Para archery words · Intermediate

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I · Intermediate · 33 words · Step 2 of 2

General terms

Book 5

The part of the World Archery rulebook that holds the rules for classified para athletes at all World Archery para events, with appendices for the equipment illustrations and the adaptive equipment. The para classification rules and regulations are part of it and have bylaw status.

Para competitions

The Paralympic Games, the World Archery Para Championships, Para World Ranking Events and Continental Para Championships. At these an athlete can compete in one class only, even if eligible for more than one.

Sport classes

P.I.1 and P.I.2

The two sport classes for athletes with a physical impairment. P.I.1 is the W1 division only. P.I.2 competes in the Para Recurve or Para Compound division.

V.I.1 and V.I.2

The two sport classes for athletes with a vision impairment, who compete in the VI division. V.I.1 athletes wear a blindfold and V.I.2 athletes do not.

Under 21 class

A para athlete may compete in a U21 class in a tournament held up to and in the year of the athlete's 20th birthday.

Classification card (para archery)

The card every para athlete must hold, valid and international, and show to the judges at equipment inspection so they can check adaptive equipment. An electronic version is accepted. An athlete without one may not compete in a para archery sport class.

Equipment and divisions

W1 division

The division for sport class P.I.1, in which recurve or compound bows may be used. The rules follow the para compound or recurve divisions except that the peak draw weight is 45 lb, peep sights and magnifying sights are not allowed, only one lip or nose mark is allowed, a level is not allowed and release aids are permitted.

Equipment inspection (para archery)

The day before competition the judges inspect all equipment, including adaptive equipment, spares and accessories, and the classification card is shown. Judges may require changes and may inspect again at any time. Athletes may have two sets of bows on the final field of play.

Adaptive equipment

Adaptive equipment (para archery)

Equipment that helps an athlete shoot, allowed only if permitted by the classifiers and recorded on the classification card, and only in the forms Appendix 2 describes. Anything judges or classifiers think gives an unfair advantage, or that the rules do not expressly allow, is prohibited.

Wheelchair (para archery)

A wheelchair of any type may be used if it has no more than four wheels on the ground and no part supports the bow arm. The chair back and any lateral support must be at least 11 cm below the armpit, and the chair with equipment and athlete may not exceed 1.25 m in length. The athlete's feet and the footplates must not touch the ground when shooting.

Strapping

Each strap in any class is at most 5 cm wide. P.I.1 athletes may use any amount of strapping to stay stable if it gives no support to the bow arm. P.I.2 athletes may have only one strap, wound horizontally once round the torso, and must sit at or below the 11 cm limit. Leg straps may be placed round the ankles, knees and mid-thigh.

Stool

A stool may be used if permitted by classifiers and written on the classification card. It must have no backrest, and the stool with athlete and equipment must fit in the 1.25 m space on the shooting line.

Adaptive release

A release aid system, such as a harness, that helps the athlete use a legal release aid, or a mouth tab, a flexible piece fixed to the bowstring that the athlete grips with their teeth. The release aid system must not give lateral or trunk support, must not sit below the rib cage and may be used in Para Compound and W1. The mouth tab may be used in Para Recurve, Para Compound and W1.

Bow bandage and bow arm aid

A bow bandage is non-rigid strapping that helps the athlete grip the bow while it can still move on release. A bow arm aid is an artificial aid or prosthesis attached to the bow, never totally rigid or permanently fixed and never electric or electronically controlled. An athlete who cannot hold the bow may use any limb or an aid to do so.

Assistant

A person who nocks a para athlete's arrows or adjusts their sight, wearing the same uniform and number as the athlete. The assistant acts as the coach without disturbing the other athletes, and no other coach is allowed behind the shooting line.

Vision impairment

Tactile sight

The only sight allowed in the VI division, no bigger than 2 cm in any direction, touching only the back of the athlete's hand between the wrist and the base of the fingers. Its stand and foot locators are at most 80 cm wide, the foot locators stand no more than 6 cm above the ground, and it may be left on the field until the athlete finishes for the day.

