Madi Rhinevault – NASP® is fundamental for how it actively introduces kids to a lifelong sport, as well as helps kids develop life skills through tournament exposure. And while the organization may be great, some things archers do are not. Specifically, the lack of etiquette during tournaments.
Etiquette, and what many believe it to be, is not actually mentioned in NASP® guidelines, but is really a set of unspoken rules in archery.
The shooting line is important because that’s where shooting takes place. Unfortunately, a lot more than shooting can happen on the line. A lot of that has to do with Archer’s Etiquette. To uphold good etiquette while on the line, I follow five basic rules including: the lane rule, the talking rule, the respect rule, the composure rule, and the hands-off rule.
- The lane rule. Keep yourself and your equipment within your assigned area. At Worlds 2018, my partner moved their quiver and tipped their bow into my lane, resulting in several bad arrows and letdowns that shouldn’t have happened.
- The talking rule. No talking while others are shooting. In 2019, I attended a qualifier event and got caught between two older girls who expressed their accelerated vocabulary in an unprofessional manner while shooting. I think it’d be difficult for even the best archers to shoot through such creative, loud language. For this reason, it’s most appropriate to practice the talking rule and keep conversations PG, on and off the shooting line.
- The respect rule. If your shooting jeopardizes the success of another archer then you aren’t being respectful. If you wouldn’t like the situation you’re putting your partner in, then don’t do it. Furthermore, it’s always good to shake your partner’s hand and congratulate them after shooting. And if you happen to stand on the podium at the end of a tournament then remember to be humble, especially to those standing beside you. Maintain respect by acknowledging the archers around you.
- The composure rule. Continue without being angry and call for a line judge (we call them Liners). One source of tournament turmoil is scoring. I’m sure we’ve all had partners that wouldn’t exactly qualify for “world’s best scorecard bubbler”. I once had a partner shout at me to put my hand down because “You can see that it’s a nine from one hundred miles away!” The Liner came over and called my arrow a ten. Always fend for your arrow! Additionally, when someone starts shouting on the line it’s best to ignore them, raise your hand, and wait for a line judge. I know it’s essential to act professionally and be a good sportsman, especially in irking situations.
- The hands of rule. Instead of bulldozing other archers, don’t rush to get your bow or touch bows that belong to other people. When the double whistle blows, archers surge around bow racks with kids shoving and trying to move fast enough to win the Daytona 500. My coach found this to be a pet peeve. Then, at nationals 2023, I shot with a very encouraging boy and one of the best partners I’ve had. But he did something different. After the whistle to, “Get Bows”, he’d wait until every girl got their bow off the rack, and only then would he get his. My coach commented on his excellent etiquette and then he implemented the “Girls First Rule” on our team. He explained that nobody should rush for their bow because the officials literally won’t start without us. On the other hand, my teammate had her bow moved two racks over mid-tournament sending her into a tizzy of tears and confusion because another archer wanted her spot. A couple of extra steps to a neighboring rack never hurt anyone, so if the equipment isn’t yours, practice the hands-off rule and leave it be.
Chances are, at this point, you’ve found something in this article to relate to. Whether you’ve had the misfortune offacing a lack of etiquette, or…you were the archer who didn’t know better. Either way, I hope that you remember this article at your next tournament. Acknowledge what causes disruptions and be the archer that’s noticed by coaches and peers for having “excellent etiquette”.
Regardless of rivalries, school pride, and desire to win, the greatest archers have good etiquette. They take time to be good, honest people and help others. Whether you follow my rules or you set your own – etiquette is important for smooth and stress-free tournaments. It also produces a better community through well-mannered people.
Good luck and happy shooting!