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SAFETY RULES AND CODE FOR FIELD ARCHERS

Safety Policy
The NFAS exists to foster and promote Field Archery in all its forms. The Executive Officers of the NFAS will carry out the affairs of the society with due respect for the Environment and the Health, Safety and Welfare of its employees and others who may be affected. The NFAS is committed to the promotion of best practice amongst its membership and as such will take steps to communicate this and ensure that all Members may draw from the experience of others. The NFAS will devise and maintain systems to achieve its aims and comply with the law. Where appropriate the NFAS will consult and involve the Membership.

All dangerous shots, near miss incidents and accidents must be reported to the Safety Officer within seven days, by all the archers witnessing these incidents. The names of other witnesses must also be given. The Safety Officer will publish these details in the newsletter so that all archers can learn from other people's mistakes.

1. Never loose an arrow where you cannot see where it will land.
2. Never loose an arrow straight up into the air.
3. Never shoot a cracked or bent arrow.
4. Never point an arrow at a person and never shoot to the side of a person.
5. Never pretend to shoot towards a person, people can die just as easily from heart trouble or injury when jumping out of the way of the anticipated arrow flight.
6. Never stand in the shooting lane forward of an archer about to shoot. Not only do you tend to destroy his concentration but you place yourself in danger from a mis-nocked arrow which can flirt in any direction on release.
7. Remember at all times that the bow and arrow are deadly weapons. Nearly every species of animal as fallen to them.
8. Whilst someone else is shooting keep your eyes and mind alert for possible danger. While "loosing", the archer's concentration is solely on the target.
9. Where possible danger exists, shout "FAST".
10. If you have doubts of any nature, DON'T SHOOT.
11. At least one adult member of a group should remain standing in front of the target while other members are searching for arrows.
12. Always keep to the marked path from each target to the next shooting stand.
13. Don't think things are safe make sure.

    Because Field Archery uses natural terrain with trees/shrubs in the course layout, it is usually only the immediate vicinity that is in view, so maximum safety precautions must be observed in the layout and in the shooting.

14. Consider the paths to and from the shooting stands and targets and clearly mark them; ensure that possible lines of arrow flight will in no circumstances endanger contestants.
15. Where possible do not allow any path or other shooting stand to be visible from any one shooting stand, even if it is considered out of range.
16. Consider the general public when positioning the butts. Targets must not be placed where a stray arrow may endanger the public.
17. Targets should never be placed on the brow of a hill where landing of over­shoots cannot be determined.
18. When laying out a course, make sure that a safe flight path is available for left and right handed archers, for light and heavy bows and for tall and short archers. This should be checked by having suitable archers shoot round.

    If we are to continue to enjoy our sport, then each of us must be careful not to spoil the pleasure for others.

19. Remember that it is the actual shooting that we enjoy. Keep courses free from litter, respect the owner's property and never shoot at anything else on the course but targets.
20. Protect your sport, your Club and your Society by always being careful where and when you shoot. It takes practice and attention to your shooting to become a "master" but anyone can spoil things for the sport, the Club and the Society in no time at all and, though a person can be barred from further participation, all others bear the consequences.
21. Members of a Club organising a shoot should, if shooting informally during that shoot (e.g. while marshalling), immediately give way to any group of competitors which overtakes them.
22. A Club, to be healthy, must be active and offer shooting entertainment for all the Club's members. A permanent course lay-out can become learned and, eventually boring. Novelty shoots, different rounds and the mass visiting of league or Championhiip shoots can help keep interest alive within Club membership. Informal contests play their part as well as Annual Championships and Open shoots in expanding members' outlook and activity.
23. That the consumption of alcohol be banned from any NFAS course whether a Championship or an Open shoot and that anyone in the opinion of the organisers who appears to under the influence of alcohol or drugs will he asked to leave the course and be disqualified from the competition.
24. NFAS Child Safety Policy
    At all events organised under the auspices of the NFAS, all children up to the age of sixteen should be accompanied at all times by a parent or legal guardian.
    If a parent or legal guardian cannot accompany their child at any event, it will be their responsibility to inform the organisers of the event in writing that they have nominated another person to act on their behalf as a temporary guardian for their child.
    It will be the sole responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to vet the person they nominate to act as temporary guardian and also to inform that person of their durtes and liabilities whilst acting as temporary guardian. Coaching of a child must only be done in the presence of and with the consent of the parent or legal guardian.
25. While not a rule we recommend that the following Course Etiquette be observed:
    1. Keep well back from the group in front.
    2. Keep noise down.
    3. Turn off mobile phones
    4. Do not speak, make any sudden movements or noise when an archer is at full draw.
    5. Keep well behind the archer on the peg.
    6. Be considerate to other archers.
    7. Be tolerant of archers shooting a different class to you.
    8. Help others to pull or find their arrows.
    9. Keep children, dogs etc under close control.
    10. Be polite to course officials and members of the public.