The quick version
Play four against four for five minutes on the provider’s divided field. A legal hit earns one and a clean catch of an incoming arrow earns three. Players remain in the game after being hit. Shoot only from your action zone toward opponents in theirs, under the referee’s instructions.
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Get the game ready
The provider inspects the field, pads hard surfaces, secures barriers and checks every bow, arrow tip and mask. The instructor explains the minimum shooting distance, neutral recovery zone, legal target areas and emergency stop. Everyone on the field, including sidelines and officials, wears a correctly fitted mask.
For this beginner house round, start with equal arrows already distributed at each team’s end rather than a rush into the middle. Use four players per team, five minutes of live play and a referee/scorekeeper outside those eight players. Agree no deliberate head shots even though the manufacturer’s broad scoring list includes mask contact.
Play the first game
Begin on the signal
Remain in your team’s action zone and wait for the referee. Shoot only inspected foam arrows, with the supplied bow, as instructed. Never dry-fire, aim at an unmasked person, or use a bow or arrow to bat away an incoming arrow.
Score a hit or catch
A referee-confirmed direct arrow hit on a live opponent or their equipment earns one. A clean catch before the arrow touches a person, barrier or ground earns three for the catcher’s team instead of a hit. A rebound from the ground or barrier scores nothing. After a hit, acknowledge it and continue; nobody is eliminated.
Recover without shooting
Enter the neutral recovery zone only as the provider directs. Players there cannot shoot or be targeted. Retrieve arrows and return fully to your action zone before preparing a shot. Do not use the neutral zone to approach opponents or remain there as cover.
Stop together
At the stop signal, lower bows and cease shooting immediately. A displaced mask, damaged arrow or unsafe movement stops the whole round; the referee handles the equipment before resuming. The referee resolves uncertain hits rather than players arguing while arrows are live.
Five-minute points round
At time, cease shooting; only hits or catches completed before the stop signal count in this house round. The higher total wins and ties stand. Take the provider’s rest/reset interval, swap ends and redistribute equal starting arrows for a rematch.
Help everyone get started
Ask the provider which of these variations it can supervise before booking. Its safety layout and instructions govern every version. People can choose a shooting or retrieval emphasis, but nobody needs to attempt a catch. Keep masks on until staff declare the area safe.
Already know the game?
Ideas & Twists
Choose a variation together before you start.
Archery tag · See main rules
Suggested house variationCatch advantage
Increase a clean catch to five points while keeping hits at one. Play the same five-minute round with no elimination. Teams must decide whether a likely catch is worth taking attention away from shooting; nobody is required to try one.
Archery tag · See main rules
Suggested house variationTwo-arrow sorties
Each player may carry at most two arrows at once. After using them, recover replacements through the provider’s approved route before shooting again. Catches may be handed to a teammate within the action zone but cannot create a carry above two. Keep normal scoring and time.
Archery tag · See main rules
Suggested house variationProtected teammate
Each team names one willing player before the round; a legal hit on that player earns two instead of one. Other hits earn one and catches three. No physical shielding with equipment or contact is allowed. Change the named players for the return match and add the two five-minute scores.
Archery tag · See main rules
Suggested house variationTargets decide
If the provider has approved foam-arrow target stations, remove player-hit scoring and use one matching station in each action zone. A referee-confirmed target hit earns one; a clean catch still earns three. No elimination or target removal. Play five minutes and use the venue’s exact safe target positions.
About this guide
Archery Tag is a brand used for extreme archery. The pre-distributed start, five-minute single round, no deliberate head shots and variations are editorial house formats requiring provider agreement. This guide is not a DIY field or equipment-construction guide.
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