In case of a close-to-the-line mis-shot arrow during a non match-play round, the competitor has the choice of going on shooting or using the equipment failure procedure (Art. 7.4.2.3). In the former hypothesis, if (after a close checking by the judge) the lying arrow is considered to have been shot, the highest value arrow of that end will be forfeited (Art. 7.6.9). In the latter case (equipment failure procedure) the competitor shall eventually make up the arrow if the lying arrow is considered not to have been shot (after close checking).
The judge must take into consideration in his close checking of a close-to-the line mis-shot arrow that the competitor must be able to estimate the validity of his shot from the shooting line and in doubt cases the benefit will be given to the competitor.

Foot lift (Book 2, Article 7.3; Book 3, Article 8.3; Book 4, Article 9.3; Book 5, Article 11.6.7 and 11.10.3

A question was raised by a FITA Member Association on the legality of the use of a footlift: The device is used by an athlete to stabilize the athlete’s stance, by standing on it.
The Constitution & Rules Committee finds the question presented to be within terms of reference of the Technical Committee, and has determined that the following Interpretation of the Technical Committee is not contrary to the existing rules or Congress decisions.
Response from the Technical Committee:
The Technical Committee was requested to determine the legality of a piece of material that an athlete could stand on while on the shooting line. The Technical Committee first had to examine what the device was not. A portion of rule 7.3.2.10.1 (8.3.2.10.1 and 9.3.10.1.1) states that foot markers may not protrude more than 1 cm from the ground. However, foot markers by definition are left on the shooting line as “foot placement markers”. The height restriction on foot markers of 1 cm is a safety issue so not to cause a walking hazard for any participant or venue staff. If the device in question is moved or removed from the shooting line if another athlete feels it is in the way, the athlete using the device can simply move it for each individual shooting session/end of arrows.
Therefore, the object clearly cannot be viewed as a foot marker, but rather a foot elevation device to assist the athlete in adapting a stable stance. Such a device may be used to compensate for physical disabilities or otherwise. The Technical Committee members all agree that it is basically a piece of technical equipment.
It is the opinion of the Technical Committee that a “foot lift” (device to raise the front or back of the foot, attached or independent of the shoe) is legal under the FITA competition rules in all divisions, with the following restrictions. 1) As long as the device does not represent any obstruction to other athletes on the shooting line, a piece of material may be used for an athlete to stand on while on the shooting line. 2) If another athlete on that target feels the foot lift is in the way, then the material must be moved to a neutral area or removed from the shooting line for each shooting rotation. 3) The device must not constitute a platform, which would span or bridge the shooting line, anchor the foot to a platform, and/or anchor the platform to the ground. 4) May not be more than 2 cm in any direction past the footprint of the shoe.
Independent pieces of material to raise the front or back of the foot are legal for one or both feet.

FITA Technical Committee, 27 October 2008
Approved by the FITA C&R Committee, 6 November 2008
From November FITA Info magazine.

String Dampeners

Further Clarification from the Chairman of the FITA Technical Committee on the Official Interpretation from 12 June 2008 (string dampeners, Book 5, Articles 11.10.3.4.2 &11.10.2.4.1).
As noted in the questions [below], suppressors can have different functions. In our sport, a suppressor could provide dampening/reduction in vibration, torsion, sound and in the case of the string attachments, possibly even amplitude.

1)   Exactly what kind of “suppressors” “dampeners”, etc is FITA talking about in their interpretations (string mounted? Riser or limb mounted? Solid or flexible?
All of the above. Suppressors could be string mounted, limb mounted or riser mounted. Riser and limb mounted suppressors/dampeners have the main function of reducing vibration and torsion. A bowstring mounted suppressor/dampener has similar characteristics and can also reduce sound and possibly string amplitude. Many of the questions that come to our committee must be viewed on a case by case basis. This is also the reason the Technical Committee is not providing photos, because the market is flooded with numerous types of dampener/suppressor devices with new ones coming on the market all of the time. Providing photos of some devices but not others often causes significant issues where readers function in absolutes, while others understand the use of examples. Each person can have their own interpretation and the reason it is not possible to answer every question or cover every possibility in our written rules.