Blindfold

A sleep mask, wraparound glasses or goggles that V.I.1 athletes must wear at all times on the field of play, including when setting up and in practice, until they finish for the day. V.I.2 athletes do not wear one. The judges check it at inspection and may re-check it at any time.

Spotter

The helper of a VI athlete, who sits 1 m behind the shooting line and tells the athlete where arrows have landed and about any safety problems. The spotter may adjust the sight and set up equipment only between ends, guides the athlete to and from the target and does the scoring. In qualification and matches the athlete may have a spotter or a coach, but not both.

Combined VI event

If there are too few entries in V.I.1 or V.I.2, all VI athletes compete together and all wear a blindfold, whatever their class. Where there is only one VI category a member association may enter at most six VI athletes.

Rounds and matches

Qualification round (para archery)

The ranking round, shot at 70 m on a 122 cm face for Para Recurve (72 arrows), 50 m on an 80 cm six-ring face for Para Compound and an 80 cm face for W1 (72 arrows), 30 m on an 80 cm face for VI (72 arrows), and 18 m, indoors or outdoors, for 60 arrows in several classes. At international para events the triple 40 cm faces are used for Para Recurve and Para Compound at 18 m.

Elimination and final rounds (para archery)

Matches follow a bracket set by qualification ranking. An individual match is five sets or ends of three arrows, and a doubles or mixed team match four sets or ends of four arrows. Eliminations are shot simultaneously and final matches alternately.

Doubles and mixed team (para archery)

Mixed teams have two athletes, one man and one woman, and doubles have two athletes of the same gender. Each member shoots two arrows an end, in an order of their own choosing, and may stay on the shooting line.

Shooting time (para archery)

At para world ranking events the time is 20 seconds per arrow for doubles and mixed teams, 30 seconds per arrow for individual alternate shooting and 40 seconds per arrow for individual qualification and non-alternating matches, shoot-offs included. In alternating shooting athletes stand on the line on a 10-second alerting signal.

Shooting on the line

Two athletes shoot at each target, and para athletes may stay on the shooting line at all times. Each is given at least 1.25 m, and lanes are at least 2.50 m. Athletes shoot standing and without support, with the head over the shooting line at full draw, unless the classification card says otherwise.

Equipment failure and medical issues

At Para World Ranking Events and other international para events no extra time is given. The athlete may leave the shooting line to deal with the problem and return to shoot any remaining arrows if the time limit allows, and in a team event the other members may shoot meanwhile.

Team substitution (para archery)

A doubles or mixed team in match play is the two highest-ranked athletes from qualification. A substitute must have competed in qualification, the team manager must notify the officials in writing at least fifteen minutes before the first match's practice, and medals go only to athletes who shot the team match play round.

Scoring

Set system (para archery)

Para Recurve, W1 and VI score by sets. In each set the higher score gets two set points and a tie one each. An individual wins on reaching 6 set points and a doubles or mixed team on reaching 5.

Cumulative scoring (para archery)

Para Compound scores by adding the totals of each end. An individual wins with the highest total after five ends and a team after four ends.

Shoot-off (para archery)

Ties for entry to the elimination rounds and tied matches are broken by shoot-offs, not by counting tens and Xs. Individuals shoot one arrow for score and then the arrow closest to the centre decides; teams shoot one arrow each, and if still tied the closest arrow, then the second closest, decides.

Multiple-spot rule (para archery)

On double or triple faces, if more than one arrow lands in the same 40 cm spot all the arrows count as part of the end but only the lowest-value arrow scores, and the others are misses.

Scorecards (para archery)

Each target has two scorecards, one of which may be electronic, and the paper card takes precedence over the electronic one. Athletes are disqualified at submission if no paper card goes with an electronic one, or it carries no signature or total.

Conduct and penalties

Losing the highest arrow (para archery)

An arrow shot before the start signal, after the stop signal or out of sequence in alternating shooting makes the athlete or team lose the highest-scoring arrow of that end, which is scored as a miss.

Team round yellow card

The judge raises a yellow card if a team member starts to shoot without the previous athlete's end-of-shooting signal, or hooks a release or takes an arrow before the green light. The athlete must start the process again, and if the team ignores the card the team loses the highest-scoring arrow of that end.

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