Archery tournament rules

REGISTRATION FORM BELOW

ARCHERY TOURNAMENT DETAILS

Our tournaments are conducted and held under the supervision of Sword Circle, and does not honor nor hold any prizes, cash or otherwise, as a reward for its competition- unless otherwise noted by Sword Circle. 

*Rules for range use

*General Archery Tournament

*Tic-tac-Toe Tournament 

**RULES FOR THE RANGE**

No matter the tournament, all range rules WILL BE APPLIED AND UPHELD.

ARCHERY EQUIPMENT

• PATRONS ARE RESPONSIBLE AND MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT- THERE WILL NOT BE ANY EQUIPMENT TO BE LOANED OR GIFTED BY SWORD CIRCLE NOR THE EVENT.

• The archery equipment to be used is restricted to legitimate and accurate representations of period bows only (i.e. Recurve or Longbow). Compounds will not be used. 

• Bows must be within +/-2# of required draw weight; improper weighted bows can/ may be not allowed

• Arrows must be carbon fiber, aluminum, wooden (no fiberglass) with field points (no broadheads or barbedheads).

• Arrows should be the same pattern or color. If multiple people bring the same style or color, Sword Circle will use a mark (i.e. blue painters tape) to distinguish the arrows from the others. Or archers may not shoot at the target simultaneously. 

• The use of weights, sites, etc. is strictly prohibited; arrow guides/ rest are permitted

All equipment will be inspected by Sword Circle members for approval prior to participation as noted in the tournament details. Equipment not accepted is at the discretion of Sword Circle and cannot risk any ‘exceptions’ due to the safety of the public, or fairness of the rules as stated above. 

RULES OF CONDUCT

Archers and spectators are to be respectful and mindful when other archers begin to shoot or when a Sword Circle member is speaking. No un-sportsman-like conduct, vulgar language, rude attitudes or racist/sexist/discriminating remarks of any kind will be tolerated from the participants or spectators of the competition. Sword Circle  has the right to dismiss or withdraw anyone from participating in the competition. Failure to comply with any of the rules, regulations above, as well as Event/ Venue rules and conduct or the instructions given by a Sword Circle member will lead to dismissal from the competition. Remember at all times that the bow is a deadly weapon.

• No physical contact with another archer while they are shooting; this will not be tolerated.

• Never load a nor draw a bow unless it is pointing down range.

• Never loose an arrow if you cannot see where it will land.

• Never loose an arrow straight up into the air.

• Respect other archers; keep voices down and other conversations way or mute while other archers are shooting.

• Showcase proper sportsmanship

• No banterring; no matter the relationship, keep all comments towards others as civil and respectful 

• Never point an arrow at a person or shoot to the side of a person.

• Never pretend to shoot towards a person.

• Never shoot an arrow if any person is forward of your position.

• Whilst someone else is shooting keep your eyes and mind alert for possible danger.

• Where possible danger exists, shout "HOLD/ FAST"

• If you hear the word "HOLD/ FAST" stop shooting immediately, un-notch any arrows, then step away from the shooting range.

• If you have any doubts, DO NOT SHOOT.

• Don't think that things are safe, make sure they are.

• Any arrows lost in the range/ area must be reported to a Sword Circle member.

• If you lose an arrow on a target reported to a Sword Circle member.

• NO REFUNDS. Any and all irresponsible actions, either physical or verbal, can be deemed to be dismissed/ disqualified from the tournament at the discretion of Sword Circle. Participants who may be dismissed/ disqualified are not entitled to refunds, nor will refunds of any financial agreements be warranted for participants who voluntarily leave the tournament early, or who do not show up on time- your entry fee is a spot taken up and therefore is counted as consent of payment agreements. The $5 tournament fee is to reserve your spot in participation. After the tournament begins and you knock your first arrow, or negligence to arrive on time, you are agreeing to fulfill a $5 registration fee to compete in the Archery Tournament. 

This event is promoted and open to all archers provided they are dressed in suitable period attire, (i.e. Medieval, Renaissance or Fantasy outfits) and capable of performing unassisted Archery activities/ skills, except as noted under Handicapped Archers. PATRONS ARE RESPONSIBLE AND MUST PROVIDE THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT- THERE WILL NOT BE ANY EQUIPMENT TO BE LOANED OR GIFTED BY SWORD CIRCLE NOR THE EVENT.

