Everything About Indoor Archery
Due to the shortened range and more controlled conditions, target archers often choose gear that’s specifically designed for indoor competition. They tend to use heavier points and long vanes or feathers to promote consistent, accurate arrow flight.
During an indoor tournament archers will hear 2 blasts to let them know that they are ‘To the line’, then 1 blast to signal that they can knock and shoot their arrows.
Equipment
In indoor target archery, the goal is consistent precision shooting. That’s why most shoot large diameter arrows that are often double the size of hunting arrows. These arrows help to ensure that the arrows will fit in the scoring rings of the target.
Because of this, arrow speed isn’t as important as it is for outdoor target shooting. Also, indoor archers typically use hinge-style releases that rely on the rotation of the handle to release the string hook and fletching.
When competing at an indoor tournament, it is important to make sure all equipment is in good working order. This includes inspecting the bow and arrow for damage or wear. It is also important to pay attention to the rules and etiquette of the tournament. For example, it is important to stand in a designated waiting line and not cross over the shooting line until it is your turn to shoot. This helps to keep all participants and spectators safe. Also, it is recommended to sanitize any high-touch equipment with germicidal cleaner to prevent the spread of illness and disease.
Locations
Archery can be a fun family activity or a competitive sport for those looking to improve their skills. Indoor archery facilities are a great way to have a safe and convenient place to practice on a year-round basis. These facilities are family and friend friendly with flexible hours that cater to the needs of busy schedules.
A typical range includes an 18 meter or 25 meter distance shooting lane, as well as a space behind the targets for a back wall lined with plywood or Osb to stop arrows that miss the target. The building can be designed with additional shooting spaces for a more customized experience.
Many archers enjoy participating in local indoor archery leagues. The leagues offer weekly tournaments and handicapped scoring to help beginner archers compete with experienced shooters. This can be a great opportunity for beginners to learn and grow in the jigsaw puzzle while having fun and meeting friends at the same time. Archers can participate in these leagues alone or as a team. The team that has the highest cumulative score wins the championship.
Targets
If you’re interested in getting into indoor archery, you will want to start with a good target. There are a wide variety of targets available. You can find FITA faces, NFAA three spot faces and even 3D animals like mosquitos or giraffes. Some of these are modular, with layers that rotate out as the center gets worn down, which gives them a longer life.
The most common way to shoot an arrow in indoor target archery is at a standard 18 meter distance. This is used in the recurve and compound divisions during international competition. The targets are red, blue, black and white, with the inner ring scoring 10 and the outer ring scoring 1.
Due to the high level of precision demanded by indoor target archery, you will also need a bow that is well suited for it. This includes long front stabilizers up to 36 inches, and long side rods that carry significant weights designed to make the bow rock steady as you aim. Aluminum shafts from Easton are the choice of indoor archers, due to their relatively low cost and extreme precision.
Rules
Many new archers are surprised to learn that there are a variety of rules that must be followed at tournaments. These range from dress code to the color of equipment that can be used. The rules can also change from event to event.
A number of rules are consistent across indoor events. For example, all indoor competitions have a maximum of 45 minutes practice. During this time, competitors can use their bows to shoot target arrows, and they can try different sights to see which ones work best.
Competitors must be aware of their score during scoring and must follow the official scoring tablet or paper scorecard to record a valid score. In addition, if a competitor is caught tampering with or altering the official scoring tablet or paper scorecard they will be subject to disqualification.
In non-championship junior recurve and youth divisions, the 40 cm indoor Vegas face can be shot with either the single- or three-spot face. In championship divisions the archer may switch faces between rounds, but they must be shot in order.
Competitions
NFAA competitions occur within a variety of categories, including individual and team matches. In individual matches, archers compete head-to-head in a bracket system. The winner of each match advances until a champion is crowned. Recurve matches are decided by set points, and compound matches are determined by cumulative score.
Competitors shoot 60 arrows in a round of four ends. An end is complete when all of an archer’s arrows hit the center of the target. A perfect NFAA round earns 300 points.
Most indoor tournaments offer bowhunter classes. These are competitions designed to be more like the conditions archers will encounter in the field. To participate in these classes, archers must use equipment that is similar to what they would use while hunting. This includes limiting the length of front stabilizers, allowing no attachments other than fixed pins and requiring no magnification on sights.
Qualification rounds are shot during the first day of competition to determine who will advance into the elimination rounds. The top 32 men and women will then shoot four more ends of 3 arrows in two minutes per end on a Morrell 3-spot target. Ties are broken by a 1 arrow shoot-off closest to the center wins.