How do team matches work in archery?
I · Intermediate · Shooting, timing and team matches · 5 of 6A team is three archers and a mixed team is one man and one woman. Each archer shoots two arrows an end, so a team shoots six and a mixed team four. Only one archer may be forward of the 1-metre line at a time, and the whole end has a single clock.
How it works
- Recurve and barebow teams play sets to 5 set points. Compound teams add up four ends.
- The team starts each end behind a line 1 metre back from the shooting line.
- The first archer may cross it only on the start signal.
- One archer on the shooting line at a time. The others stay behind the 1-metre line.
- Arrows stay in the quiver until the archer is on the shooting line. A compound archer may not hook the release aid to the string before then.
- Early rounds, both teams shooting together: the archers shoot their two arrows each in any order within the time.
- Finals, shooting in turn: each team shoots three arrows (two for mixed), one by each member, then its clock stops and the other team shoots. Members must alternate after every shot.
- The coach and team-mates may talk to each other throughout.
- Substitutions are allowed only before the match stage begins, and the substitute must have shot the qualification round.
Yellow card: a judge raises it if an archer crosses the 1-metre line too soon, takes an arrow out of the quiver before reaching the shooting line, or hooks a release aid early. The archer must go back behind the line and start again, or be replaced by a team-mate. If the arrow is shot anyway, the team loses its highest-scoring arrow of the end.
Tricky cases
Can two archers stand on the line together to save time?
No. Only one archer at a time may be in front of the 1-metre line.
Does a yellow card cost points?
No, not if the archer goes back and starts again. It costs time. Ignoring it costs the team its best arrow of the end.
One archer ran out of time with an arrow unshot. What is scored?
The unshot arrow is a miss and still counts as part of the end.
Why the rule exists
The 1-metre line makes a team event a relay against one clock. Getting on and off the line cleanly is part of the skill.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| World Archery rules | As above | B3 11.1.4.2, 11.1.4.3; B3 13.6; B2 4.5.1.2 |
From the rule book
World Archery Rulebook, Book 3, Articles 10.6.1, 11.1.4.2, 11.1.4.3, 11.4.5, 12.2.2.3 and 13.6; Book 2, Article 4.5.1.2. Version of 27 January 2026. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Archery Rulebook (PDF).