hosting group, you should provide a table,
trash bags and disposables for the pot luck lunch.
16) Have the range rules printed on a sign to be placed at the entrance of the range, or be
prepared to give a safety briefing to the archers prior to shooting.
DURING
1) Insure that the range is set up and ready to run prior to its scheduled time.
2) Have the range rules printed on a sign to be placed at the entrance of the range or be
prepared to give a safety briefing to the archers prior to shooting.
3) Check each archer?s equipment prior to entering the range. Do not allow unserviceable
equipment to be used on the range.
4) Conduct the competition according to the rules of that competition. If necessary, refer
to a copy of the rules to answer questions or for clarification. Should a question arise
not covered by the rules, use your best judgment with safety being the overriding
consideration.
5) Monitor the safety of the competition. Pay particular attention to actions of non-archers.
Keep the spectators where they are supposed to be.
6) Take such disciplinary actions as are necessary (i.e. verbal warnings, removal from the
range, etc.) to maintain the safe operation of the range. Range etiquette requires the
spectators and other archers to not disturb the archers on the line.
7) The number of participants will, to a large degree, determine the number of firing orders,
and the time for each firing order to shoot. At the smaller events, if the range is to be
open all day, firing orders will probably not be necessary.
8) Once an archer has finished shooting for score, make sure that their score sheet is properly
filled out. Store the completed score sheet
in a safe place till the end of the event.
9) Observe the condition of the archers. Require them to drink water and take breaks if needed.
There is no reason for a heat injury to occur on any archery range.
AFTER
1) Identify the range equipment that requires repair and make arrangements for that repair.
2) Disassemble the range and clean up the range area.
3) Transport the range equipment back to its storage area.
4) Make any required repairs.
5) Return any borrowed equipment.
6) Notify your Regional Archery Marshal immediately after the event if any disciplinary actions
were necessary or if any accidents occurred.
7) If scores were shot, send them to the appropriate person. If you don't know who these are,
check with the Regional or Kingdom Archery Marshal.
LESSONS LEARNED
These are a few of the
things I've learned doing IKAC and IKCAC tournaments over the years.
You can make the same mistakes if you must, but the stove is actually hot and the paint is wet.
1) Practice improves your scores.
2) Using your own equipment improves your score.
3) Do not shoot when you are tired.
4) Don't wear flowing sleeves when shooting. They get caught in the bow string and adversely
affect your score.
5) Try to be able to shoot all three days of a three day event.
6) Have someone help with setting up and tearing down the range.
7) Set times that the range will be opened and closed. This will allow you to see something
of the event and not be stuck on the range all day.
8) One target is enough to do the competition, but more targets will allow more to shoot in
less time, as will each archer having 24 arrows to shoot in the IKCAC.
9) If you can provide loaner gear, do so. The guy who borrows at
one event may turn out to
be the third place archer in the Kingdom. This actually happened one year.
10) If in doubt, keep safety foremost in your mind, and use your common sense.
11) Make sure all your distances are correct. If they are not, you're either cheating us,
or you are cheating the rest of the Known World. So use things that don't stretch like
a tape measure or a chain.
12) For the IKCAC, prior to shooting for score, have your scorer or someone down at the
Scorer's Pavise let you know how your shots are falling.
13) While practicing for the IKCAC without a helmet or face mask is acceptable, it is highly
advisable that, before going for score, you practice with a helmet or face mask on. It is
a whole different world in there.
