What happens if an archer shoots too early, too late or drops an arrow?
A · Advanced · Shooting, timing and team matches · 1 of 5An arrow can never be shot again. An arrow shot before the start signal, after the stop signal or out of turn costs the archer the highest-scoring arrow of that end. A dropped arrow may be replaced only if part of its shaft lies within 3 metres of the shooting line and it has not rebounded.
How it works
Losing the best arrow of the end:
- Shooting before the start signal or after the stop signal.
- Shooting out of sequence in alternate shooting.
- In a team match, any member shooting outside the time: the team loses its highest arrow.
- Loosing an arrow on the field after practice has closed, or in a break: the highest arrow of the next scoring end.
Arrows treated as not shot:
- The arrow falls from the bow or is mis-shot and part of the shaft lies between the shooting line and the 3-metre line, and it has not rebounded.
- The target blows over and the judges cannot score it. Time is given to shoot those arrows.
Other cases:
- More arrows shot than allowed: the lowest values count.
- In a team match, an arrow not shot in time is scored as a miss.
- An archer who arrives late forfeits the arrows already shot, unless the delay was beyond their control. Then up to 12 may be made up later.
Tricky cases
An arrow slipped off the string and fell at the archer's feet. Can they shoot another?
Yes. Part of its shaft is within the 3-metre zone, so it is treated as not shot.
The arrow fell and slid 4 metres down the range. Can it be replaced?
No. It counts as a shot arrow and scores a miss.
Is the late arrow itself cancelled?
No. All the arrows are entered, and the highest-scoring one is struck out as a miss.
Why the rule exists
Shooting outside the signals is a safety matter first and an advantage second. Taking away the best arrow, not the offending one, makes sure the penalty always hurts.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Archery rules | As above | B3 10.5; B3 13.3; B3 11.4.3 |
From the rule book
World Archery Rulebook, Book 3, Articles 10.5, 11.4.3, 12.2.2, 12.2.2.3 and 13.3. Version of 27 January 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Archery Rulebook (PDF).