2)   Will FITA allow any other device on the riser or limb that contacts the string?
The answer must be basically yes. If an object is attached to the riser and extends enough to contact the string, whether in constant contact or interval contact, it would first be considered a stabiliser due to length and attachment point and would also constitute a string guide, which is illegal under rule 7.3.1.6.1, bullet one and two. If a dampening device were attached to the limbs and also contacted the bowstring, it would depend on the position, design and overall function. Here it would have to be determined if the device would constitute a stabiliser and if so, fall under rule 7.3.1.6.1.

3)   Will FITA accept any additional device on the riser, limb or string of the recurve or standard bow if it is not specifically included by the rules?
The rules for bowstrings are very clear under each category and easily interpreted. For example, recurve bows (Olympic style) can have nothing on the bowstring other than what is listed under rule 7.3.1.2.1. Regarding the comment about “any additional device on the riser, limb of are curve or standard bow”, please remember that there are different rules for each discipline. Therefore, let’s examine only the recurve (Olympic style) as the standard bow is more restrictive. On a recurve bow, stabilisers are allowed, as long as they do not touch anything but the bow and do not act as a string guide. No limit on the number of stabilisers currently exists.

From FITA INFO Newsletter, October, 2008.

The following quotes are from emails from Don Rabska dated November 17 and December 3, 2008. Don had been asked if FITA would allow STS systems as pictured below on a recurve bow.

"The device would not be legal in the recurve division. First, due to the function let along appearance, it would  be classified as a stabilizer. Under 7.3.1.6, the stabilizer may not act as a string guide. Also, it cannot contact anything but the bow, meaning riser and limbs. The device would, to some degree, constitute a string guide since its function is to alter the string path in some way." (November 17, 2008)
"Please understand that when the compound was brought into FITA, it was pretty much considered an unlimited division. Whereas recurve has traditionally been a highly limiting and restrictive division regarding its rules. Anyway, to make a long story short, it has been a long standing opinion that the follow statement supersedes most of the rest of the equipment rules pertaining to compound, as follows:
7.3.3 For the Compound Division, the follow equipment is described. All types of additional devices, unless they are electric or electronic, are permitted:...
You will note that the recurve has nothing like this statement attached." (December 3, 2008)

Arrows Shot after Practice Closed or Between Distances
A question was raised by the FITA Council regarding the number of arrows that an athlete is to shoot in the first end following the athlete having shot one ore more arrows on the competition field after the DOS has officially closed the practice session or during the breaks between distances or rounds in violation of the C&R articles referred to above.
Response from the Target Archery Committee:
If an athlete violates such rules by shooting an arrow on the competition field after being closed or during the breaks between distances or rounds, he or she should shoot the full end (3 or 6 arrows) in the next official end and lose the highest scoring arrow of that end.
If the athlete shoots a second arrow (or more) in violation of such rules, he or she loses the second highest scoring arrow (and so on for each arrow shot on the competition field after being closed).
FITA Target Archery Committee, 17 December 2007
Approved by the FITA C&R Committee, 18 December 2007
 

 Incomplete Qualification Round
A question was raised by a Member Association on whether an athlete who participates in some but not all of the Qualification Round may compete in the Elimination Round where the athlete's score would rank the athlete among those entitled to compete in the Elimination Round.
Response from the Constitution & Rules Committee:
The Constitution and Rules Committee unanimously is of the opinion that if an athlete shoots one or more arrows in the Qualification Round, he or she is entitled to compete in the Elimination Round if his or her score entitles the athlete to be seeded within those who are eligible to participate in the Elimination Round. The Constitution and Rules Committee believes that the reason for the athlete's failure to shoot a complete round is not relevant. The Constitution and Rules Committee noted that some members of the other Committees consulted believe that an athlete should only be permitted to advance to the Elimination Round when the cause for the athlete's failure to shoot a complete round is due to bona fide medical reasons. The Constitution and Rules Committee, however, believes that it is not advisable to require the Chairperson of Judges to make an evaluation of whether or not an absence was due to bona fide medical reason. To do so would encourage protests by other athletes and would require the Chairperson to make determinations as to medical conditions which he or she may not be qualified to make.
C&R Committee, 17 October 2007
After consultation with the FITA Athletes, Field and Target Archery Committees

