Archery for all



Archery is for ALL!

Archery is Inclusive

There are over 150 countries within the World Archery "family" (as at January, 2013).

NORTH QUEENSLAND ARCHERY ASSOCIATION (NQAA) welcomes, encourages and supports the inclusion of culturally and linguistically diverse people in all areas of the organisation and aims to provide an environment where people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities feel:

  • Welcome

  • Represented

  • Included in decision-making

  • Able to participate

  • Free from discrimination and racism

Individuals should not feel they cannot participate in this worldwide sport. All are encouraged to reflect this approach and policies have been developed for the assistance of, and adoption by Clubs (refer to ARCHERY AUSTRALIA Member Protection Policy). These assist in acknowledging that:

  • Australia is a multicultural nation with a diversity of cultures

  • This diversity is seen as a strength to be respected and used for the development of a tolerant, cohesive society

  • All members have the right to use NQAA services, resources and access our programs

  • Barriers to participation are removed in the planning and delivery of programs and services

  • All Australians have the right to express and share their cultural heritage

  • All Australians have the responsibility to respect the cultural heritage, religion and language of others.

 Para-Archery

Archery, as a test of accuracy, strength and concentration, can accommodate a range of ages and abilities, including athletes with a physical disability (e.g. spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, amputee, etc).

Within Australia, para-archers generally shoot alongside other archers and can compete in all competitions using modified equipment under (slightly) modified rules.

Competitors in Para-Archery shoot the same rounds, distances and events as other athletes in three functional classes (Open, Standing, and Wheelchair, within the Recurve and Compound divisions).

The international governing body of Para-Archery is World Archery, which manages this archery discipline, working with the International Paralympic Committee. All shooting is conducted under World Archery Shooting Rules, in conjunction with Para-Archery Rules.

To compete nationally and internationally, athletes with a disability are required to be classified to enable them to be properly allocated into one of the recognised classes. Classification is the responsibility of each athlete before competing.

To compete in international competition, the athlete must be internationally classified.

Athletes with a disability are assessed by a panel of international classifiers usually prior to the start of international events. The classifiers will allocate a class to each athlete and issue a classification card showing the class and the assistive devices the athlete is allowed to use.

In its evolution into a Paralympic sport, archery was originally a means of rehabilitation and recreation for people with a physical disability following the Second World War. The first archery competitions for people with a disability were held during the first International Disabled Games at Stoke-Mandeville, England in 1948 with participation of 130 athletes from two countries. Archery was also a demonstration sport at the 1948 London Olympic Games.

In 1960, archery was introduced officially to the world as a Paralympic Sport during the Rome Paralympic Games. Since then, archery has always been included in the Paralympic Games program. The sport, as an event embraced by competitors and spectators alike, truly "came of age" at the 2012 London Paralympics. 

NQAA is working towards Para-Archery competition at its State events and encourages Clubs to offer similar opportunities within their activities. (Of course, State and National Para-Archery records can only be claimed by those who meet Para-Archery eligibility conditions and are suitably classified.)

Clubs in NQAA that can cater for archers with a disability are: