Section 4: Players & Officials
4.1 Individual Competitors
In the Olympic format, up to 64 archers per gender qualify for the individual event. Each archer competes independently. During the ranking round, all qualified archers shoot simultaneously. In elimination rounds, archers are seeded into a head-to-head bracket (1st seed vs 64th seed, 2nd vs 63rd, etc.) and compete one-on-one until a gold medallist is determined.
4.2 Team Composition
- Team event: 3 archers from the same nation. Each team member shoots 2 arrows per end (6 arrows total per team end). Teams are seeded by the combined ranking round scores of their three members.
- Mixed team event: 1 man and 1 woman from the same nation. Each archer shoots 2 arrows per end (4 arrows total per mixed team end), alternating shots. Mixed teams are seeded by the combined ranking round scores of the two members.
4.3 Officials and Their Roles
- Director of Shooting (DOS): Controls the flow of competition using light signals and audio signals. Responsible for starting and stopping shooting, managing the shot clock, and ensuring the schedule is followed.
- Judges: Qualified World Archery judges positioned on the field. They score arrows, resolve disputes about arrow values (using magnifying devices or callipers when an arrow is near a line), enforce time limits, and monitor equipment compliance. A minimum of one judge per four targets is required at international events.
- Timekeepers: Operate the electronic shot clock and traffic-light system. The clock displays remaining time; lights change from green (shoot) to amber (10 seconds remaining) to red (time expired).
- Technical Delegate: A WA-appointed official who oversees the entire event, ensuring compliance with WA rules and resolving appeals from the jury of appeal.
- Jury of Appeal: A panel (typically 3 members) that hears formal appeals from athletes or team managers regarding judge decisions. Their ruling is final.
4.4 Agent and Coach Access
Each team is permitted one coach in the designated coaches' area adjacent to the waiting line. Coaches may communicate with their archers between ends but not during active shooting. No electronic communication devices (earpieces, radios) are permitted between coaches and archers during competition.