Athletes in Archery
Archery NZ’s aim is to foster participation in archery, and empower and support our community. We are determined to build a community in which any one of any ability and from any background can find a place. If you’re here to join, welcome! We want to help with the following:
- Develop healthy, successful athletes
- Enhance participation and enjoyment
- Ensure the well-being of participants
- Foster talent and competitive and recreational success
- Guide physical training and conditioning
- Aim to prevent archery-related injuries
- Appreciate archery as a life-long sport
Get in Touch
Archers are represented within our organisation in three different ways. Please review the Athletes Representative tab below to see how and why and which area to contact.
Equipment
Most archers begin on a simple recurve bow, but they can choose after their beginner course which type of bow they wish to shoot with, and this can also change over time. Some people who start recurve find that compounds are more their style, and others who start on compound might change to recurve or barebow.
Age Classes and Eligibility
What do the rules say?
As of 15 January 2022, World Archery rules say:
4.2.3. An athlete may participate in a Under 18 Class in tournaments when the competition takes place up to and in the year of his 17th birthday.
4.2.4. An athlete may participate in a Under 21 Class in tournaments when the competition takes place up to and in the year of his 20th birthday.
4.2.5. An athlete may participate in a 50+ Class in tournaments when the competition takes place in the year of his 50th birthday and thereafter.
The other age classes we recognise in NZ (i.e., U11, U14, U16, and 65+) work the same way just with the numbers adjusted as per the name of the class.
OK, but what does that actually mean?
In order to shoot in a youth age class, your age on your birthday this year needs to be lower than the number indicated in the name of that age class.
In order to shoot in an advanced age class, your age on your birthday this year needs to be the same or higher than the number indicated in the name of that age class.
So how do I figure out what Age Classes I can compete in?
These descriptions aren’t very helpful on their own, so here is an example:
Using your birthday, the event date, and some math:
So let’s say you are planning to shoot an event this year, 4-5 March 2025, and want to know which age classes you can shoot in if you are born on 16 June 1975.
So in this example you can compete in the 50+ or Open, but not the 65+ or youth age classes. Note that although you are only 49 during the event, you are still eligible for the 50+ age class.
For Youth Archers, please use the Youth Age Group table.
Novice and Development Classes
The Novice Class is aimed at archers that are new to the sport and the Development Class is aimed at archers early in their progression of the sport. The goals of these classes are to:
- Create a pathway for archers
- Allow all archers to aspire to and meet tangible targets in their archery
- Create a more level playing field for archers new or early in their development in the sport
- Assist in the development and growth of archery into a mainstream sport in New Zealand
Novices
Archers are eligible to compete in the Novice class if they have completed an archery Beginners/Learn to shoot course or started archery within 18 months of the end of the current membership year (30 September), with automatic progression to Development Class in the following membership year. Eligibility to compete in the Novice class is limited to one season.
Development Archers
Archers are eligible to compete in Development class if they have completed their Novice year, or they have started archery between 18 months to 2 years of the current membership year (30 September). Progression from Development to Open/other age classes will occur immediately after the archer has attained a single score equal to or higher than the identified Merit Score for the division.
If you fall into one of these Classes but haven’t competed in a tournament before, why not register for your next local RMT to get a flavour of what a tournament is all about at a comfortable distance.
If you aren’t sure, or want to view the Merit Scores, have a look at the rules on the Rules and Regulations page.
Wellbeing and Welfare
Archery NZ is committed to providing a safe environment and supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of everyone who participates in our sport. We are guided by rules and regulations, which are always evolving to meet the needs of members. We place the highest value on the thousands of people around the country who facilitate our sport, and have memberships for coaches, officials and volunteers, so athletes and their families can feel confident in those around them.
Our Member Protection Policy sets out Archery NZ’s commitment to providing an environment in which people are treated fairly and equitably and that, as far as practicable, are free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. It also seeks to safeguard the welfare of children involved in archery by promoting safe practices and protecting children from harm and exploitation while participating in archery.
A copy of this regulation can be found on our Policies page.
Our Code of Conduct sets out expected behaviours for all Archery NZ representatives and members, including athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers. This is on our Selection page.
Drug Free Sport
Archery New Zealand supports Sport Integrity NZ in their aim to maintain a sporting environment which universally rejects cheating through the use of prohibited drugs and methods.
Read more on our Anti-Doping page.
Archers are represented within three groups, including:
- Archery NZ’s High Performance Committee, which works to support and improve athlete performances; this committee includes 1-2 athlete representatives plus 6 other Archery NZ members. These athlete representatives are generally archers who have competed or are seeking to compete in significant international events. HPC members are appointed by the Archery NZ Board and there is no specific term length.
Find out more about the HPC and other Archery NZ committees. - High Performance Sport NZ’s Athlete Leaders Network (ALN), a national cross-sport group of athletes who provide input into high performance sport in NZ. The ALN works with HPSNZ and the NZ Olympic Committee. The ALN also allows our archers to network with other sports’ athletes. ALN representatives are appointed by the Archery NZ High Performance Committee for a four-year term.
Archery NZ currently has two representatives in the ALN: Finn Matheson and Vanessa Jim.
Contact the athlete representatives at athletereps@archery.org.nz. - Archery NZ’s Athlete Council, a group of athletes who represent archers at all levels, divisions, and ages. The AC aims to discuss and raise any issues that our archers are facing, including bringing these issues to the High-Performance Committee or other Archery NZ governance groups.
This group was formed in 2024 and initially included our ALN athlete representatives who are recurve archers; since its formation additional members have volunteered to represent barebow and compound disciplines and cross several age classes. Members are appointed by the HPC for a two-year term.
Current AC members are Amy Lewis, Finn Matheson, Gary Coleman, Kerry Hoole, Vanessa Jim, and Vicky Rombouts.
Contact the Athlete Council at athletecouncil@archery.org.nz.
Of course, athletes are also represented by Archery NZ members who volunteer on many other subcommittees or in other operational roles to assist the organisation.