Rules & Distances

Shooting Distances for Archery Competition

World Archery / USA Archery

• Target Archery - Outdoor

  • Recurve: 70m 

  • Compound: 50m

  • Barebow: 50m 

• Target Archery - Indoor 

  • All styles, 18m

• Field Archery

  • Maximum distance: 60m for recurve and compound, 50m for barebow.

• JOAD/AAP - Indoor

  • Juniors 9m or 18m

  • Adults 18m

• JOAD/AAP - Outdoor

  • Varies by award level achieved. Refer to the USA Archery JOAD Club Handbook

National Field Archery Association (NFAA)

• Field Archery

  • Adult & Young Adult: Maximum distance 80 yards.

  • Youth: Maximum distance 50 yards.

  • Cub: Maximum distance 30 yards.

• Indoor Archery

  • 20 yards for all age groups.

ASA Federation / Pro/Am

• 3D Archery

  • Known Distance Classes: Maximum distance 50 yards.

  • Unknown Distance Classes: Maximum distance 45 yards.

  • Traditional: Maximum distance 25 yards.

IBO Rules (International Bowhunting Organization)

• 3D Archery

  • Compound: Maximum distance 50 yards.

  • Traditional: Maximum distance 30 yards.

IBO Traditional Rules

• 3D Archery

  • Maximum distance 30 yards for all traditional classes.

4-H Archery Rules

• Target Archery

  • Distances vary by age group and discipline (e.g., recurve, compound):

    • Juniors (9-11): 10-20 yards.

    • Intermediates (12-14): 10-30 yards.

    • Seniors (15-18): 10-50 yards.

• Field Archery

  • Maximum distance is typically 50 yards.

NASP Rules (National Archery in the Schools Program)

• Target Archery

  • Elementary, Middle, and High School Divisions: 10 meters and 15 meters.

US Traditional Archery Rules

• 3D Archery

  • Typically, maximum distance is 30 yards for traditional equipment.