Section 5: Rules of Play
5.1 Ranking Round
The competition begins with the ranking round (also called the qualification round). Each archer shoots 72 arrows at 70 metres, fired in 12 ends of 6 arrows each. The time limit is 4 minutes per end of 6 arrows (or 2 minutes per end of 3 arrows if the field uses alternating shooting). The maximum possible score is 720 (72 × 10). Ranking round scores determine the seedings for all subsequent elimination brackets (individual, team, and mixed team).
5.2 Individual Elimination (Set System)
Olympic individual matches use the set system. Each match consists of up to 5 sets of 3 arrows per archer:
- The archer with the higher 3-arrow total in a set wins that set and receives 2 set points.
- If both archers score the same total, each receives 1 set point.
- The first archer to accumulate 6 set points wins the match.
- A match can be won as early as after 3 sets (6-0) and will go to a maximum of 5 sets.
Each archer has 20 seconds to shoot each arrow in individual elimination, with archers shooting alternately (one arrow each in turn). The lower-seeded archer shoots first in each set.
5.3 Shoot-Off (Tiebreaker)
If the score is tied 5–5 after 5 sets, the match goes to a shoot-off. Each archer shoots 1 arrow within 20 seconds. The arrow closest to the centre of the target wins. If both arrows are in the same scoring ring, the arrow physically closer to the exact centre (measured by judges) wins. If the arrows are equidistant, a second shoot-off arrow is shot.
5.4 Team Elimination
Team matches also use the set system with up to 4 sets of 6 arrows per team (2 arrows per archer per set). Teams have 2 minutes per end (the three archers rotate to the shooting line and each shoots 2 arrows). Archers must shoot in a consistent order each end, alternating positions at the line. Set point scoring is the same as individual matches. The first team to reach 5 set points wins (a tie at 4–4 after 4 sets proceeds to a shoot-off). In a team shoot-off, each of the three archers shoots 1 arrow (3 arrows total), and the team with the highest 3-arrow total wins. If tied, the team with the arrow closest to centre wins.
5.5 Mixed Team Elimination
Mixed team matches follow the same set system with up to 4 sets of 4 arrows (2 per archer per set). The two archers alternate shots, with each archer shooting one arrow at a time. The time limit is 80 seconds per end of 4 arrows. The team reaching 5 set points first wins. A tie at 4–4 proceeds to a shoot-off where each archer shoots 1 arrow (2 total); highest total wins, with closest-to-centre as the tiebreaker.
5.6 Compound Format (Non-Olympic)
Compound individual matches do not use the set system. Instead, each archer shoots 5 ends of 3 arrows (15 arrows total), and the match is decided by cumulative score. The archer with the higher total wins. In case of a tied total, a single shoot-off arrow decides the match. Compound archers shoot at 50 metres on an 80 cm or triple-spot face. Time limit: 20 seconds per arrow in alternating format.
5.7 Shooting Procedure and Signals
The Director of Shooting controls all activity on the range using a standardized signal system:
- Two whistle blasts (or two audible signals): Archers may move from the waiting line to the shooting line and prepare to shoot.
- One whistle blast: Shooting may begin. The shot clock starts.
- Three whistle blasts: Archers must stop shooting, set down their bows, and proceed forward to score and retrieve arrows.
- Five or more rapid whistle blasts: Emergency stop. All shooting ceases immediately. Archers must un-nock any arrows, step back from the shooting line, and await further instruction. This signal indicates a safety hazard (e.g., a person on the range, equipment failure, or medical emergency).
A traffic-light system accompanies the whistle signals at major events: green light means shooting is permitted, amber indicates the final 30 seconds (or 10 seconds in alternating format), and red means time has expired and shooting must stop.