 Noise Reduction Devices on the Shooting Line
A question was raised by a Member Association whether athletes may wear noise reduction devices while on the shooting line in order to minimize external sounds (nonelectronic devices such as noise reduction headsets or ear plugs).
Response from the FITA Technical Committee:
1) Clarifying Statement Regarding Hearing Protection and Decibel Reduction Devices:
The Technical Committee has determined that devices for Hearing Protection in regard to sound reduction and or elimination are not legal for any FITA competition (see official interpretation below). However, there are specific instances where “ear protection” is necessary in cases of extreme cold or medical requirements. Garments such as hats with ear flaps, wide head bands and similar outerwear used in cold weather and or cotton in the ear to follow medication are legal. Items such as a scarf, hat, wide head band or cotton do not constitute a device to reduce or eliminate sound. The rule was made specifically toward any device used for reducing sound, such as used in firearm sports or in industrial use. Any device made specifically for reducing decibel levels to protect hearing or reduce sound is not legal due to the danger of not hearing possible emergency signals on the competition field or venue, as well as other reasons noted in the official interpretation.
2) Subject: Earclocks, Ear covers, Hearing Protection, Decibel reduction devices, etc.;
It is the majority opinion of the FITA Technical Committee that any type of hearing protectors or devices that reduces audible decibel levels for archers during competition are not legal in any FITA discipline.
Our first and foremost concern is over the issue of safety. Modern hearing protection and decibel reducing devices are in many cases so efficient that audible signals from the director of shooting could go completely unnoticed. In this event, it creates a safety hazard should any emergency arise on the field of play or competition venue.
Secondly, external hearing reducing/eliminating devices could easily house micro transmitters that would be virtually undetectable to judges and therefore provide an unfair advantage to the competitor using such a device.
Third, equipment restrictions exist in all divisions and are so provided for the purpose of limiting archer aids. Allowing any device that can reduce a specific stimulus to allow for a higher level of concentration by artificial means is, in our opinion not within the spirit of the rules of our organization. Additionally, and as is noted above, the reduction or elimination of sound is a safety hazard, and therefore a danger to the wellbeing of the athletes competing in an event.
FITA Technical Committee, 22 October 2007
Approved by C&R Committee, 22 October 2007

Hungarian Horse Bow
A question was raised by a Member Association on the legality of the bow commonly known as the "Hungarian Horse Bow" (see attached pictures)
Response from the Technical Committee:
Please note that there are several styles of the Hungarian Horse Bow on the current market. For this reason, all Hungarian Horse Bows cannot be considered equal in the division they would be allowed.
It is the official opinion of the FITA Technical Committee that the Hungarian Horse Bow is legal in the Recurve Division, and in some cases in the Instinctive Division (under 3D archery) and in the Barebow Division. With regard to the Barebow Division and Instinctive Division, some of the Hungarian Horse Bows have on the belly side of the bow, stitching, cross weaving and other means to secure covering over the bow limbs.
Bows that are manufactured in this way would not be legal in the FITA Barebow Division or Instinctive Division due to the raised stitching and or weave that could constitute a means for aiming. However, other manufactures or models of Hungarian type Horse Bows do not posses such marks or protrusions and therefore are considered legal in the FITA Barebow Division and Instinctive Division, as long as they adhere to the rules governing the recurve bow as used in this specific discipline.
Furthermore, there are many types of Horse Bows other than the Traditional Magyar (Hungarian) bow style. For example there are Mongolian, Korean, Assyrian, Scythian, Turkish and others of similar design. Virtually all would meet the specifications of the rules pertaining to the Hungarian Horse Bow rule and therefore would be legal within the above parameters.
FITA Technical Committee, 26 October 2007
Approved by the FITA C&R Committee, 28 October 2008

Competing for Nationals Teams (from an email from Tom Dielen, October 18, 2007)
In short an athlete can compete for another nation if there is a written permission from the other country and this applies for FITA Events. For Olympic/Commonwealth and other Games the passport is a must.

