The Ultimate Guide to Playing and Winning Archery Tag
How to Play Archery Tag
The battle has begun. Your heart is pounding. You crouch below a barrier, listening, waiting for the first volley of arrows. One grazes the space just above your head. You gather yourself upright, draw your own arrow, and aim carefully before loosing it towards your opponent. No, this is not a scene from Hunger Games or a 12th century battleground. This is Archery Tag, the newest extreme sport that lets you release your inner Katniss. Keep reading to learn how to play archery tag!
Archery Tag is a blend of dodge ball, paint ball, and laser tag. It combines the best aspects of these sports while adding the skill of archery. A safe sport that can be played both indoors and outdoors, Archery Tag can be a year-round activity that everyone can enjoy.
Interested in playing this archery-based sport? We have put together the ultimate guide for how to play archery tag to get you from beginner to pro level in no time. Skip ahead to a section you’re most interested or start with the rules for an end-to-end overview of this exciting new sport.
Sections
Rules and Overview
Equipment
Tactics and Strategies
Archery Tag Rules and Overview
Objective
The objective of archery tag is to “tag” members of the other team with your foam-tipped arrows. When an arrow hits a player, the participant is eliminated from the game. While removing members of the opposing team stacks the odds in your favor, your ultimate goal is to knock out the five centers on the spot-target located on the competitors’ side.
Age Restrictions
Players must be at least eight years old to play Archery Tag – no exceptions! Although this is not a dangerous game, players must still sign a waiver before each game. If the player is under 18, a parent or legal guardian must also sign the waiver giving the child permission to play.
Ways To Play
There are several ways to play Archery Tag. One popular method is by points. You receive points for hits to both other players and the spot-target. Keeping up with the score in such a fast-paced game is difficult, so a referee is often present to keep track. For each opposing player you eliminate and spot target hit, you receive ten points. Eliminating all players or clearing the spot target gets you an additional twenty points.
A more simple way to play Archery Tag is to judge a win on these three basic criteria:
- Whichever team eliminates all the players on the opposing team.
- The team with the fewest centers missing from their spot-target in the allotted time.
- The team that knocks out all five spots on the opposing target first!
You’re Out!
You are “out” of the game if you are hit by the foam-tipped arrow on any part of the body besides the head. An Archery Tag player can also be disqualified on the spot if he or she breaks any of the game rules.
Playing The Game
To start the game, each player has a compound bow made specifically for Archery Tag and a facemask to protect their eyes. The two teams are put on opposite sides of the playing field, with a safety zone in the middle. Prior to the match, arrows are placed in this safety zone for retrieval, and no shooting is allowed in this zone during the entirety of the game. Additionally, of course, players are not allowed to cross this barrier to enter the opposing team’s territory. If you break this rule and encroach on enemy territory, you are automatically disqualified from the game.
The Archery Tag arrows have foam tips for safety, and a player is only allowed to hold two arrows at any given time. Managing your inventory of Archery Tag arrows in an important part of the overall game strategy. If you run out of arrows, your only hope in becoming a dominant player is either to catch an arrow shot by the other team, retrieve a missed shot, or have a teammate give you one of their arrows.
In order to bring a player back into the game after he or she has been eliminated, you must hit a spot-target or catch an arrow mid-air from one of the opposing team members. Be careful, though, because missing the catch will mean you are eliminated, as well!
Each high-intensity game lasts only a maximum of seven minutes, and can include up to two game rounds. The game ends officially when one team has managed to eliminate all the players on the opposing team, or has hit all five spot-targets. The fast-paced speed of Archery Tag keeps players on their feet and moving at all times. Although the games are quick, the active pace is designed for high-energy players.
Referee Commands
There are a few basic commands in Archery Tag that will be called by the referee. When players hear “Archers at base!” they should be alert and ready, with all playing gear on and arrows lined up in the safety zone. With the call of “Game on!” begins and players rush to center to grab the archery tag arrows.
When a referee yells, “You’re out!” it can mean that an arrow has hit a player or that a player broke one of the game rules and has been disqualified from play. When a player gets called “out” they must step out or the arena and stand at the back of his or her home team base.
When a round of archery tag is complete, the referee will yell, “Round over!” There can be up to two rounds per game. When this call is made, move back to the starting position. To end the game, the referee will announce, “Game over”. At this signal, players deposit all equipment back at the team base and exit the arena.
Archery Tag Equipment
Archery Tag equipment is only available for commercial purchase and used by licensed locations. You can, however, purchase archery equipment from S.A.F.E Archery. S.A.F.E. Archery stands for Students and Families Enjoying Archery. Archery tag arrows, bows, arm protection straps, bow holders, and additional archery supplies are available for purchase. While these may not be used in the game arena, they are great for practice and learning how to use the official Archery Tag equipment.
Official Game Equipment
An official Archery Tag game location will have the following equipment for rent:
- Arm Guards
- Face Masks
- Archery Tag Bows
- Archery Tag Foam-Tipped Arrows
Practicing Archery Tag
To practice, you’ll need a field size of approximately 100’ x 50’. The safe zone is about 20 feet and runs the width of the field. In games, there are bunkers or inflated objects used as cover for players, so building even rough shelters can help get you ready for your first Archery Tag game. In addition to bunkers, creating basic archery targets is a great way to practice your aim.
What Should Players Wear?
Although there are no official uniforms required in Archery Tag, players in athletic gear will have a competitive edge over players that wear more constricting clothing or unsecured footwear. Athletic shoes allow the quick movements you need to succeed in this fast-paced game. As with other active team-based games, gym shorts and comfortable athletic tee shirts are usually best.
Archery Tag Tactics and Strategies
Using the obstacles provided on the course is key to winning Archery Tag. While each layout may be different, these barriers block you from incoming arrows while also giving you a valuable vantage point for shooting out the opposing team’s spot-targets. If you are looking for more tips on becoming an expert Archery Tag player, check out our Archery Tag overview page.
Best Ways To Win
As in other competitive team games like dodge ball, paint ball and laser tag, you must play to your team’s strengths for each game. Speed may be the best way to win for your team, or if you have more accurate shooters, you may find that shooting out the five spot-target points will get you to a quicker victory. If your teammates are quick and agile, catching incoming arrows may help you defeat the opposing team.
It’s All About Fun!
Archery Tag is a team sport, and recognizing and playing to your teammates’ different abilities is a great way to win the game. Although winning feels good, remember that having fun is the main purpose of Archery Tag. You may not be the most skilled player when you first begin Archery Tag, but with a little practice and a lot of determination, you can quickly become one of the best Archery Tag players around!
More questions about how to play archery tag? Find all the answers to the most frequently asked questions! Hope you enjoyed learning how to play archery tag!