Summary:
1. CHAPTER ONE – General rules.
1.1. Announcement of the national tournament.
1.2. Tournament organization.
1.3. Participation in the tournament.
2. CHAPTER TWO – Technical rules.
2.1. The crossbow.
2.2. The arrow.
3. CHAPTER THREE – The National Tournament.
3.1. The shooting range.
3.2. The shooting bench.
3.3. Positioning of the benches.
3.4. The targets.
3.5. Conduct of the event.
3.6. The team tournament.
3.7. The individual tournament.
3.8. The crossbowmen.
3.9. The reserves.
3.10. The jury.
3.11. The field judges.
3.12. Verification of shots.
4. CHAPTER FOUR – Infractions
4.1. Types of penalties.
4.2. Penalty detection.
5. CHAPTER FIVE – Rules of conduct
5.1. For crossbowmen.
5.2. For companies.
1.1 Announcement of the national tournament.
The LITAB Executive Committee has decided that the NATIONAL ANCIENT BENCH CROSSBOW SHOOTING TOURNAMENT will be held every year: a single shooting tournament and a team shooting tournament.
1.2 Tournament organization:
1.2.1. The Tournament will be organized in turn by the compagnie each year, preferably in May/June, and in any case according to the availability of the organizing company, which may, where possible, take into account the dates of the “Official Pali” of the compagnie in their respective cities, which will communicate the date of the championships at the autumn meeting of the previous year. It is not mandatory to organize the Tournament in the city of origin. At the time of application, the organizing company must guarantee that the tournament will be held according to LITAB rules and that the safety and compliance of the shooting range will be guaranteed as specified below. The organizing compagnia may avail itself of the assistance of a director (field master, master of ceremonies), who may assist it in the organization and management of the event.
1.2.2. The costs of participating in the National Tournament shall be borne by the individual compagnie.
1.2.3. In the event that the National Championship is postponed due to force majeure shortly before the scheduled date, the organizing compagnia shall, in consultation with the other compagnie, notify all interested parties in writing of the postponement date. If the force majeure occurs on the days of the competition, a meeting of the Masters of Arms and the Presidents of the compagnie shall be held to decide on the action to be taken.
1.2.4. The organizing compagnia undertakes to prepare the competition field in accordance with the required safety standards, equipped spaces, and sufficient time for checking equipment and conducting the draws.
1.3 Participation in the tournament.
All compagnie registered with LITAB may participate in the National Crossbow Shooting Tournament, both individual and team tournaments, provided they are up to date with their annual membership fees, payable by March 31, and have insurance coverage. The organizing compagnia will verify insurance and membership fees (LITAB) during the championship.
2. 1 The Crossbow.
2.1.1 The crossbow must be of the bench-type with mandatory loading by means of a removable ratchet or jack, a free nut trigger device (without a rotation pin), and a mandatory safety device to be inserted into the trigger lever to prevent accidental release. In addition to the triangular sighting system, it may not incorporate any other aiming or reference systems (excluding the shoulder rest plate). The stock of the crossbow or teniere must be made of wood, with accessories and decorations appropriate to the period.
2.1.2 The bow must be made of a single piece of steel, equipped with a safety device known as a bow saver, made of steel or leather and laces, provided that it is integral.
2.1.3 The front sight device (the one located near the bow) must be of the fixed plate type with a sight plate, which may also be interchangeable (not replaceable on the shooting platform), and without any possibility of adjustment. The aiming points may be identified by a code, a number, or different colors. Lighting systems, holes, fluorescent paint, graph paper, and coordinates of any kind are prohibited.
2.1.4 The rear sight device (the one located near the crossbowman) must be of the fixed type, without adjustment screws and with a single hole for the sight. Mounting screws or nuts are permitted, provided they are properly tightened and cannot be moved. Multiple holes are permitted provided that, at the moment of each crossbowman’s shot, only one remains open, under the supervision of the Field Judge. The length of the hole or thickness may not exceed 10 mm (ten, including any flaring), and no lenses, diopters, reticles, fluorescent devices, or sun tunnels may be placed on the device. The sights must in any case be designed to allow the shot to be adjusted by simply moving the aiming point on the front plate.
2.1.5 The crossbow must be checked or stamped by the Jury before the start of the test shots, but it can be checked during the competition and until the results are made official.
2.1.6 The stamping test will be identifiable by a ribbon or leaded cord applied to one of the sights or the trigger lever.