I can give you several examples. We have a Swiss Archer who might be competing for Dominican Republic next year since he moved there for his profession (The Swiss federation gave the permission) and we have a British Archer who competed for Switzerland in Leipzig since he lives and works in Switzerland for 5 years and GNAS gave the permission for him to compete for Switzerland. However he cannot compete for Switzerland at the Olympic Games since he doesn't have the Swiss passport. If he would get the Swiss passport he would need to wait 3 years before he can compete for Switzerland at the Olympics unless an agreement can be found between IOC, FITA and the NOC of his former country.

FAQ - National Teams
Book 1, Article 2.4
Question: Do the eligibility to National Teams rules apply for World Ranking Tournaments or World Cup Events?
Answer: Yes, these are the rules for all events where the registrations have to be made by the Member Associations.

Book 1, Article 2.4
Question: Does it matter if someone has competed for his country passport when he/she wants to compete for another Member Association?
Answer: No, provided that he/she complies with Book 1, Article 2.4.2 of FITA Constitution and Rules, and the interpretation of the C&R Committee on 29 August 2005.

Book 1, Article 2.4
Question: What is the situation of archers holding dual citizenship with regard to eligibility to national teams?
Answer: Article 2.4, including article 2.4.4 applies to national teams and representing a country internationally only.

Dual citizenship gives the holder of passports of different countries special rights but in archery it does not entitle that person to gain an advantage over another person who holds only one passport.
a. An athlete holding two valid passports for countries A and B may choose to represent either country in archery without a waiting period and without any restriction concerning residence. Such a choice is binding, however, and any subsequent changes are subject to articles 2.4.1; 2.4.2; 2.4.3.
b. If such an athlete belongs to FITA by being a member of one Member Association A and wants to represent the other country of which he is a national, he may do so without any restriction of time and residence. A written permission of the first country is not obligatory but a demand of politeness.
c. For FITA purposes it does not matter whether the athlete has already represented either country in a different sport.

If the athlete obtains the second passport to which he is entitles by birth only later the athlete will only be allowed to represent that country after a waiting period of one year.

Book 1, Article 2.4
A question has been raised concerning eligibility for National Teams.
Response from the C&R Committee:
The C&R Committee agrees that according to Book 1, Article 2.4.2, an athlete may join a National Team without being a national of the National Team and without having a valid passport of the nation of the new National Team if the other conditions (residence for 1 year, being a member of the new Member Association, and not having shot for another Member Association for at least 1 year) are fulfilled.
In order to avoid complications and discussions on eligibility during a competition, and also as a simple matter of courtesy, the written permission of the Member Association of which the athlete has a valid passport is necessary, even if the athlete has not shot for this National Team before. This position does not overrule a possibly different national ruling or the IOC Charter concerning the participation at the Olympic Games. Currently an archer in the situation mentioned above can compete and even obtain a quota place at a FITA event for the Olympic Games. However in order to compete at the Olympic Games he/she would need to have a passport from the country of his/her new National Team.
C&R Committee, 29 August 2005

Practice(1) from FITA Newsletter Feb, 2007
Question: Is it possible to allow archers to warm up at whichever distances on whichever butts they like during the breaks between distances (in particular when there is a long break e.g. for lunch between the first and second distance outdoors)?
Answer: If there is no practice field available, during long breaks you can add the possibility (not mandatory, depending on the organizer) of placing warming-up targets on the sides next to the competition field or on the competition field but not on distances to be shot after the break (no sighter arrows). These targets can be removed before the competition continues.
The reason for this addition is that you make warming-up possible which is not against the rules and common practice under such circumstances. Many archers consider this to be an important service and nobody gains any advantage over other competitors. For safety reasons such warming-up must be under the control of the organizer or the judges.

