Before I was able to participate in archery, I was part of a dance team. I vividly remember disliking the itchy costumes, hours long hair and makeup routine, and painful shoes. Thankfully, last time I got ready for an archery tournament, it took mere minutes to prep. But there are a few dress code rules to keep in mind.
Rule 7 in the 2024 NASP National & Championship Tournament Rules books outlines 4 dress code requirements to follow.
- Wear closed-toed shows.
- Follow your school’s dress code and keep everything out of the path of the bow string including sweatshirts, hair, and jewelry.
- No personal music. Ear plugs are permitted as long as the archer can hear the whistle commands.
- If the archer has a cell phone, it must be silenced.
What I love about the NASP® dress code rules is that they still allow you to showcase your personality.
For me, hair coming in contact with a bow string is a real fear. My curls sometimes have a mind of their own. For this reason, I tend to go with a ponytail and headband. Other archers opt for amazingly cool and creative styles that showcase their team spirit and personality. Some of my favorite styles for girls are bubble braids with color streaks, dyed hair to match their team colors, and ribbons/bows. Yes, a lot of us shoot bows and also wear them. For guys, they frequently keep their hair in check with a hat or beanie that often has their school logo or favorite brand.
Other ways to adhere to the rules and still showcase your style are with unique pants, shoes, stud earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. I saw one girl whose fit was head-to-toe archery. Her shoes had targets, her pants boasted an arrow print, and her earrings were these cute little targets. It was fabulous! I am a Taylor Swift fan and I found a friendship bracelet with the words “The Archer” on it. Not only is it made for the Swifties but you can also rock it at tournaments. Clog style Crocs are allowed and I have seen kids deck them out with archery pins.
So, if you are the type of person who likes to get on board with TikTok trends, maybe we should start an Archery Fit Check trend.
