23 September, 2021
As per the recent update the Archery NZ Board has decided to trial two new grades for the 2021/22 season. These being a Novice and Development Grade, below are the initial criteria and further details for the two grades, with changes expected based on feedback from members.
For the first year of this trial the new grades will be held at the Outdoor and Indoor National Championships, and they will compete for medals at those events. As it is a trial, national records will be provisional on the grades being made permanent. For other competitions it will be up to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) if they are to include these grades.
The Archery NZ membership subscription for “new” members joining under these grades will be $70.
Novice Grade
Intent: This grade is aimed at archers of any age from youth through to master ages. We are trying to give first year archers an opportunity to compete against their peers. Archers will be able to compete in Novice or in an age grade (including Senior and Development) if they wish. There will be only one Novice grade for all disciplines.
Eligibility: New archers to the sport in the current season, i.e. 2021/22 season initially.
Divisions: For the trial there will be a Novice Grade for Recurve, Compound, Barebow and Longbow subject to sufficient entries. If there are not sufficient entries, Barebow and Longbow archers may be included in Recurve.
Competitions: The Novice grade will be available in the Outdoor and Indoor National Championships held in 2022. Local Organising Committees (LOCs) may choose to run (or not) these grades in any other tournaments.
Distances: For the 72-arrow round the distances shall be:
- Recurve - 35m on a full 122cm face.
- Compound – 35m on a full 80cm face.
For the WA1440 round the distances shall be:
- Recurve – 40m and 35m (122cm face), 30m and 25m (80cm face).
- Compound – 40m and 35m (122cm face), 30m and 25m (80cm face).
For the WA18 Indoor round the distances shall be:
- Recurve – 18m on a full (10 ring) 40cm face.
- Compound – 18m on a full (10 ring) 40cm face.
For any other rounds the distances and targets shall be the same as those for the Cub Grade (U13 age class). No changes/additions are anticipated to the 2021/22 ANZ Postal competition.
Development Grade
Intent: This grade is mainly aimed at adult archers who would today be expected to shoot in the Senior division. Youth and Master archers may still shoot in this grade but generally would be expected to shoot in their age grade. Additionally, any archers who are eligible for this grade are welcome to shoot as Seniors if they wish. There will be only one Development grade for all disciplines.
Eligibility: Archers in their 2nd or 3rd current season of archery.
Divisions: For the trial there will be a Development Grade for Recurve, Compound, Barebow and Longbow subject to sufficient entries. If there are not sufficient entries, Barebow and Longbow archers may be included in Recurve.
Competitions: The new grades will be available in the Outdoor and Indoor National Championships held in 2022. Local Organising Committees (LOCs) may choose to run (or not) these grades in any other tournaments.
Distances: For the 72-arrow round the distances shall be:
- Recurve - 50m on a full 122cm face.
- Compound – 50m on a full 80cm face.
For the WA1440 round the distances shall be:
- Recurve – 55m and 45m (122cm face), 35m and 25m (full 80cm face).
- Compound – 55m and 45m (122cm face), 35m and 25m (full 80cm face).
For the WA18 Indoor round the distances shall be:
- Recurve – 18m on a full (10 ring) 40cm face.
- Compound – 18m on a three spot vertical face.
For any other rounds the distances and targets shall be the same as those for the Intermediate Grade (U15 age class). No changes/additions are anticipated to the 2021/22 ANZ Postal competition.
Clearly the Development Grade will have archers with a wide range of capability in it and the Board is keen to get any feedback on how some of the disparities in ability might be managed.
An example COULD be the implementation of Status Levels for Archers, whereby a recurve archer achieves Senior status after shooting a certain score in two 72-arrow or 1440 rounds, then to Premier (with a higher score requirement) and finally to Elite (with a higher score requirement). Changes of status would apply from the start of the next season.
If you would like to provide feedback or any suggestions, please contact David Velleman ([email protected]) or Andrew Russell ([email protected]).
