Rules and Regulations

These rules and regulations are applicable to those who join BBS and who compete at BBS domestic events.

Included in this section are:

Letter sent to all visually impaired archers attending a BBS competition to be returned to Roger Rees-Evans.
Rules for shooting: Part 1 - VIs competing at all GNAS Events, Part 2 - specific to BBS organised events
Rules for Spotters/Scorers
Burntwood Round Information
How to claim a record
A record claim form
Selection Score Form

A lady archer retrieving her arrow from the target

1. Letter sent to all visually impaired archers attending a BBS competition to be returned to Roger Rees-Evans.

BBS Competition – entry letter

2. Part 1 - Rules for VIs competing at all GNAS Events

1. Introduction

(a)These rules have been prepared to enable VI archers to shoot in full accordance with the GNAS Rules of Shooting, and to take a more active part in the sport during practice, at club target days, competitions and tournaments.
(b)These rules are aimed at integrating VI’s into the sport.
A vision Impaired Archer shall be defined as follows:
(c)The archer must be registered or registerable as blind or partially sighted (with the relevant medical form)
(d)The archer must hold a recognised sight classification certificate with BBS. The classification will be done with best visual correction according to the most functional eye, without considering whether the archer is left or right handed. The sight classification for B2/3/VI Open will be done on acuity test only.
(d,1)To ensure no advantage is taken due to the acuity rule, the archer must face the target through alignment, aiming and release of the arrow.
(e)B1 No light perception in neither eye up to light perception but inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction.

B2 From ability to recognize the shape of a hand up to a visual acuity of 2/60.

B3 From visual acuity of above 2/60 up to a visual acuity of 6/60.

Others (with acuity test, classed as B4/VI Open) from visual acuity of above 6/60.
But must conform to rule 1(c).

2.Specific Rules of Shooting for VI’s in General

(a)The GNAS Rules of Shooting for Target Archery shall apply to VI archers except as enumerated in the following paragraphs.

3. Shooting

(a) Except when the Burntwood metric round equivalent is being shot a VI archer may shoot a complete end (six arrows where appropriate) before returning from the shooting line. At a competition this allowance shall be at the discretion of the tournament organiser, after consultation with the Judge.
(b) When possible, VI archers shall be permitted to shoot an end of sighting arrows at each change of distance. (Except when the Burntwood Round equivalent is being shot, it is advised to request this allowance)
(c) When VI archers shoot in one detail, a VI archer may be permitted to utilise the time allowed for sighting arrows, by shooting more sighting arrows, but must not hold up the shooting line. (This would be solely at the discretion of the judge. It is advised to request this allowance)
(d) A VI archer shall be permitted to have a person acting as a spotter (see spotter’s rules policy)
(e) A spotter may be nominated as an assistant as provided in GNAS Rule 306(r), who shall at all times be under the control and discipline of the Judge

4. Handicap and Classification

(a) Any handicap or classification scheme in use by VI archers shall, in general, conform to the procedures laid down for sighted archers.
(b) For specific records on VI archery, the BBS records officer should be contacted and shall be responsible for the maintenance and administration of these records.

5. Equipment

(a) Equipment used by a VI archer must generally conform to the specification given in Part 2.of GNAS rules In addition, a VI archer may use a tactile sighting device and foot location device provided that they satisfy the conditions laid down in the following sub-paragraphs.
(b) A tactile sighting device must not act as a support to the bow, bow hand or arm (unless required by the archer‘s physical disability).
(c) A tactile sighting device must be capable of being adjusted by the archer without moving from the shooting line.
(d) The tactile sighting device may touch upon any part of the bow hand or arm but no part of it shall be further from the archer’s body than the bow hand when the bow is fully drawn.
(e) Where the tactile sighting device works in conjunction with a long-rod stabilizer, then GNAS rule 202(f) (ii) shall not apply, provided that no part of the device shall be more than six inches (15cm) forward of the archer’s bow hand when the bow is fully drawn and the supporting equipment to which that device is attached stands on the ground on the opposite side of the bow to the arrow rest. In addition the device must be fitted with a bar so as to prevent the bow being lowered by more than three inches (7.5cm) at the time of release of an arrow.

Note.
The purpose of this rule is to prevent an arrow release from inadvertently striking any part of the sighting device. If the dimensions of a bow are such that the distance between the stabiliser and the arrow rest is less than 4 inches (10cm) as measured in the vertical plane, then the bar referred to above must be so positioned that the bow cannot be lowered by more than one inch (2.5cm) less than the distance between stabiliser and arrow rest.
(f) The sighting device stand/foot location device must not represent an obstacle to other competitors.
(g) Tactile sighting devices may only be used by VI archers who cannot use a bow sight or adapted bow sight.
(See 5. (h) and (i))
(h) A bow sight may be adapted to suit the residual vision of the archer and thus in this case GNAS Rule 202 (e) (i) shall not apply.
(i) A bow sight may incorporate prisms, lens, or other magnification device, enlarged sight ring/pin, and may provide for more than one sighting point. These adaptations may be made to all bow types used by a recognised VI archer (as defined in section A).
(j) Equipment may include electronic sighting devices (otherwise prohibited by GNAS rules Part 2) utilising electro-magnetic radiation outside the visible wavelengths providing that they do not interfere with other archers on the shooting line or at the target. Such devices may be attached to the boss but not in the scoring area. Any signal generated must be unique to the individual and not distract other competitors.

6. Rounds acceptable other than GNAS and FITA recognized. See Burntwood equivalent table.

Burntwood Rounds.

There is no difference in distance shot by male and female V.I. archers, as in York/ Hereford rounds for instance.
Target / boss is always placed at 30m for seniors and 15m for juniors. The numbers of arrows shot at each distance and the scoring scheme will remain the same as the alternative recognized rounds.

