QUESTIONS ABOUT THE USE OF THE “CLASSIFICATION CARD”

Since the second half of the last year the IFAA Exec has been bombarded with questions about the “classification card” and the use of the card.

At the Council meeting in Dahn it was agreed that the rule of the IFAA that all the members have an accepted classification system will be enforced from 01 January 2011 and that archers who attend WFAC2012 need proof of “classification”.

The rule that an archer who is not classified will shoot in the highest class of that style during the event has over the years become the main reason why the IFAA member associations did no longer bother with the classification.

After all, an archer who shoots at a WFAC would not like to be classified as a B or C class competitor.

The classification of an archer is one of the very basic principles on which the IFAA tournaments are based. After, the IFAA events are for all member archers irrespective of how good an archer is. The IFAA works on the basis of “archery for all”.

To allow an archer to compete against other archers in the same style who are not top performing archers, the IFAA has the classification system that allows competition for a B or C class medal at that level.

Although some member associations only allow registration for an international event through that association to assure that all participants of the country are indeed members, it certainly is not the norm and many archers register as individuals, making it almost impossible to verify valid membership of that archer with a member association.

Some veteran archers have asked why they need a classification card if their style or event does not support classification.

The term “classification card” is actually incorrect.

The card that has become compulsory is not a classification card but a card on which an archer records his/her scores, obtained at shoots that are shot under IFAA rules. These must be formal events which can vary from World events to Regional events, national championships and even club championships, provided they are advertised as events under IFAA tournament rules.

Scores are recorded and signed off by a tournament official.

That is all.

The card can also be used for classification of an archer with scores that are shot for a 28 round Field, Hunter or a 2x14 target combination.

The top 2 scores over the two years preceding the event you have now entered, determine the class of an archer.

We have further advised the member associations to use the card as proof of valid membership of that archer.

Why the requirement of scores.

We have laid down various safety rules for the ranges and behavior on the ranges.

We have no rules related to most causes of accidents: the archer

We allow anyone with a bow on our crowded ranges, sometimes with 200+ archers on a single range.

An archer who wishes to attend an IFAA sanctioned world event must show proof to have basic knowledge of the sport and of the game. He/she is not expected to attend a crowded world event with little or no experience or knowledge of the game.

The IFAA has been quite fortunate to be free of any serious accidents at our tournaments.

However, in the case of an accident the IFAA must have proof that we were not negligent: and that means having control over ranges and over archers.

We can “force” a ruling that any archer who attends an IFAA sanctioned event must have passed a competency test, either through a club instructor or IFAA Instructor, but that will be an almost impossible requirement.

All that we enforce now is that people attending an IFAA sanctioned event must have proof that they have shot a similar event at least twice.

The card with the score recording is that proof.

Worldwide safety rules have become stricter and more and more nations see the bow as a potentially lethal weapon.

The IFAA must jack up the safety rules of the game and of those attending an event.

So please try not to refer to the card as a classification card but as an “Entry Card” with personal score records.

This entry card is compulsory for all IFAA events and compulsory to all age groups !

Standard cards can be obtained from the IFAA web site. If your association does not have a card, print if off the web and get your association to verify.

Also remember that verification of a valid membership is the responsibility of the archer. If the card is not used for that purpose, you will require an other means of proof of membership.

Now what about classification

As stated above, those scores that qualify for classification shall be used. Scores obtained in the Animal Rounds (marked or unmarked), 3D rounds and Indoor Rounds do not qualify for classification. They are used as proof that you have shot events similar to the World or Regional Championships you have entered.

In fact, the card is not unlike the Green Card and Handicap Card that is used for golf.