Your first archery tournament

Entering your first tournament is a big step, and it is easier than it looks. This guide takes you from finding a shoot to collecting your scoresheet at the end of the day.

Choosing a shoot

Start with something short and close to home. A Portsmouth in the winter, or a National or Windsor in the summer, gives you a full tournament day without a long round or a long drive. Use the diary's postcode search to sort by distance, filter by round and bowstyle, and look for events that say "open" or "novices welcome" in the details. If a card shows UK record status, that is fine to enter too: record status is about how the shoot is run, not about how good you need to be.

Check three things before you enter: the date and any closing date for entries, the round and whether your bowstyle is listed, and whether the shoot is open to your membership. NFAS members only and EFAA members only shoots need membership of that society, not of the host club.

Entering

Most shoots take entries through an online form, a booking page or the Archery GB Sport:80 portal. Some still use an entry form sent by email. The diary's entry link takes you to whichever the organiser uses. You will usually need your membership number, your bowstyle and, for some rounds, your age group. Pay when asked, note the closing date, and keep the confirmation email.

The week before

Check the venue and directions on the event page and work out when to leave. Assembly is usually 30 to 60 minutes before shooting starts. Make sure your bow, arrows and kit are in order, your arrows carry your name or initials, and you have enough arrows for the round with a spare or two. Check the target list or timetable if the organiser publishes one.

On the day

1. Arrive for assembly, sign in and find your target number. Set your kit up at your target, not on the shooting line.
2. Listen to the judge's briefing. It covers timing, signals and safety, and nobody minds a question.
3. Sighters come first. Use them to settle your sight marks at the distance.
4. Shoot in your detail when the signal sounds and stop when it sounds again. If something goes wrong with your equipment, raise your bow arm and a judge will help.
5. Score after every end. Two scorers on each target write the scores while the archers call them out, highest first. Do not touch any arrow until every score is written down and agreed.
6. Between distances or sessions there is usually a short break. Drink something and eat something.
7. At the end, check and sign your scoresheet. Once it is signed, that is your score.

Etiquette in one paragraph

Be quiet on the line, stay behind the waiting line until it is your turn, do not talk to archers who are shooting, and never walk forward until the signal. Thank the judges and the organiser. Everyone on the field was a beginner once, and most will be pleased to help.

Afterwards

Results are usually published on the organiser's page within a few days. If the shoot is in the HL Tournament Results archive, you can find your score and see how it compares with other archers shooting the same round.

Always confirm final details with the organiser before travelling. Event information can change after the diary last checked it.