How your progress in Archery can be measured
There are two basic ways of measuring your improvement progress in Target Archery, one is a broad indicator called your Classification and the other a more accurate way called your Handicap
Classification - is a system which has evolved over many years and thousands of scores for Rounds and this data has been collated and a percentile arrived at whereby a pyramid shape of layers is achieved, with a bottom broad layer of 'Archers 3rd Class' and a tiny top layer of 'Elite Master Bowman' (EMB) here are the full range of achievable Outdoor Archery Classifications (Note they are the same for 'Indoor' with the exception there is no Indoor EMB).
- Elite Master Bowman (EMB) (Outdoor only)
- Grand Master Bowman (GMB)
- Master Bowan(MB)
- Bowman 1st Class (B1)
- Bowman 2nd Class (B2)
- Bowman 3rd Class (B3)
- Archer 1st Class (A1)
- Archer 2nd Class (A2)
- Archer 3rd Class (A3)
The two factors which affect what Classification can be achieved when shooting a specific Outdoor Round are the Distances involved in shooting that specific Round, and the number of Arrows shot in that Round i.e. progression up the pyramid involves shooting both longer distances and more arrows. Note: Indoor Rounds are the same for everyone.
A Classification is achieved by shooting three scores which are at or above the level set for that Classification in the round you have shot . For example:
- Archer 2nd Class + Archer 1st Class + Archer 2nd Class = 'Archer 2nd Class' Classification Achieved
- Archer 1st Class + Archer 1st Class + Archer 2nd Class = Still 'Archer 2nd Class' Classification
- Archer 1st Class + Archer 1st Class + Bowman 3rd Class = 'Archer 1st Class' Classification Achieved
Notes on achieving Classification
Outdoor- Up to and including Bowman 1st Class Classification can be achieved in the Club and the badges are awarded by the Club, Master Bowman' Grand Master Bowman and Elite Master Bowman are achieved at Record Status Competitions and are claimed through Archery GB and the respective badge awarded by Archery GB'
Indoor - All classifications are awared and recongnised by nthe Club..
The Classification of Archer that you currently are lasts one year i.e. if in the year 2011 you achieved Bowman 1st Class then in 2012 you would state that you are a Bowman 1st Class (B1) if asked when entering a competition (if asked on the Entry form). If during 2012 you don’t make Bowman but did make 1st Class then in 2013 you would be a 1st Class Archer.
<>Handicap System - is a more accurate system as the scores achievable in a specific round are banded between 0 and 100 so instead of the 9 bands of the Classification system there are approximately 100 bands for example it is possible to score 1296 points in a Hereford Round and if you did your Handicap for the Round would be 0 but if you scored 3 points your Handicap for the Round would be 98. So how do you get a Handicap which you can use as a guide to your current level of shooting, well again, like the Classification System you need to submit 3 scores and say for instance the associated handicap score for each of the 3 rounds you shot were 59 57 and 65 then your starting handicap would be 61 (i.e. add together divide by 3 then round that number upwards). If then let’s say you shot another Round and the Handicap score for the round was 56 then your new handicap would move to 60 (i.e. 61 +61+56 divided by 3 rounded up this system prevents one good round skewing the handicap) The tables associated with the handicap system are numerous as there are all the Rounds x up to 100 scores for a range of scores within the Round which means it is impractical to reproduce, however the Software used for Club Records takes care of that and regular printouts will be displayed but if an Individual wishes to check their own progress then the following link to the AGB system can be used
Archery Handicap and Classification Calculator ArcheryCalculator.co.uk
Notes on Handicaps: - They are used to see which Club Archer has improved the most throughout our (Club) Outdoor Season (both Senior and Junior) then those who improve the most are awarded the clubs Senior and Junior Handicap Improvement Medals, these medals are provided by Archery GB.
They can be used Indoor and Outdoor so that two or more archers with different current handicaps can shoot against each other to see who shot best on that day this is achieved by looking up an Archers Handicap in a table called ‘Allowance for Round’ then giving that archer an allowance of points depending on the Handicap. I.e. archer A who has been shooting for 20 years and has a low handicap will get less allowance than Archer B who has been shooting for a year and has a higher Handicap and the resulting scores plus their allowance is added together and whoever shot the best on the day should win (so if both shot exactly to their Handicap they should end up with exactly the same total amount of points). The club tries to fit in both an Indoor and Outdoor Handicap shoot towards the end of each season.