Safety Rules
You will be aware of the strict safety code for archery. Every session you have attended on a Beginners' Course will have been controlled by a Field Captain, whose duty it is to ensure that the field is safe at all times. When you begin shooting as a member, safety is no less important, but you have to take more responsibility to ensure safe shooting.
Each member of the Society has a duty of care to ensure that his/her actions do not compromise anyone's safety.
The following safety rules will apply, regardless of how many archers are shooting.
- No Archer may shoot whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Failing to comply with this will lead to withdrawal of RLSAS membership
- No archer may draw his bow, with or without an arrow, except when standing at the shooting line. If an arrow is used, the archer shall aim towards the targets, but only after being satisfied that the field is clear both in front of and behind the targets.
- When drawing back the string of the bow an archer shall not use any technique, which could if accidentally loosed, allow the arrow to fly beyond the safety zone.
- If anyone is aware that shooting should be halted for safety reasons, that person must call 'FAST'. On hearing that call, all archers must immediately stop shooting, returning all unshot arrows to the quiver.
If anyone should appear on the shooting field, in front of or behind the targets, or on the far side of the hedge, stop shooting immediately and shout 'FAST'. - Shooting must always take place under the control of a Field Captain. If the Club Captain is not present, archers must agree on who is to take control and what signals are to be used.
- Any children who are not themselves members of the club, brought to the shooting ground by a member [or parent of a member], are at all times the responsibility of that member [or parent of a member].
- No one should run on the shooting field, either in front or behind the shooting line.
- Care should be taken when pulling arrows to ensure that no one is standing in front of the target. No more than two archers should pull arrows from one boss. Juniors age 12 or under should not pull arrows unless given permission to do so.
- When rugby training or a match is taking place on the adjacent pitch, all archery should be confined to the left-hand half of the shooting ground.
