Introduction

Parents must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking written permission. In outdoor ranges, students are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, eg. an SPF15+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly and a hat where appropriate.

Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience

The teacher/instructor must have appropriate expertise and or training in the teaching/instruction of Archery. A teacher must be present who has current training in emergency care.

Supervision

1:20 with no more than ten (10) students shooting at any one time.

If an adult other than a teacher is engaged for instruction, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility.

Equipment

Equipment is to be used strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and guidelines pertaining to use, storage, maintenance, strength and working life.

Each student should shoot with a shooting tab or glove and wear an arm guard.

Students should wear close fitting tops to avoid clothing catching in the string.

Bows suitably strung, and arrows of various lengths must be provided.

The target to be used must be constructed of STRAMIT (heat compressed straw) or other appropriate material and be approximately 1.3m square. The internationally recognised FITA target face should be used.

Equipment requirements:

• Bows must be checked periodically for cracks and stress marks. Cracks are usually easily identified. Stress marks appear as frosted areas in fibreglass and laminated bows. Bows must be withdrawn from use if cracks and stress marks appear.
• Strings must be checked regularly for signs of abrasion and wear. Worn strings must be discarded.
• All bows should be strung to their recommended brace height according to manufacturer's specifications. An understrung bow can cause a severe wrist slap.
• Arrow length must be matched to the shooter's draw length so that the arrow cannot be overdrawn when the shooter completes a full draw (anchor position).
• Arrows must be regularly checked for damage and repaired or destroyed immediately.
• Students must not draw the bowstring back to any degree and then release the string without an arrow on the string.
• Students must be taught the proper technique for withdrawing arrows from the target bales. Students should be cautioned to watch for others behind them when they withdraw arrows.
• A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available.

Venues

Only outdoor ranges are to be used. The area should be selected to take advantage of the natural terrain and ensure that any person is not endangered. Arrows should be released towards a hill or an embankment. Outdoor ranges must:

• be free from obstructions such as trees, wires or shrubs
• have a “clear” area established behind the target bales (mats). An area twice the distance of the longest shooting distance is necessary. This would be a minimum of 50m
• have barriers and appropriate signage placed in prominent positions around the outdoor range to restrict access by non-participants
• have definite shooting lines established for each shooting distance
• be isolated from normal pedestrian and motor traffic
• have sturdily supported target bales

Safety

The following safety strategies must be employed by the teacher/instructor:

• students must remove jewellery and other ornaments likely to cause injury
• equipment must be made inaccessible when not under the direct supervision of the teacher
• set up a clearly marked single shooting line long enough to accommodate participants comfortably, spaced so as not to interfere with each other during shooting. All archers must shoot from this line, not in front of it nor behind it
• supply students with individual quivers where possible
• establish a set of communication signals that give all participants clear indications when they can commence shooting, cease shooting and retrieve arrows
• instruct students to point knocked arrows in the direction of the target
• instruct students not to draw a bow, with or without an arrow in it, unless they are standing facing the target and intending to shoot
• instruct students not to retrieve arrows which fall from the shooter's bow in front of the shooting line, until a 'cease shooting' signal is given
• instruct students to place bows on racks or on the ground next to the shooting line when they have finished shooting, and then step back. When the shooting line is clear, the signal can be given to retrieve arrows
• ensure all arrows are retrieved at the same time
• if more than two archers are shooting at the same target, nominate a person from each group (eg. target captain) to withdraw arrows from their target, while other archers stand back at a safe distance and to one side of the target to prevent eye injury on withdrawal of the arrows.

Infectious Diseases (Blood Procedure)