Practice(2)
Excerpt from the Judges Guidebook, 2006 V5.0
5.7 Practice
While practice on the competition courses for Field archery is not allowed, FITA does allow archers to practice on the tournament field during the days of competition for both Outdoor and Indoor archery. Practice is covered by C&R Book 1, Article 3.19 (2004).
A question is repeatedly asked: «What does the Judge do when an archer, during the practice session, shoots before or after the signals indicating an end?»
Practice sessions are now controlled by an assistant DOS. There is no limit to the number of arrows an archer may shoot per end in the time given. The DOS generally gives the time equivalent to the ends of the competition (4 min or 2 min). The only possible breaking the rules would be if an archer continues to shoot after the DOS has given the stop shooting signal.
An archer making this mistake is subject to being barred from that practice session (C&R Book 1, Article 3.19.3.3 (2004).
Arrow(s) shot after the stop shooting signal of the last end of the practice session also belong to this session. The practice session is over when the arrows of the last end have been retrieved.
Tournament organizers, in accordance with Article 3.19.1, are able to allow practice on the Tournament Field prior to the start of the competition; the targets need only be set up at the first distance to be shot.

Practice(3) (FITA Info February 2005)
Can practice take place at distances other than the longest distance during a FITA Star that is not a FITA World or Continental Championships?
C&R are unanimous to rule that practice arrows or warm-up arrows can be shot at any distance in the breaks between distances of a Star Shoot if the practice targets are not on the competition field and if the schedule of the star tournament is not influenced by these practice arrows. Moreover we consider these practice arrows to be a service of the organizer and not to be a part of the competition.
Klaus-Dietrich Schulz, Chairman C&R

Practice(4) Book 4, Article 9.5.1.7
A question was raised by a Member Association on whether an archer who has had an equipment failure is allowed to go to the practice field to shoot a few arrows to check his equipment right after he has fixed it and during the competition.
Response from the Constitution & Rules Committee:
The C&R Committee is unanimous that no practice arrows are allowed during the competition.
C&R Committee, 19 September 2007

Dress Regulations from FITA Newsletter Feb, 2007
Question: What are the dress regulations for National Teams competing at:
1. FITA Outdoor Target Archery World Championships;
2. FITA Indoor Target Archery World Championships;
3. FITA Field World Championships;
4. World Cup events;
5. Other international tournaments (European Championships, Grand Prix);
6. Junior Championships;
Answer:
Preliminary remark:
The new dress regulations are part of the FITA effort to remain Olympic and to present as good an image of Archery and of FITA as possible to the public. This goal has to be kept in mind particularly when Archery events are on TV.
Article 3.22 of Book 1 describes explicitly the requirements for Target Archery World Championships for Men and Women. It is highly recommended that these rules be followed at international events in general.
as to 1 Highly recommended; mandatory for the match play part of the competition.
as to 2 Highly recommended; mandatory for the match play part of the competition. This also applies to Juniors when their competition is part of the Championships for women and men.
as to 3 These rules do not apply to Field.
as to 4 & 5 Recommended, but mandatory for match play in World Ranking events with guaranteed TV coverage (this includes all World Cup events).
as to 6 Recommended; the onus is on the Member Association to send teams with uniform appearance and teach juniors and cadets the importance of proper, neat appearance for the image of their sport.

Double-ringed sight from FITA Newsletter Feb, 2007
Question: Is this double ringed sight pin legal or illegal? (See picture to right)
Answer: This sight is legal in the Recurve and Compound bow divisions, Indoor, Outdoor Target and Field Archery, including the unmarked portion of the Field Archery rounds.

Barebow Tabs and Notes from FITA Newsletter Feb, 2007
Question: Can there be scales or other marks on a barebow tab?
1. tabmarks are allowed,
2. scales are allowed,
3. numbers on the tab providing information about distances are not allowed.
Question: Are barebow archers allowed to carry written notes on the field course concerning the marks on their tabs?
The C&R committee is unanimous that such notes are not only against the spirit of barebow shooting but are breaking the rule 9.3.11.4.
In addition to the barebow equipment as described in article 9.3 a barebow competitor may only carry notes that are explicitly allowed in article 9.3.11.4.

