The rules of the shooting line
قواعد الرماية العالمية
A practical summary of the World Archery rulebook — equipment, safety, scoring, formats, distances, categories, MQS, elimination rounds, experimental 2025 rules and a bilingual glossary.
Equipment rules
قواعد المعداتWhat you can and cannot bring to the shooting line.
Recurve
Recurve bows must comply with WA specifications. Stabilizers, clickers and sights are permitted. No mechanical release aids.
- Arrows must be marked with the athlete's name or initials
- Maximum arrow diameter: 9.3 mm
- Finger tab or shooting glove required
Compound
Maximum 60 lbs peak weight. Mechanical release aids and magnifying sights are permitted.
- Maximum let-off: 80%
- Arrow diameter: 9.3 mm maximum
- Peep sight allowed in the bowstring
Barebow
No sights, no stabilizers (except a single rod up to 30 cm), no clicker. String walking and face walking are permitted.
- Tab or finger glove required
- No markings on the bow riser for aiming
Safety rules
قواعد السلامةWhistle commands, range rules and equipment checks.
Whistle commands
إشارات الصفارةTwo whistles
Archers may approach the shooting line.
One whistle
Begin shooting.
Three whistles
Collect arrows from the target.
Five or more whistles
EMERGENCY STOP — all shooting ceases immediately.
Range safety rules
قواعد سلامة الميدان- Never dry-fire a bow (release without an arrow)
- Never point a drawn bow at anything other than the target
- Never walk in front of the shooting line while others are shooting
- Wait for the whistle signal before approaching or leaving the shooting line
- Always carry arrows in a quiver, points down
- Look behind you before stepping back from the line
- If an arrow falls off the rest, do NOT draw — let down and re-nock
- All spectators must remain behind the waiting line
Equipment safety checks
فحوصات المعدات- Inspect bowstring for fraying before each session
- Check arrow nocks for cracks
- Flex-test carbon arrows before shooting
- Verify limb bolts are tight (compound)
- Ensure sight, rest, and stabilizer screws are secure
- Check arm guard and finger tab condition
Officials
الحكامThe Director of Shooting (DOS) controls the competition. Judges resolve scoring disputes and their decision on arrow value is final. 15 minutes of equipment repair time is allowed.
Scoring system
نظام التسجيلHow each arrow is scored zone-by-zone.
Scoring zones
مناطق التسجيل| Zone | Points | Color |
|---|---|---|
| X | 10 (or 11 experimental) | Gold |
| 10 | 10 | Gold |
| 9 | 9 | Gold |
| 8 | 8 | Red |
| 7 | 7 | Red |
| 6 | 6 | Blue |
| 5 | 5 | Blue |
| 4 | 4 | Black |
| 3 | 3 | Black |
| 2 | 2 | White |
| 1 | 1 | White |
| M | 0 | Miss |
Competition formats
أنظمة المنافسةStandard WA rounds you will encounter at events.
WA Outdoor 720
The standard outdoor qualification round. 72 arrows shot in 12 ends of 6 arrows each.
- Recurve: 70 meters at a 122 cm target face
- Compound: 50 meters at an 80 cm target face (inner 10 only)
- Maximum score: 720 points
- Time: 4 minutes per end of 6 arrows
WA Indoor 600
The standard indoor qualification round. 60 arrows shot in 20 ends of 3 arrows each.
- 18 meters at a 40 cm target face (vertical triple)
- Maximum score: 600 points
- Time: 2 minutes per end of 3 arrows
Field archery
- Shot across natural terrain at varied distances
- Marked course: distances are known (12–60 m)
- Unmarked course: distances must be estimated by the archer
- 24 targets per round, 3 arrows per target
Shoot-off rules
- Each archer shoots 1 arrow
- Closest to center wins (measured if needed)
- Time limit: 40 seconds for the shoot-off arrow
Distances & targets
المسافات والأهدافShooting distances and target-face sizes by category.
By category
حسب الفئة| Category | Outdoor | Indoor | Target face |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recurve Men | 70 m | 18 m | 122 cm / 40 cm |
| Recurve Women | 70 m | 18 m | 122 cm / 40 cm |
| Compound Men | 50 m | 18 m | 80 cm / 40 cm |
| Compound Women | 50 m | 18 m | 80 cm / 40 cm |
| Junior | 60 m | 18 m | 122 cm / 40 cm |
| Cadet | 50 m | 18 m | 122 cm / 40 cm |
Competition categories
فئات المنافسةBow divisions and age categories.
