Asher S. June – There are times when an archer is trying to aim and hit the target, but their lane mate is doing something distracting. Some examples are shooting at the same time as their neighbor archers, talking, or not waiting for whistle commands. By teaching archers appropriate behaviors at tournaments, it allows all archers a chance to shoot better because lane mates will learn to shoot in ways that won’t disturb their neighbors. Here are some of my rules for lane etiquette that I think all archers should know and follow.
When shooting in a tournament, it is very important for archers to make sure not to bump into their lane mate. Staying evenly spaced apart and make sure not to be too close to each other is very important for both shooting focus and safety. Every archer should be careful to control their movements and stay in their own lane. This will allow archers to focus on their form and also avoid any safety issues that might happen if archers accidentally bump into each other.
Another thing that is an important is to avoid shooting at the same time as the archer next to you. Arrows shot at the same time risk bumping into one another and sending them off target. This is not only frustrating for an archer’s score, but can be dangerous. I suggest archers follow a pattern of taking turns to allow each archer to shoot effectively.
Another habit that can disturb an archers shooting is to talk on the range after the command whistle has been blown. This is a terrible distraction for archers as they are trying to aim and focus. If an archer’s lane partner is talking, it is reasonable to ask them to stop and then to ask the lane official to take care of it. Talking on the range can distract other archers from aiming and shooting but it also keeps the archer that is talking from being as focused on their round as they should be. It is important for archers to resist having conversation on the active range. This helps everyone be considerate to others, to stay focused on their own round and of course, to ensure safety.
These are a few of the archery lane etiquette guidelines that all archers should understand and know. Lane etiquette is extremely important in archery. If lane etiquette is not followed, many archers might feel frustrated and distracted throughout tournaments and may feel discouraged from continuing to participate in archery. These suggestions have been very helpful to me in my archery career and I hope they are helpful for you.
Asher S. is a 2023 Student Contributor