Team Size from FITA Newsletter Nov-Dec, 2006
7.5.3.3 In the Olympic Round Team event (both teams shooting at the same time):
• A team consists of three (3) athletes.
• All members of a team must be announced prior to the start of the Qualification Round .Such members must take part in the Qualification Round and cannot be changed.

Non-magnifying glass in sight (FITA Newsletter, May 2006)
Question: Can a flat clear plastic or glass inside the sight hood (or tunnel) - offering no magnification and/or light change (with or without an aiming mark on it) - be used in the Recurve division?
Answer: Such a clear disk is perfectly legal in the Recurve division as long as it is simply a “support” to the aiming dot, ring, cross, optic fibber…
Warning!
The above item is neither a lens nor a prism; because a lens/prism has one or two curved surfaces and has the ability to alter light and/or view passing through it. A lens/prism is not allowed in the Recurve division (see article 7.3.1.5.1.); it is only allowed in the Compound division (see article 7.3.3.5.1.)

Question: In Field archery, can a Compound archer have 2 scopes mounted on the sight?
Example for a right handed archer: one scope to the left on the sight, and another one, mounted on the same rod, mounted to right.
Comments: Usually the scope on the right side of the sight is more powerful and is used for evaluating the shooting distance on the unmarked course, which contravenes the following rules:  2nd bullet of # 9.3.5.3.1,  # 9.3.11.2,  # 9.3.11.3.
Nevertheless the answer below does not take this illegal use in consideration.
Answer: In the Compound division (as in the Recurve division by the way) only one sight point is allowed. See articles: # 7.3.3.5.2. for Outdoor Target, # 8.3.2.5.2 for Indoor, 3rd bullet of # 9.3.5.3.1 for Field
Hence 2 scopes are definitively not allowed on a Compound Bow in Field Archery.

Definition of a Compound bow  (FITA Newsletter, May 2006)
Response from the Technical Committee:
A Compound Bow can be of the traditional riser design or of a shoot-through design. Its draw weight and length can mechanically vary through a system of pulleys, cables, wheels and/or cams. The bow is braced by a bowstring which is attached to one or a combination of the components mentioned and/or directly to the limb tips. In operation, it is held in one hand by the handle (grip) and not supported by other means. Occasional bow arm contact by cables or a bows structural brace is acceptable (see 7.3.3.1.3).
Technical Committee, 17 May 2006
Approved by C&R Committee, 22 May 2006

Class for World Records (see Article 5.3) from FITA Info Feb 2006
Question: How are World records recognized with regard to athlete’s classes?
Answer
A World record is always recognized in the class in which the athlete belongs by his/her age, no matter in which class he/she was registered at the tournament where he/she performed the record.
In addition:
A Men/Women World record is recognized if performed by a Master, Junior or Cadet Men/Women, no matter in which class he/she was registered at the tournament where he/she performed the record.
A Junior Men/Women record is recognized if performed by a Cadet Men/Women, no matter in which class he/she was registered at the tournament where he/she performed the record if the format of the competition is the same for both (e.g. A cadet when participating in a FITA Round for Cadets can not break at the same time the Junior Records since the distances or the order in which they were shot are not the same.)
Of course in all case the tournaments where the records are performed have to be duly registered with FITA.
FCA Note: This is the same interpretation as for Canadian records in FCA rules.

Order of shooting in Team round
7.5.2.4: add 7th bullet
8.5.2.4: add 6th bullet
• When alternating shooting is used for the team competition the teams have to alternate between the team members after each shot so that each member has shot one arrow in each phase of the rotation.
FITA INFO September, 2006

Use of pencils
FITA Info July, 2006: "Question: Is the use of pencils allowed when scoring at FITA sanctioned events – National Championships,
Award Tournaments and World Ranking Tournaments? Answer: No rules disallow the use of pencil for scoring arrows. The possibility of cheating is prevented by the cross-checking between the two scorers and by the judges controlling the conduct of scoring.    FITA INFO July 2006

Number of judges in the field (1 per 8 targets), definition of a compound bow, OK to use non-magnifying glass in recurve sight. see FITA bulletin May, 2006

Can't use Adjustable camera type iris holes on aiming eye. see FITA bulletin April, 2006

