Safety

• Very important to follow strict safety guidelines.
• Any horseplay or failure to follow the rules will result in a student sitting out the activity.
• Whistle signals
  • 2 blasts = step up to the line
  • 1 blast = shoot arrows
  • 5 blasts = stop shooting, retrieve arrows
  • 3+ blasts = dangerous situation, stop withdraw arrow and point bows down.
• When finished shooting step back 3 paces and wait.
• Shoot at targets only from shooting lines.
• Never point a drawn bow toward anything but the target.
• Make sure all area behind targets are clear of people.

Drawing the arrow from the target

1. Place one hand on the target with the arrow shaft between the index and middle finger.
2. Grasp the arrow near the target with the other hand and pull the arrow out the opposite direction it entered.
3. Drop the arrow and use both hands to remove other arrows.
4. If the arrow has penetrated to the feathers, pull it out the back side.

Equipment

• Bow: string, recurve, limb, back, face, arrow rest, string notch.
• Arrow: nock, feather (index & hen), shaft, tip.
• Two types of bows: compound and recurve. Compounds are more advanced, more expensive, more powerful, and more accurate.
• Bow weight: Number of pounds required to pull the arrow to its full length. Choose a weight you can draw the arrow back and hold it steady.
• Length: Bow length is the distance required to draw the arrow back. The arrow length should be just enough to accommodate a full draw.
• Finger protection: Use a glove or finger tab (leather that fits the index, middle, and ring fingers).

Eye dominance: If shooting with both eyes open, an eye dominance should be determined to ensure the correct eye is used for aiming.

1. Hold both hands together forming a window between the thumbs and forefingers.
2. Keep the arms straight out and sight a target in the distance.
3. Slowing move the hands toward your face.
4. The eye that the hands end up in front of it the dominant.

The draw technique

1. Body perpendicular to line feet shoulder width apart on opposite sides of the line.
2. Body and head up.
3. Bow hand bent at wrist with pressure just inside the base of the thumb.
4. Hook the first, second, and third fingers around the string with arrow under the index finger.
5. Index feather (odd colored) should point away from string.
6. Arrow nocked below the nock locator.
7. Pull bow and string arms apart with equal pressure.
8. Elbow of string arm should end in line with arrow at shoulder height.
9. String is beside nose with index finger under the cheekbone

Shooting the arrow

1. Choose an auxiliary object as an aiming point in the foreground or background.
2. Sight through the string and tip of the arrow at the auxiliary point.
3. Allow the fingers to relax and release the string.
4. Shoulders and back should keep pulling and bow arm remains steady.
5. Note the result and adjust aiming point if necessary.

Competition

• Center of the target should be 4 feet from ground.
• End: Number of arrows shot before each scoring period. Usually 6 arrows for outdoor and 3 for indoor.
• Indoor: 10 ends at 18 m distance.
• Outdoor: Men shoot ends at 90 m 70 m, 50 m, and 30 m. Women 70 m, 60, m 50 m, 30 m.
• Scoring: Each color has two consecutive rings.
  • 10 = gold
  • 9 = gold
  • 8 = red
  • 7 = red
  • 6 = blue
  • 5 = blue
  • 4 = black
  • 3 = black
  • 2 = white
  • 1 = white
• An arrow that cuts two colors is always given the higher score.

Stringing the bow

1. Place top loop of string over and slide it down until you can fit the bottom in the string notch.
2. Using a bow stringer or bow bracer, place the ends over the tips of the limbs.
3. Step on the cord and pull the bow up until you can slide the string into the top notch.
4. Check the bow to make sure the string are fit properly.
5. The unstring the bow, follow the process in reverse.