Bow divisions
فئات القوس| Code | Division |
|---|---|
| CM | Compound Men |
| CW | Compound Women |
| RM | Recurve Men |
| RW | Recurve Women |
| BM | Barebow Men |
| BW | Barebow Women |
Age categories
الفئات العمرية| Category | Age requirement |
|---|---|
| Senior | 21 years and older |
| Under 21 (U21) | Under 21 years |
| Junior | Under 18 years |
| Cadet | Under 15 years |
MQS — Minimum Qualification Scores
الحد الأدنى للتأهلScores required for entry into World Archery events (720 round).
Required scores
النقاط المطلوبة| Category | MQS |
|---|---|
| Recurve Men | 640 |
| Recurve Women | 610 |
| Compound Men | 674 |
| Compound Women | 654 |
Set system (recurve elimination)
نظام المجموعاتMatch play format used in recurve elimination rounds.
How it works
آلية العمل- Match consists of up to 5 sets
- Each set: 3 arrows per archer
- Win a set = 2 set points
- Draw a set = 1 set point each
- Lose a set = 0 set points
- First archer to reach 6 set points wins the match
Possible outcomes
النتائج المحتملة| Result | Sets | Final score |
|---|---|---|
| Straight win | 3 sets | 6–0 |
| Win with 1 draw | 4 sets | 6–2 or 7–1 |
| Close win | 5 sets | 6–4 or 7–3 |
| Tied | 5 sets | 5–5 → Shoot-off |
Cumulative system (compound elimination)
النظام التراكميMatch play format used in compound elimination rounds.
How it works
آلية العمل- 5 ends of 3 arrows each = 15 arrows total
- Maximum possible score: 150
- Highest cumulative total wins
- Time: 2 minutes per end of 3 arrows
WA 2025 experimental rules
قواعد 2025 التجريبيةProposed WA rule changes under review — not yet official everywhere.
Status
X-ring = 11 points
Under the experimental format, the X-ring (inner 10) scores 11 points instead of 10. This increases the maximum possible 720-round score and rewards precision in the gold zone.
60-arrow qualification
An alternative qualification format reducing the round from 72 to 60 arrows:
- 10 ends of 6 arrows (instead of 12 ends)
- Maximum score varies depending on the X-ring rule
- Designed to shorten competition schedules
Glossary
مسرد المصطلحاتKey archery terms — English, Arabic and a short definition.
Archery terms
مصطلحات الرماية| English | عربي | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Anchor Point | نقطة الارتكاز | Fixed point where string hand touches face at full draw |
| Arrow Rest | مسند السهم | Device that supports the arrow on the bow |
| BIB | رقم اللاعب | Athlete identification number worn during competition |
| Bow Sight | منظار القوس | Aiming device attached to the bow riser |
| Clicker | الكليكر | Device that indicates the archer has reached full draw |
| Draw Length | طول السحب | Distance from nock point to grip at full draw |
| Draw Weight | قوة السحب | Force needed to pull the string to full draw |
| End | الجولة | Group of arrows shot before scoring (3 or 6 arrows) |
| Finger Tab | واقي الأصابع | Leather protection for the drawing fingers |
| Follow Through | المتابعة | Maintaining form and position after releasing the arrow |
| Grip | القبضة | How the bow hand holds the bow; also the handle area |
| Grouping | التجمع | Pattern of arrows clustered on the target |
| Limb | الطرف | Flexible upper/lower part of the bow that stores energy |
| Nock | الفوك | Notch on the arrow end that clips onto the bowstring |
| Nocking Point | نقطة التثبيت | Mark on the bowstring where the arrow attaches |
| Peep Sight | فتحة التصويب | Small ring in the string used for aiming (compound) |
| Plunger | المكبس | Pressure button that cushions the arrow on release |
| Quiver | الجعبة | Container for carrying arrows at the waist or on the bow |
| Release Aid | جهاز الإطلاق | Mechanical device for releasing the bowstring (compound) |
| Riser | الهيكل | Central rigid part of the bow; the handle section |
| Scope | التلسكوب | Magnifying spotting scope used to see arrows on target |
| Sight Mark | علامة المنظار | Specific setting on the sight for a given distance |
| Spine | صلابة السهم | Stiffness measurement of an arrow shaft |
| Stabilizer | الموازن | Rod(s) attached to the bow to reduce vibration and torque |
| Stance | الوقفة | Foot position and body alignment on the shooting line |
| String | الوتر | Connects the limb tips and propels the arrow |
| Tab | واقي الأصابع | Finger protection for the string hand (recurve) |
| Target Face | وجه الهدف | Paper or cloth face with concentric scoring zones |
| Tuning | الضبط | Adjusting bow and arrows for optimal arrow flight |
| Vane / Fletching | الريشة | Fins on the back of the arrow for stabilization in flight |