Archery takes on many forms and although the basic Equipment and usage is almost the same. The type, rules and specifics can be totally different from one discipline to the next.

Listed below are the most common types of Archery used within the UK {One form that should be mentioned for those out side the UK is Hunting but this site will not elaborate on that side of the sport as it is illegal in this Country}. I suppose I should say that there are sites around that do deal with this issue but this is not going to be one of them. (Enough said)

    This is probably the best known type of Archery. (Lots of people standing in a line 'pinging' arrows at a bit of paper with colors on it). It's NOT that simple.
    Target Archery has progressed from 'sticks and string' to a very sophisticated and disciplined form of sporting activity. It is also great for those people that want to do something but are not that fit and available even if you have some form of disability.
(See the Disability Sport England Link)
    Archery has been around for Centuries but the bows and arrows of old have evolved as technology has progressed they are now Lighter, stronger and more accurate. So correct training is a must. Most clubs take starters and run various courses for this reason and every archer has to join a club and regional section of the main governing body.
The Grand National Archery Society (G.N.A.S)
    Every Archer has a card with his/her name on it and is obliged to show this card at any time during shooting anywhere.Other things that have changed are the accessories Sights have been added to help with the aiming of the arrow, stabilizing additions (Long rod, side stabilizers, Top and/or bottom counter weights)all added to improve the handling of the bow. Even the bow has changed shape to help with the kick that you can get on loosing (letting go of) the arrow (and still do with Longbows)

     This form of archery is usually undertaken in woodland that has undulating ground. The archers are set into groups of four or six depending on round being shot and travel round a pre-set course similar to the game of Golf. Some Rounds are measured in Metres and others in Yards so sight marks would be needed for 5 Metres to 60 Metres and 5 Yards to 80 Yards. The size and type of target face depend on the type of Round and distance being shot.
    On the roundel faces the scoring zones are 5 for the spot (middle) and each ring descending outward 4,3,2, 1. The number of arrows shot at these targets would be either 3 or 4 depending on which round was being shot.
    Some faces are of animal silhouettes on a square or rectangular background, some have roundels superimposed over the pictures, these are shot at distances up to 70 yards and score 15 for the spot, 10 for the inner ring and 5 for the outer ring.
    Varying number of arrows are shot, which depends on the face size, one arrow at the small face, two arrows at the next larger face, 3 arrows at the next face and 4 arrows at the largest face. Other animal targets have a zone marked inside of the animal silhouette which scores 10 points with the rest of the animal scoring 5 points, only two arrows are shot at each target in this round. Other Archery organisations also have targets similar to those explained above but have different rules of scoring.

The different styles in Field Archery are:

Traditional
There must be no additions to the bow, it must be completely bare (no sight, stabilisation or pressure button) , an arrow rest may be used. The arrows must be of wood with feather fletchings.

Barebow
Similar to the above but a pressure button is permitted and arrows of the archers choice may be used.

Freestyle
Which is similar to a target freestyle bow, i.e. sights and stabilisation are permitted.

Bow hunter
This is a compound bow with a similar discipline to that of the "Barebow", with no sight or release aid, but a stabiliser of 12 inches or less is permitted.

Compound Unlimited
This is a compound bow where sights, peep sights, stabilisation and release aids may be used

    This form of archery is conducted over a distance of 180 yards for men and 140 yards for ladies though shorter distances may be used if required. The target centre shall be marked by a brightly coloured flag, 12" square, set as close to the ground as practically possible on a smooth vertical stick. The shooting may be either "two way" or "one way". In "two Way" the archers all shoot from one end of the field to the target at the other end of the field, when they have all shot they walk forward score and retrieve their arrows and then shoot back to the target at the end of the field they have just shot from. The overshoot safety area must be a minimum of 75 yards in all directions. The scoring zones circle the flag and may be marked on the ground with either creosote or lime or the shot arrows may be measured using a non-stretch ribbon and looped around the centre stick and clearly marked to measure the various radii.
The zones are measured at :
18 inches radius - 5 points
3 feet radius - 4 points
6 feet radius - 3 points
9 feet radius - 2 points
12 feet radius - 1 point
36 arrows are shot in groups of 6 for each round.

     This is similar to target archery but using a wooden long bow and wooden arrows with feather fletchings. There must be no arrow rest, the arrow must rest on the hand that is holding the bow and the bow must be of "D" section manufacture. This must not be contused with the American flat bow, which is not classed as a longbow. Shooting can be two ways and of distances up to 100 yards for the gentlemen and 80 yards for the ladies. The targets used and scoring are the same as for target archery. In "two way" all archers would shoot three arrows at the targets at the far end of the ground, when all archers have shot the Field Captain would blow a whistle and all the archers would proceed to the targets to score and retrieve their arrows. When they have scored the archers would shoot back to the targets at the other end of the field. When all archers have shot the Field Captain would blow his whistle and the archers would proceed to the targets to score and retrieve their arrows.

     Is shooting straight up at "bird" cylinders on a frame on a mast, which is 90 feet high. The bird cylinders are laid out in order with the "Cock" at the top, the "Hens" are the next line with the "Chicks" underneath at the bottom of the "roost". The arrows are of special manufacture and MUST have a rubber blunt on the end three quarters to one inch in diameter. Only one archer must shoot at any one time and only shoot one arrow, the "birds" must be struck with the arrow, dislodged and fall to the ground to score. All other archers must be away from the shooting mast and under a covered area

    Flight
This discipline allows three classes for which competitions may take place, they are: Target bows, Flight Bows and Freestyle which are subdivided into bow weights of351bs, 50lbs and unlimited. The range should be clearly marked at 150 yards and at 50 yard intervals to at least 50 yards beyond the existing longest distance shot in the UK..
Current records stand as:

	Target Bow	Unlimited
Gentlemen	509 yards	1231 yards
Ladies	317 yards	605 yards
Junior Boy	376 yards	641 yards
Junior Girl	—N/A—	392 yards

    Archery Golf
This in not usually possible as a golf course is required. Any arrows may be used, and the archer shall "hole out" by hitting a white 4-inch cardboard disc placed at least one yard within the edge of the green level with the hole. An arrow shot that lands off the fairway or in a bunker incurs one extra stroke, other golf rules similarly apply.

    Other Games
There are a great variety of archery games that can be played, faces for Archery Darts, Snooker, Snakes and ladders and Noughts and Crosses are readily available from some archery dealers. Balloon bursting is always very popular. Wand splitting is possible; here a thin lathe of wood approximately I to 2 inches wide is stuck into the ground 3 feet in front of a target, placed to stop the arrows. It is not so difficult as might be supposed to hit the wand once or twice out of six arrows at a distance of 20 to 30 yards

The above is basic information only and the rulebook of the discipline being undertaken should be studied and followed exactly to get full benefit from the sport and ensuring the safety of the participants and spectators alike.
IN ALL FORMS OF ARCHERY THERE ARE STRICT SAFETY RULES, THESE MUST BE ADHERED TO WHEN UNDERTAKING ANY ARCHERY ACTIVITY.
HUNTING WITH A BOW AND ARROW IS ILLEGAL IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, BIRDS AND ANIMALS MUST NOT BE SHOT AT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.