**GENERAL ARCHERY TOURNAMENT**

Registration opens at the time the event opens the gates to the public and registration will close as detailed below. All Archers, youth and adult, are required to be present at the briefing. A briefing of the archery rules, range courtesy, and equipment inspections will begin twenty (20) minutes prior to the start of each Archery Tournament. Archers are required to be present for the briefing. Those who are not present for the briefing and inspection will not be allowed to participate in the corresponding tournament. Participants are welcomed to take practice during the operating hours of the event, which includes the Archery range set at ‘game’ distance (est. 12 yds.) and will include other beginner archers using the range simultaneously. No alterations can be made prior to the tournament times listed below. For the safety, courtesy, and legalities of this event, it is prohibited to perform any actions or insinuations of live archery other than where permitted, thus only at the Archery range. Unprofessional and hazardous lack of discipline, and respect, for the general public, volunteers, staff, and operators of the event may lead to dismissal from the event, and the property by event officials or local authorities. This could constitute knocking arrows on a strung bow, waving arrows in crowded or unpermitted areas, etc. 

The Archery Tournament is featured as a staged event and as such will be presented in a main public arena and will always be conducted with the utmost intention of safety and fairness. Sword Circle reserves the right to revise any rule in order to carry these two core values.

HANDICAPPED ARCHERS

Upon the judgment of the archer in charge allowance may be made for various disabilities. For example, visually impaired archers may have someone tell them where their arrows strike the target. Archers in wheelchairs may shoot while seated. Archers unable to notch their arrows may have someone notch it for them, etc.

TOURNAMENT RULES

• Each tournament will consist of even pools of archers shooting at one time.

• Each round requires each archer to shoot three (3) arrows at a round wicker ring on hay bale target at a pre-measured or paced distance of:

  • Ages 13+ (18 yds)

• If you don't have enough arrows, bad luck. You may not retrieve and shoot to make up. You are advised to carry as many arrows or bolts (for handicapped crossbows) as you can shoot in one minute plus a few spares.

• Points will be scored when the following actions occur:

  • When an arrow touches the outside of the ring after the target is struck (1 Point)

  • When an arrow strikes the actual ring, neither inside nor outside the ring (1 Point)

  • When the arrow lands clear inside the ring and does not break, or clip, the inside of the ring (2 Points)

• In the event of a tie, there will be a one (1) arrow shoot off. The archer that scores the most points will win. If both participants score the same points, then the arrow closest to the ring, or the center of the ring, will be declared the winner.

• Sword Circle will take charge as range master. Range master does have final ‘say’ of all challenges, questions, and/ or commands deemed before, during, and after the tournament, including any/ all rules, eligible participants, addressed safety concerns, and spectating individuals/ groups.

• Sword Circle reserves the right to include, exclude, and dismiss any participants and spectators as deemed responsible to carry the listed rules and core values documented on this form.

RULES OF CONDUCT

Archers and spectators are to be respectful and mindful when other archers begin to shoot or when a Sword Circle member is speaking. No un-sportsman-like conduct, vulgar language, rude attitudes or racist/sexist/discriminating remarks of any kind will be tolerated from the participants or spectators of the competition. Sword Circle  has the right to dismiss or withdraw anyone from participating in the competition. Failure to comply with any of the rules, regulations above, as well as Event rules and conduct or the instructions given by a Sword Circle member will lead to dismissal from the competition. Remember at all times that the bow is a deadly weapon.

**TIC-TAC-TOE TOURNAMENT**

The Range

Youth (>18yo & >20# draw) 

Adult (+25# draw) 

Archery range distance will reflect the estimated poundage of bow(s) used (i.e. bows of 20# will shoot at 15yds; 40# bows will shoot at 25yds)

The Board
Set up a large tic-tac-toe grid (3x3) on the ground or a target backdrop. The lines dividing the squares should be clearly marked or seen.

Players
Two players (or two teams), each assigned a symbol — X or O — just like classic tic-tac-toe.

Taking Turns
Players alternate turns, each shooting one arrow per turn, allowed only six (6) arrows per game. Players decide who shoots first (coin flip, practice round, etc.).

Claiming a Square

• If an arrow lands cleanly inside an empty square, that square is claimed with the player's symbol (X or O).

• Once a square is claimed, no other arrows can land there — players must aim for a different, unclaimed square on their next turns.

Misses
An arrow is considered a miss if it:

• Lands completely outside the board, or

• Lands on a dividing line/mark between squares, making it unclear which square it belongs to.

A missed shot doesn't claim a square. The player simply loses that turn's attempt and play passes to the next player.

Winning

• Just like standard tic-tac-toe — the first player to claim three squares in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins.

• If there is not three squares claimed in a row, and all archers have shot their allotted arrows, the archer with the most claimed squares will win

Draws
If both archers have the same amount of claimed squares, and no archer has three squares in a row, the game ends in a draw. (if in the event of a finals match that cannot end in a draw, it will be a shoot off to see which archer can get the closest to the center bulls-eye in the center square)

Points

• 3pts (Three-in a row)

• 1pt (no three-in a row, BUT has the most claimed squares)

• 1pt BOTH PLAYERS (no three in a row, AND has same number of claimed squares)

• 0pt (A loss of any game)