Archery may be defined as the skill, practice or sport of shooting arrows with the use of a bow. The word ‘archery’ originates from the Latin word ‘arcus’, which translates to bow.
Generally, a person who engages in this activity is referred to as an archer, a bowman or a toxophilite.
Archery has been around since ancient times when it was used for the purpose of combat and training. In the olden days, archers used to participate in wars. The use of bows and arrows to attack and kill has been in existence for more than ten thousand years. In today’s world, however, archery is primarily a sport that is played competitively and a recreational activity.
As a sport, archery is almost four hundred years old, and it is played by millions of people around the world today. It involves the use of a bow, made of a frame and a string, which is used to launch an arrow towards a target. Back in the day, the ‘target’ would be an animal in the case of hunting or the enemy army in the case of a war. However, as of today, archery is seldom, if ever, used for a purpose other than sport. With the passage of time and the development of technology, it is possible nowadays to play archery on one’s mobile phone, tablet or even a personal computer. There are numerous platforms that offer users the opportunity for archery game play online, and the game in its online format is very popular among players of diverse age groups and backgrounds.
How is Archery Played?
In very basic terms, playing archery simply involves the shooting of an arrow using a bow, at a target in order to score points. The objective of the game is to get the arrow to land at or as close to the centre of the target as possible.
Points are scored on the basis of how close to the centre the arrow lands. If the arrow lands perfectly at the centre, the archer wins 10 points for that shot, and fewer points are won depending on how much farther away from the centre of the target the arrow lands.
Every archery competition will involve archers shooting their arrows in different rounds, and these rounds of the game are called ‘ends’. Typically, each end will consist of 6 shooting attempts, and an archer will shoot for 12 ends in succession, which means they will shoot 72 arrows in total in a competition. At the end of all the rounds, the archer who has scored the highest number of points is declared the winner.
To become a successful professional archer, the proper selection of equipment is extremely crucial. The quality of bows and arrows is very important. The equipment required for professional archery includes a bow, a set of arrows, a quiver, as well as protective gear such as arm guards, chest guards and gloves.
Where is the Game Played?
Archery is a sport that can be played both indoors and outdoors. However, what makes archery a rare sport is that the surface of the ground it is played on makes no significant difference to the game. Archers stand in one place and shoot arrows towards a target that is raised above ground level, so for this reason, the nature of the ground surface does not matter much. In the Olympic games, archery is played in a location where there is a grass-like rug laid out. Of course, the primary factor that is of importance to how the sport is played is the distance between the shooting position and the target. For archery competitions in the Olympics, the distance is 70 metres, and this distance may be shortened in the case of other competitions or tournaments.
What are the Rules of Archery?
Archery is a sport that has relatively fewer rules than most other sports. This is because of the game’s simplicity. However, the sport does have its own set of rules and regulations that every player needs to comply with strictly. It goes without saying that if an archer breaks any of the rules during the course of their participation in the sport, they will get disqualified. Here are some of the general rules of archery:
- Archery has time limits
Every archer is allotted 2 minutes for each round consisting of 3 arrows. All the arrows must be shot within this time limit.
- Officials give the starting signal
Archers cannot shoot their arrows as and when they wish. Archers can raise their bow arm only after an official has given the indication to do so.
- Reshoots are not allowed
Arrows can never be reshot in archery. In case an arrow falls without being shot, the archer can pick it back up and shoot it.
- A ‘line rule’ exists
If an arrow lands on the target at a position where it is on the line between two rings, the score awarded for that shot will be of the ring corresponding to the higher number.
- The ‘Robin Hood’ rule
If an arrow happens to land in such a manner that it sticks to another arrow, the score awarded will be the same as the arrow in which it has got stuck.
What Skills are Required for Archery?
To play archery, a player essentially only requires one skill: the ability to launch an arrow precisely towards the target. The motion for launching the arrow is simple and straightforward. All one needs to do is notch an arrow in the bow, pull back on the bow and release it so that the arrow goes flying towards the target. It goes without saying that all these motions need to be done with immense precision in order to hit the target at the centre, or the bullseye.
An important tip for beginners in the sport is to master the art of holding the bow steady. The ideal posture to play archery is to keep one’s feet in a “T” position, with the front foot positioned so that it faces the target, to keep one’s back straight and to hold one’s wrists and elbows firm.
Conclusion
Whether played online or at a shooting range, archery is a sport that is highly thrilling, and is also a great way to improve one’s focus and concentration, and also contributes to increased muscle memory. The sport is also beneficial in improving a person’s self-confidence. In other words, archery is much more than simply launching arrows from a bow!