2. Part 2 - Rules specific to BBS organised events

GNAS membership cards can be requested to be produced at competitions.

BBS membership cards can be requested to be produced at BBS organised competitions.

A recorded registration of sight classification at BBS head office is required for recognition of competitors.

The score of any archer failing to be registered with a sight classification at BBS head office will not be recognised in the awards or in the records kept.

In BBS National competition, the archer and the spotter will wear either white or forest (bottle) green or a combination of both. The judge will determine the inclement weather rule on the day, if necessary.

Archers are responsible for supplying their own equipment.

Archers are responsible for securing own spotter; one spotter between two archers is acceptable.

Participation in novice rounds will be strict. Archers with over one years’ experience or, who have competed in a National Competition will not be allowed to participate in the novice rounds. Competition Officials may determine exceptional circumstances.

Blackouts, approved by BBS and used by B1 archers must be worn from before setting up any equipment to the end of competition. (After all, if B1, then blackouts should make no difference). All other archers using blackouts, must comply with the same instruction. This would give a fair and level playing field in all competitions.

An official, as part of the equipment check will verify black out glasses for conformity.

Archers who are classified B2, 3 or VI Open will not be permitted to shoot in the B1 category. Archers must shoot within their BBS recorded sight classification.

Male and female archers will be in separate Categories in all rounds.

Closing dates for entry to BBS events must be adhered to. Late entries MAY be considered, and an extra charge will be made for any late entries accepted.

Origin                           Sept 2000
Amended                      April 2004
Amended                      April 2006

3. Rules for Spotters/Scorers

Archery

Spotting

1 The spotter can assist the VI archer to set up the sighting aid by adjusting it in any way, before and up to the whistle which begins the competition/shoot.
2 The spotter will also be responsible for checking and informing the VI archer of safety issues.
3 The spotter must stand on the spotters line which is situated between the shooting line and the waiting line. State the archer’s name before relating the strike of the arrow if necessary.
4 Once the scoring arrows have began, the spotter may relate the strike of each arrow on the boss, i.e. red 2 o’clock blue 5 o’clock etc. This must be done in a quiet manner so as not to disturb fellow archers on the shooting line.
4.A When the archer has a hearing impairment, the spotter may step forward to a closer proximity to the archer so that they can relate the strike of the arrow. The spotter must then immediately move back to the spotter’s line, until the strike of the next arrow, and so on.
5 The spotter must not coach or give any advice on shooting, whilst the archer is shooting an end of scoring arrows except during sighting ends, and between scoring ends.
6 The archer must adjust their own sighting devices during ends of scoring arrows. Spotters may adjust the sighting devices between scoring ends.
7 When the archer has completed their scoring end, the spotter, with or without the archer, must stand behind the waiting line with the archer’s bow (This will indicate to the judge that the archer has completed the end.) It is a BBS rule that spotters observe the dress code at competitions and tournaments, when dress code is required.

Scoring

A spotter will be required to score for the VI archer. Scoring can either be 5 or 10 zone. From the centre, 5-zone scoring (imperial) will be gold 9, red 7, blue 5, black 3, and white 1.
10 zone (metric), gold inner ring 10, outer ring 9, red inner ring 8, outer 7, blue inner 6, outer 5, black inner 4, outer 3, white inner 2, outer 1.
Misses are marked on the scoring sheet as M.
Only the inner gold may be marked with an X
Check GNAS scoring rules with the official/judge of the competition as these may change.

Remember!
Check out the rules on the day; listen to the officials opening remarks.

Do not touch the arrows or target face until scores are agreed and taken, ensure the archer does the same.
Call the score for your archer, and mark down the score for the other archer on the target and call out scores from the highest first, i.e. 9,6,2, miss etc.
If the arrow has cut the line, the highest score counts, any dispute call the judge. If you are unable to agree a score, or before you make an alteration, call the judge. (This must be done prior to touching the arrows.)
At the end of the shoot, the archer must sign their score sheet. Score cards altered but not signed by the judge will be disqualified.
Thank your fellow archer/spotter.

Remember, you are responsible for the archers’ safety

Ensure they follow any directions given by the judge
That the archers approach the target from the side, so as not to walk into the arrows,
Make sure they do not stand behind the person who is pulling the arrows from the butt.
Make sure that they (and you) don’t walk into or trip over any other archer’s equipment.

This is a partnership, without spotters, many VI archers could never participate. Get to know your archer and their ability and most of all enjoy the sport.

Original                        June 2000
Amended                     Nov 2001
Amended                     April 2004

4. Burntwood Round Information

The Grand National Archery Society have accepted the specific round which will enable more vision impaired archers to participate in the sport. The round, a Burntwood round has been accepted at mainstream competitions.

We do not wish this round to be known as a VI round, as it is a round in which any archer can participate. Archers who are juniors, beginners or those who do not wish to compete at longer distances can benefit by entering the Burntwood rounds.

5. How to claim a record

Claims for VI archery Record status.

To avoid any confusion, in order to claim a score as a record, the following procedure must be met.

In all cases it is for the archer to initiate the claim procedure by the archer forwarding the final result sheet from the competition, which should clearly state the competition status, when and where the competition was held, the name of the archer, the round they shot and their final score. The result sheet must be forwarded to The BBS records officer, David Poyner, who will then research the records Held. E-mail records@bbsarchery.org.uk

A covering statement should also be sent to the records officer, stating which sight classification, bow type and sighting method were used. The statement should also define which distance faces were used for the round shot (To verify the correct equivalent round was shot), and the name of the spotter. If possible, the actual score sheet should be enclosed.

The records officer will then confirm whether or not a new record has been set.

A full list of the Burntwood equivalent rounds are available on request.

Articles should not be forwarded for publication in Target unless the above procedure has been met.