2.2 The arrow.
2.2.1 The arrow must be made of wood in a single piece, with a round cross-section, with a steel tip with a maximum length of 110 mm and natural feather fletching. The tip must be secured to the wood with a steel pin to prevent it from detaching from the wooden shaft. If a tip detaches and, upon inspection, is found not to be pinned, in addition to disqualification, the crossbowman will be held liable for damage to property or persons, as well as to the image of LITAB.
2.2.2 It may have only one reference point for aiming and, if entirely painted, it must have an area from which the material with which it is made can be determined. It must be between 40 cm and 60 cm in length, with a minimum ogive diameter of 22 mm and a maximum diameter of 30 mm.
2.2.3 The arrow must bear the legible surname and initial of the first name (or full name) of the crossbowman, as well as the name of the city or company to which he belongs, under penalty of cancellation of the score obtained by the crossbowman during that competition.
2.2.4 All arrows to be used during the National Tournament competition must be checked and stamped by the Jury, assisted by the Company organising the Tournament, at the end of the practice shots. At the end of the competition, during the reading and validation of the scores, the Jury must check for the presence of the stamp. If this is not found, and this is not due to removal caused by rubbing and touching of the arrows, the crossbowman’s score will be cancelled.
3.1 The shooting range.
3.1.1 The shooting range must be constructed in accordance with the characteristics of the explanatory plan attached hereto. In particular, it must consist of: a platform for the shooting benches: width: no. of benches x 1.30 m (center distance between benches); length: minimum 2.5 m. If raised, current safety and access regulations must be complied with; target board: width: no. of benches +1 x 1.30 m; height: from the center of the wheel, there must be a safety margin of at least 1.50 m; areas for storing and loading crossbows; areas for participants; areas for the public. These areas must be included in the plan. These measurements are to be considered minimum requirements and must be increased depending on the location where the range is set up. A safety warning system for shooters must be set up on the shooting range. This can be either visual or verbal and must consist of two phases: “red flag” for range closed to shooting; “green flag” for range open to shooting.
3.1.2 Targets shall be placed at a distance of 36 meters (thirty-six) and at a height of 2.50 meters from the base of the shooting bench. Measurements shall be taken from the center of the flat target (Art. 3.4.1) and marked on the relevant platform by the organizing compagnia.
3.1.3 False targets on the ground or lines of any kind are prohibited within the competition area. The use of telescopes, rangefinders, binoculars, transceivers, and any optical device capable of indicating the position of the arrow is also prohibited. Reference marks and objects placed on the target board to aid aiming are considered prohibited. For this purpose, the Company’s badge must be installed by the respective Companies at the end of the practice shots.
3.2 The support bench.
The support bench must have the following characteristics:
seat height from the ground: 45 cm (forty-five);
elbow rest height from the seat: 40 cm (forty);
crossbow rest height from the ground: 114 cm (one hundred and fourteen).
Adjustable leveling systems are prohibited, as are other aiming or reference systems designed to facilitate aiming that are incorporated into the bench itself, even if concealed. It will be possible to add a seat of various sizes to correct the height. The above measurements are considered guidelines for the compagnie own benches.
3.3 Positioning of the benche.
The benche must be placed 1.30 meters apart from each other along their axes.
Their arrangement will be decided by drawing lots before the start of the trials and at the time established by the organization, in the presence of the Companies. If there are late arrivals, the draw will be carried out at the established time by simple majority.
3.4 Targets.
There are two types of targets:
3.4.1 Flat target valid for team competitions.
a. It must be made of poplar or birch plywood, no less than 6 cm thick, square in shape with sides measuring 35 cm. A printed target will be glued on top with a central white circle 3 cm in diameter worth 30 points, followed by ten concentric black circles spaced 0.5 cm apart 0.5 cm (five mm) apart, starting from a score of 29 and decreasing by 1 point until reaching a score of 20, followed by nine concentric white circles at a distance of 1 cm (one) apart, starting from a score of 18 and decreasing by two points until reaching a score of 2.
b. The unified LITAB target must be used.
c. The multilayer targets and cards must be intact and new for both practice shots and the competition.
3.4.2 Target rate valid for individual competitions.
It consists of a wooden wheel (base) made of plywood no less than 6 cm thick, circular in shape with a diameter of 40 cm, in the centre of which a cornel or yew cone-shaped piece will be placed with a depth of 44 cm and a diameter at the base of 8 cm (approximate) and at the top of 17 cm.
The centre of the paper target described in point a) of Article 3.4.1 must be glued to the top of the cornel or yew tree, so as to include the circle with a score of 16. The top of the hornbeam or yew tree must be made of poplar or birch plywood, with a thickness of no less than 6 cm. The whole structure must be secured to the hornbeam with a metal band 2 or 3 mm thick using three clamps. Reference marks and objects placed on the target that could aid in aiming are prohibited. The total depth of the target must be 50 (fifty) cm. MANDATORY.
