Guezille
Programs
Archery Scoring Etiquette
Scoring Etiquette for FITA Tournaments
Before the Round:
Make sure that your scorecard is filled in with the necessary information.
- Name
- Class - Which type of equipment are you shooting?
- Division - Which Gender/Age category applies to you within that class?
- Address (if required)
During the Round:
When all archers walk forward to the targets, each will take on a role for scoring. The roles are:
- Calling Scores -- Read the targets and speak the scores for each arrow from highest to lowest. Remember that arrows on the line count as "in" the higher-scoring ring.
- Some arrows will be very close to the line. Correctly calling takes some estimation. If the target paper were perfectly flat, would the curve of the line intersect the outside of the arrow shaft or not?
- Be careful not to touch the arrows or the paper until the scores have been written down. Don't even bump them.
- If there is a question or a dispute, call over a tournament judge.
- Most archers don't want to know their running total. Unless someone asks, don't show it to them.
- Don't call the scores for the next archer until the scorer has finished tallying the previous set of arrow scores.
- Tallying Scores -- Write down the per-arrow score, calculate the total score for that end, and the running total score for the round. In a forma tournament, two archers keep score for accuracy.
- Marking Arrows -- In formal tournaments, after the scores have been called, but before the arrows are pulled, this person marks the target next to each arrow. This ensures every hole in the target has a mark next to it. This helps to resolve disputes in case an arrow hits the target, but doesn't stick. (Yes, it happens...)
The scoring sequence is:
- Call the scores
- Compute the running totals
- Mark the arrows (if needed)
- When all of the scores have been called, pull the arrows safely using all of the safe arrow pulling techniques
To be polite, someone can offer to pull the arrows of the archers tallying up the scores.
After the Round:
After the shooting is finished, it is your responsiblity to verify that the score is accurately tallied, and that all of the boxes on the scorecard are filled in. If there are two copies of the score card, make sure they match!
Once you are sure, make sure your score card is signed by both scorekeepers and by you. Then turn your score cards in to the tournament director (sometimes called The Director of Shooting or "The DS")
