Range Commands

Since archery is a potentially dangerous sport, the range control officer directs the shooting through four simple commands. All archers and spectators on the archery range are required to obey the range commands. Failure to obey the commands will put your self or others at risk of grave bodily harm, and those disobeying the range commands will be ejected from the archery range.

1. On Line – On Line is the command which directs the archers to leave the waiting area, with their bows, and straddle the shooting line.
2. Begin – Begin is the command which directs the archers to begin shooting at the targets. At this time the archers may remove an arrow from their quiver and shoot one arrow at a time. Once the archer has finished shooting all their arrows, they will return to the waiting area and place their bow on the bow rack.
3. Clear – Clear is the command which directs the archers to leave the waiting area and go down range to retrieve their arrows. This is only time when the archers may cross the shooting line.
4. Hold – Hold is an emergency command. When the hold command is given, then all archers must immediately stop shooting. All arrows must be returned to the quivers. When the emergency is over, the command Begin be given to restart shooting.