PDA's are allowed at the target as long as they are not communication devices see FITA bulletin November 2005

October 8, 2005 rule changes details (pdf) [These have been included in the current FCA rulebook]

Tunerz: Book 4, Article 9.3.10.1.1 (IR 05SEP01)
The question was raised by the Field Archery Committee on whether the anti-vibration/tuning devices called « Tunerz » would be allowed to be used for Barebow.
Response from the Technical Committee: It is the official opinion of the Technical Committee that the device submitted for examination called “Turnerz” for use in the Barebow division is legal. This device shall be considered as “Limb Savers” and therefore is permitted for all divisions under Article 9.3.10, Book 4, and specifically Article 9.3.10.1.1
Technical Committee, 23 September 2005
Approved by C&R Committee, 25 September 2005
Reported in July 2007 proceedings from Leipzig Congress

Book 4, Article 9.3.1.2 (IR 05OCT01)
A question was raised by a Council member on the use of Spigarelli Revolution riser in Bare Bow division of FITA.
Response from the Technical Committee:
It is the official opinion of the FITA Technical Committee that the current design of the Spigarelli Revolution riser is not allowed in the Bare Bow division of FITA. Under 9.3.1.2, the riser contravenes this rule due to the half round cut out section within the sight window.
Technical Committee, 25 October 2005

Taping of joints
Book 2, Art. 7.3.1 and 7.3.3, Book 3, Art. 8.3.1, Book 4, Art. 9.3 (05AUG01)
A question has been raised concerning supports and taping of various joints, especially referring to wrist, elbow and shoulder areas.
Response from the C&R Committee, after consultation with the Medical Committee and the Technical Committee:
The taping of human joints, i.e. fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees etc. is legal within the rules of FITA. Although no rule supports this question, in the same regard no rule disallows it. Furthermore, the taping of joints has been a long time practice for many decades and therefore falls under a widely accepted and allowable framework of acceptable equipment. Within the last 50 plus years, no judge to our knowledge has proposed that taping is not legal. Therefore, we have to assume that under these circumstances, it is legal. However, it is to be stipulated that no such taping may contain a firm, "stiff" brace that would in any way help support the bow arm or drawing fingers in regard to any assistance in drawing and releasing the bowstring.
C&R Committee, 28 August 2005

FITA 70 Meter Round
The questions have been raised whether archers may shoot the FITA 70 Meter Round with ends of 3 arrows and whether those results would be valid for world records.
The C&R Committee is unanimous that according to C&R edition 2004, Book 2, article 7.4.1 the answer to both questions is “yes”.
 

FITA Awards
Below an official request for interpretation from the Secretary General, as ex officio member of Council, concerning FITA Performance Awards:
1. When an archer shoots the score of a performance award higher than the lowest award that would be available to him, is the Member Association under an obligation to also give the lower awards? If the National Federation is obligated to do so, are they free to ask for a reimbursement of the costs? If yes, can this amount be higher than the cost price of the awards (including any customs & postage costs)?
2. Can a Member Association ask for a fee for performance awards obtained by an archer?
3. Is for a two day arrowhead event the only determining factor whether the archer can obtain an arrowhead on one day, the fact that the member association registered the event as a single or double arrowhead or are there any other restrictions?
The C&R Committee agrees unanimously on the following:
Q 1: If the archer requests the lower award, too (which he has not yet got) the Member Association cannot refuse the request. The price the MA demands is an internal matter (see answer to question 2).
Q 2: A Member Association can ask for fees for performance awards. Administrational costs are an internal matter of a MA as long as the fees are reasonable and are not destroying the idea of an award.
Q 3: If the event consists of two separate arrowhead rounds, one award for each round is possible (see article 6.3.5.4). The event must be registered as a double arrowhead round and the scores must be kept separately for each arrowhead round.

