[Archers] New Archery Rule Change

Wed Mar 3 06:23:50 PST 2010

I would like you all to know that I'm watching this conversation.  Some brief notes to ensure that we are acting on an informed basis:

First, here is the original and new rule, with additional space provided for ease of reading:

========================
Original
3.9.3.2.2 At a minimum, each shooting station will have a safety
zone that extends 30 degrees from each end of the shooting line to a line even
with the furthest target, or 50 yards, whichever is closer. 

The zone will then
extend straight back from those points for 40 yards, or half the distance from
the shooting line to the target, whichever is greater. 

A larger safety zone is
recommended if possible.

 3.9.3.2.2
At
a minimum, each shooting station will have a safety zone that extends 30
degrees from each end of the shooting line to a line even with the furthest
target, or 50 yards, whichever is closer. 

The
safety zone will then extend 100 yards from all points on the shooting line, or
half the distance from the shooting line to a line parallel to the farthest
target, whichever is greater. 

A
larger safety zone is recommended if possible.  

A
waiver may be requested for shorter ranges provided there is a physical
barrier, which will stop arrows. 

This
waiver must be requested in writing from the DEM-Target Archery only and
approval must be received in writing and retained by the Marshal in charge at
the site.  

The DEM-Target Archery may provide restrictions in order to use
the modified range, such as restricting bow type and poundage.
========================

Second, while I have the deepest respect for Siegfried there are some errors in his post.  The 100 yards is not from the target.  The wording clearly indicates that the safety zone requirements are from the shooting line.  This means for all shoots, the minimum safety zone is 100 yards.  Previously, the 40 yard addition was to from the target which would allow, for a target 20 yards away a safety zone of 60 yards.

Third, this rule was created in response to an incident that clearly indicated that the safety zone we have been operating on was insufficient.  This was a second point where Siegfried was incorrect, as in the incident I'm referencing the range was setup at the margins of the old rule.  An arrow landed significantly outside the area in question, and showed that the safety zone as currently written was woefully inadequate.  This was no "freak accident", the arrow skipped off the top of the target which is not an uncommon circumstance.  The rule was written so that any range established will have a sufficient safety zone as compared to the weapons we are using.

Fourth, neither training nor common sense are a substitute for rules that accurately reflect the hazards of our sports.  For example, I would say that Seigfried's assertion that there is an area beyond the safety zone that is safe enough that you don't feel the need to rope it off but not so safe that you would shoot towards it as another indication that the previous rules are insufficient.

Finally, I want to give you some idea of where I am coming from as I modify policy.  Please understand that I am saying this to be clear and so that you understand where I am coming from.  My intent here is not to be dismissive, rude or to marginalize your activity.  At the core of my job, and thus the core of the rules, safety is paramount.  By necessity it overrules all other considerations.  If a policy change I feel is necessary impacts a sport negatively, I will regret that the circumstances require the change, but I will not hesitate to make the modification.

I promise you that I will monitor this conversation and work with my DEM-Target Archery going forward if changes are warranted.

Believe it or not, yours in service,

Lord Kynnyth Pyke
Earl Marshal, Atlantia

----- Original Message ----
From: Siegfried <siegfried at crossbows.biz>
To: archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Wed, March 3, 2010 8:18:06 AM
Subject: Re: [Archers] New Archery Rule Change

On 3/3/10 12:36 AM, Esperanza wrote:
> I have received my March Acorn and the new rule was in it.

Thanks for the info, I don't have the March copy yet and the online
archive doesn't have March yet either.

> I also have alot concerns regarding this new rule.  I think Siegfried
> summed it up pretty well. Alot of sites that have been perfectly safe in
> the past are deemed unsafe now because they do not have 100 yards from
> the shooting line. Having visibility of that 100 yards is another
> concern, not all ranges are in a totally flat area.

Actually, check the rule closer.  It's not 100yds from the shooting
line, it's 100yds from the target.

Previously under "40yds or half to the target, whichever is greater": A
standard royal round range would need 80yds minimum cleared from the
shooting line.  40yds to the target, 40yds behind that.

Now, 140yds minimum needs clear from the shooting line.  40yds to the
target, 100yds behind that.

But again, in some ways this is a fuzzy point.  Noone would have setup a
RR range, especially with tall targets (versus ground-based), and had
ONLY 40yds behind marked as safety zone, and people standing exactly
40yds behind the target watching the shooting.  There is a difference
between "OMG arrows are definitely landing in this area" safety zone.
And "It's possible in a freak accident for somehow an arrow to end up
"here", therefore we aren't marking it off, but we will be keeping our
eyes open and obviously not shooting if someone somehow enters that area.

But training & common sense had dictated that you made sure that those
40yds were 100% clear, and that you had enough 'safety room' beyond
that, be it visible open room you can easily call hold if someone
entered but you weren't 'roping off'.  Be it shooting into a hillside.
Be it taking into account the nature of the shoot/etc.

Also note another range changes.

For a 5yd ground target only shoot:
Previously: 45yds clear
       Now: 105yds clear

For a typical 100yd clout:
Previously: 150yds clear
       Now: 200yds clear

Siegfried

-- 
Barun Siegfried Sebastian Faust - Barony of Highland Foorde - Atlantia
http://hf.atlantia.sca.org/ - http://crossbows.biz/ - http://eliw.com/
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