Archery

How to do Archery

The archer fires a series of arrows at a stationery target, 122 cm in diameter. The target consists of 10 concentric scoring rings, with the central ring worth 10 points and the outside ring worth 1. The winner is the archer who accrues the most points by consistently firing shots in the central rings.

At the Paralympic Games archers shoot from a standard distance of 70m.

There are two types of bows in para-archery: the recurve bow and the compound bow. The recurve bow has limbs that curve away from the archer to increase power. The compound bow uses wheels or pullies to reduce the force required to hold the string at full draw, allowing the archer more time to aim with less muscular stress.

Men and women compete separately, both as individuals and in teams of three, and all matches are conducted as straight knockouts.

Who Can do Archery

Impairment Type

To be eligible for Archery athletes must have a physical disability that impairs their upper and/or lower limb functions.

Classification

Athletes are classified into three functional classes (Standing, Wheelchair 1 and Wheelchair 2).

Standing class (ST1)
The standing class (ST1) is for athletes with no loss of function in their arms, but with some degree of loss of muscle strength, co-ordination and/or joint mobility in their legs. This includes athletes who are amputees, athletes with cerebral palsy and athletes classified as les autres. Archers in this class may choose to compete sitting on a stool or chair with their feet on the ground or standing.

Wheelchair 1 (W1)
The W1 class is for athletes who have tetraplegia or a comparable impairment. These athletes have only a limited range of movement, strength and control in their arms and legs. They compete in a wheelchair.

Wheelchair 2 (W2)
Archers in the W2 class have paraplegia or a comparable impairment. Athletes have limited mobility in the lower limbs. W2 athletes have full arm function. These athletes usually require a wheelchair for everyday use and compete in a wheelchair.

How Do I Get Classified?

To become classified as an international level archer athletes must complete the World Archery Federation request for classification form.

Where Can you Participate?

Australia

State / Territories

Resources