Braces
From Judge Newsletter Oct 2006.
During the last year our Judges have been faced with a new tricky interpretation, making our lives more difficult than before. I am talking about the interpretation now put down in the by-law 7.3.3.1.3; a brace or split cables are permitted, provided they do not consistently touch the athlete’s hand, wrist and/or bow arm.
Well, we do have the same rule for recurve bows concerning the brace; however the construction of recurve bows with a brace usually differs from various types of braces on compound bows, where the brace is much closer to the wrist or hand of the archer. Even if there may be exceptions, recurve archers normally keep a rather good distance to the brace. For compound archers as mentioned, this is not the case – and our Judges are supposed to check if the brace consistently is supporting the wrist.
In fact, this is very difficult to decide from observation or photos. To have a better background I started by asking a couple of the best compound archers in the world about a possible support from the brace. They had both tried this possibility, but found that the contact with the bow (brace) was more a drawback than a help because the tension of the archer transmitted to the action of the bow
and made the shooting more unstable. Anyway this would only be an input, as other archers may have found it to be an advantage to them, may be even so the more the archers were on an average level.
So what do we do then? Again, we are supposed to check and it is, of course, possible to get a better impression of the placement of the bow hand during the equipment control when you ask them to pull the bow to check the poundage. But be aware that this is only an impression, as some archers are not so accurate re their bow hand when pulling the bow just for weight measurement.
But checking at that time, during warming up, during training and during the competition, the angle from where you check is of utmost importance (just as when you check an arrow value). You will never get the right impression unless you are standing exactly behind the archer in line of vision towards the target, looking over his draw arm shoulder. From all other practical angles you will often
get the impression that archers are touching the brace, even if they are not.
We considered these aspects thoroughly when making close and extensive checking during the European Indoor 2006 in Spain, and in the end we could not find any archer that obviously and consistently touched the brace.
The next question would of course be what to do if there should be a couple of archers who in the mind of the Judge(s) actually were touching the brace on a regular basis. I and my deputy chairman in Spain, Jean Martens, did a proper job in order to find some remedy that could help us and in the end we ended up with a kind of powder spray (foot spray), which was easy to brush off afterwards.
As we did not find any archers to be in the “grey zone” we did not use the spray in Spain, and even if we did, we would also have to be sure that even if we sprayed the brace and found some tracks of powder on the arm after the shot, we had to be sure that these tracks would come from holding the bow. Upon release, or during the “follow through”, the bow may have touched the hand/arm and left
some powder. Even so if we did the other way round.
Since this turned out to be a very difficult area to control, we also decided that if we would address any archer/team captain on the issue, we would try to do it during the practice or warming up, to minimize the effect on the competition for the archer(s) in question. This would still not prevent us from taking action if necessary during the competition stage.
Feedback received also tells us that situations re touching the brace would be more common among archers without knowledge of the by-law. In other words, the archers don’t try to cheat, they have just not been aware of the rule. No one in his or her home country has ever addressed the issue. This is important for Judges to know, so they may address the issue in a polite and correct manner.
As for split cables touching the arm more or less the same considerations are valid, although normally it is easier to observe, but again, consider your observation angle thoroughly.

Then some summing-up advice in checking possible illegal use of the brace:
a) Even if it is a difficult area, you have to check to your best ability.
b) When checking, be aware of your angle; from behind in the line of vision towards the target.
c) If you are not sure of possible touching when checking, the archer is probably not touching.
d) Do this checking preferably during equipment control, during practice and during warming up. It is
also much better to address the archer’s Team Captain on the issue outside the competition in case he
has to adjust the grip.
e) Remember that the by-law is talking about consistently touching, which means that even if you are
convinced that an archer is touching the brace, you have to check several shots to see if he repeatedly
touches – and not just have a poor technical performance on some shots.

Scoring Multiple arrows on Multiple Faces
From Judge's Newsletter #66 June 2007
The principles of ensuring correct scores are recorded are to take time to get to the right result, and follow through the rules in this order if multiple mistakes;
- If there are more than 1 arrow in a face, then the lowest value arrow keeps its score, and the rest are then treated as misses (i.e. find out the individual value of each arrow)
- Then apply the rules for when more than 3 arrows have been shot – take the lowest 3 arrow values
- Then deal with arrows shot out of time, and remove the highest scoring arrow that has been recorded on the score sheet for that end.