** NB THIS PAGE IS A LITTLE OUT OF DATE IN DETAILS
(like we don’t wear hi-vis jackets)
BUT OVERALL STILL CORRECT**
As you know, we have to pay full attention to the safety requirements of the sport and one way of doing this is by having a clearly nominated Field Captain for every club meeting.
Field Captains take overall responsibility for the safe conduct of archery whether at a Club Night (ie relaxed practice) or at a Club Target Day (scoring rounds). They have a knowledge of the Rules of Shooting, the Club Handbook & Constitution and Safeguarding for Field Captains (see Members Info page and the Shooting Resources page for links). They are appointed by the committee following a training session.
A list of designated Field Captains and their contact details, is available to club members and is maintained on the Members Info page, with a copy in the pavilion. If you are interested in being a field captain, please get in touch with one of the committee.
The degree to which some of these requirements will be implemented will relate to the nature of the shoot. The ARCHERY GB Rules of Shooting (section 305) state that ‘at all times, whenever shooting takes place, it must be under the control of a Field Captain. At larger meetings (competitions), the Field Captain shall be a Judge recognised by the ARCHERY GB judging organisation.’
Responsibility
Field Captains are responsible for:
1. ensuring the ARCHERY GB Rules of Shooting and club guidelines are followed
2. the overall safety of the shoot
3. the security of the club equipment and pavilion
4. collecting any target fees from visiting archers and checking their Archery GB membership cards
5. ensuring any non-archers present also abide by any relevant rules of shooting. If they wish to walk to the targets (i.e. cross the shooting line when shooting has finished) they shall in particular pay attention to rule 307(b)
6. COVID-19. In addition, during the coronavirus pandemic, responsible for ensuring archers adhere to the club COVID-19 Shooting Procedures, which include maintaining social distancing of at least 2 metres, and hand sanitising and disinfecting equipment as specified.
Control of Shooting
When there is a field of twenty or thirty archers it becomes even more important to ensure that shooting is controlled. However we adhere to good practice at all times.
This ensures that all archers are used to shooting discipline – essential when you may be shooting at tournaments,
The amount of time spent waiting for everyone to shoot is minimised
The right number of targets are used
To achieve this Field Captains will:
1. wear the hi-vis jacket to make it clear who is in charge as appropriate
2. assign archers to targets and ensuring shooting takes place in two details (‘A Team’ and ‘B Team’)
3. determine of rounds / distances to be shot and that these are appropriate with ability (the ‘STAR’ rule of shooting a distance only when an archer has claimed the star at the previous distance).
4. ensure archers happy with shooting three arrows then rotate (ARCHERY GB Rounds) or shooting all 6 (FITA Rounds)
5. blow the whistle in accordance with the ARCHERY GB Rules of Shooting to signify start of shooting (one blast) and collection of arrows (three blasts)
Ensuring a Smooth and Relaxed Shoot
1. Agreeing comfort breaks before sighters / at distance changes and enforcing restart times
2. allowing sufficient time to search for lost arrows including searching between subsequent ends as appropriate in order to keep the shoot moving
3. All archers are responsible for observing the shooting field and noting any potential hazards or dangers, particularly golfers, dogs, campers etc. Ultimate responsibility lies with the Field Captain.
4. A call of ‘FAST’ is used to stop shooting in an emergency, and archers can be asked to pause whilst a hazard is removed from the field (this includes Golfers, Dogs, Campers etc!!)
5. Shooting Etiquette shall be enforced as appropriate to the shoot.
6. The club hold an Accident Book at the venues we use and the Field Captain is responsible for recording any accidents as appropriate.
After Shooting
1. Ensuring any lost arrows are searched for and, if still lost, are marked on the field and noted in the Lost Arrows Book in the Pavilion. It remains the responsibility of the archer in question to arrange to come down and continue to search the field for the arrow (the club owns a Metal Detector located in the Pavilion).
2. Ensure the tidying away of Equipment ensuring that nothing is left on the field (stakes etc). All archers should volunteer to take down the target they have been shooting at.
3. Ensure the Pavilion is tidy, the urn, heater and lights are turned off and locked.
