[Archers] New Archery Rule Change

[Charles Oliff]

I have a few specific questions:  (the new rules are in quotes and my
questions/comments are in brackets)

MODIFICATION :
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 above is clear so far]

"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."

[This part bothers me because it basically states that the 'safety
zone' extends 100 yards from the shooting line  or half the distance to the
farthest target.  Which, as written, says the saftey zone for a 200 yard
target is 100 yards from the shooting line.  Now, that being said, I assume
that they mean 100 yards from the end of the 30 degree line, but that is not
what is written.  It should be pointed out that the old rule specifies that
'the zone extends from the end of the 30 degree line while the new rule does
not.]

"A larger safety zone is recommended if possible........"

NEW POLICY NUMBER:

3.8.3.2.5
"The MIC-Target Archery will design the range with safety being the
primary concern."

[This part is just plain offensive.  Safety is always the primary concern at
all of my shoots and at all of the shoots I have attended.  It's rule number
one that they teach at all of the marshall training classes I have attended
as well.  If they're just trying to say that rule number one on the range is
'Saftey First' then they could go about wording it much better.]

" Range design will account for control of the shooters,
visibility of the range and the surrounding area, site layout and foot and
vehicle traffic patterns."

[Is this just them putting in writing what we already do?  Or are they
trying to say something more?]

I do see some people mentioning that the saftey zone must be entirely clear
and visible.  Where is that specifically stated?   Unless the last line of
the new rules is intending to mean more than what it actually says, all I
can see in the rules is in section *3.9.3.2.1* where it statest that "Safety
zones need to be clearly marked off."  So all this means to me is that with
the new, larger, safety zones nothing has changed except the amount of area
that I need to 'clearly mark off'  That being said, I do agree that this is
not possible at some events, especially where the actual location of the
archery range on the event site borders property that isn't part of the
event site and thus we don't have the right to block off.  This has been the
case at many events and is the whole point of allowing anyone to call HOLD
when they see something.

The new rules are definitely unclear and poorly written.

William of Wolverhampton
Caer Gelynniog
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