Modern archery is very scientific in its approach, but it still relies on athletes having confidence in their own instincts - it is a tough sport both in terms of technique, discipline and mental resolve. There are two main types of competitive archery - field and target.
Latest Pages
- Basic Rules of Archery [Feb '23]
- Attributes of a great archer [Jan '23]
- Do You Need A Rangefinder [Feb '21]
- What is Archery Called? [Jun '20]
- Fitness Components for Archery [Feb '13]
- Anthropometry and Archery [Nov '12]
- Fitness for Archery [Oct '10]
- Fitness Testing for Archery [Oct '10]
- What does it take to be a successful archer? [Aug '10]
- Fitness components for archery [Apr '10]
Target Archery
Target archery is the most commonly practiced form of archery worldwide. Target tournaments are conducted regularly and held both indoors and outdoors. Shooting distances vary from 18 meters (indoor) to 90 meters (outdoor), with target sizes being 40 or 60 centimeters for indoors and either 80 or 122 centimeters for outdoors.
Targets have five colors with each color being divided into 2 to provide 10 scoring zones. The innermost ring is given a value of 10 points, down to the outermost ring with a value of 1 point. Target rounds involve shooting a set number of arrows over one or several distances. Indoor events involve shooting a total of either 30 or 60 arrows; with outdoor events shooting 72, 90, 120 or 144 arrows are shot.
Field Archery
Field archery is a challenging outdoor discipline in which the archer takes on the terrain as well as the target. Field archery is a combination of archery, golf, and bush walking. A course is set up in a bush land setting taking advantage of hills, slopes, angles and light and shade.
A field course is made up of either 24 or 28 targets depending on the round being shot. The archer is required to shoot either three or four arrows at each target. Distances range from 10 to 60 meters and target face sizes vary from 20 to 80 centimeters.
More Information
- More info on Archery Styles
- Interested? See the basic rules of archery, plus about Getting Started in Archery
- A Brief History of Archery and about archery at the Olympic Games
- What is archery called around the world?
- Fitness and Fitness Testing for Archery.
- Some great information about the equipment used in Archery and books for sale.
Related Pages
- More information about archery at the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games
- Para-Archery at the Paralympics
- Archery Polls