3.5 Conduct of the event.
The Championship must be conducted as follows:
– Companies gather;
– Jury formation;
– Drawing of benches and positioning;
– Delivery of crossbowmen lists and material stamping;
– Test shots. The duration must be at least 90 minutes and must be scheduled for the morning of the competition day.
Any other ceremonies (e.g., greeting of authorities) must not overlap with the commitments specified above.
– Parades;
– Team competition;
– Intermission;
– Individual competition;
– Awards ceremony.
The organizing conpagnia must arrange the events so that the individual competition ends with sufficient natural light.
3.6 Team Tournament.
The National Team Tournament will be contested on a flat target (art.3.4..1) by teams composed of 12 competing crossbowmen and 3 reserves. If a team arrives at the Tournament with an insufficient number of competitors, it may request to use crossbowmen from another Company for a maximum of 2 (two) people, chosen by lottery from among those made available by the Masters of Arms and entitled to only one test shot. The scores achieved will be considered valid for all purposes. The twelve competing crossbowmen will each have one shot; the team with the highest total score will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie, the title will be awarded to the team that has made the best shot, as defined in Article 3.12.7 of these regulations. Each team will have its own target and its own support bench.
3.7 Individual Tournament.
The National Individual Shooting Tournament will be contested on a single TASSO target (art.3.4.2) placed at the center of the scoreboard by teams consisting of 12 competing crossbowmen and 3 reserves.
The 12 competing crossbowmen will each have one shot, and the winner will be the one who has made the best shot, as defined in art. 3.12.7 of these regulations.
The crossbowmen will use their own Company’s support bench, which they may orient towards the target without advancing the axis of the assigned shooting line.
3.8 Crossbowmen.
All crossbowmen registered with companies belonging to L.I.T.A.B. may participate in the National Crossbow Shooting Tournament, either individually or as a team, provided that they have complied with the marking of the equipment to be used during the Tournament in accordance with the procedures set out in these regulations, and are in compliance with the insurance coverage requirements, as specified in point 1.3.
The names of the 12 competing crossbowmen and the 3 reserves, and their respective shooting order, must be communicated by the Masters of Arms to the Jury:
a. for the Team Tournament at the end of the practice shots;
b. for the Individual Tournament at the end of the team competition.
It is forbidden for any archer to cross the shooting line and directly gather information from people outside the competition area.
No crossbow shooter shall wear sunglasses, visors, special glasses, tools, positioning and measuring devices, or anything else that may aid positioning and aiming when shooting.
The use of eyeglasses and the positioning of the dart by the Master of Arms or his representative is permitted.
It is forbidden to cock and hold the crossbow by yourself.
3.9 Reserves and substitutions.
The reserve crossbowman may replace the regular crossbowman even during the competition, provided that he does not harm other competitors as they prepare to shoot.
The archer to be replaced, who is already on the shooting platform, must wait seated on the bench until all the archers from the other companies have taken their shots, without disturbing them with sudden movements or verbal calls. He must then raise one arm. The missed shot will be made up by the reserve or by the archer himself at the end of the regulation shots.
3.10 The jury.
3.10.1 The jury will consist of one field judge (with proven experience and a good knowledge of the technical regulations) for each affiliated compagnia, who will be dressed in costumes relevant to the event.
While performing this task, the field judges may not participate in the competition. For this purpose, the compagnie may appoint two field judges, one to supervise the team competition and the other to supervise the individual competition.
3.10.2 Competitors are strictly prohibited from approaching the targets and judges or interfering with their duties in any way, unless asked to do so, under penalty of having their scores canceled.
To facilitate the judges’ task, the organizing compagnia is required to provide a sufficiently secluded place for checking scores.
3.11 Field Judges.
The Field Judges, chosen by drawing lots before the practice shots, will be assigned to another Compagnia and will be responsible for ensuring that the Tournament is conducted correctly, including the use of regulation equipment and the identity of the competitors.
3.12 Verification of shots.
3.12.1 The verification of shots and related scores by the Field Judges will only take place after the competition has ended, when each Master of Arms, accompanied by the assigned Field Judge, has removed their target and placed it before the Jury (Field Judges), where the Master of Arms will technically verify the scores achieved.
3.12.2 Each Master of Arms shall present the target to the Field Judge for an initial check, during which any disputes shall be considered. Unless this occurs, the score for that target may be recorded by the Field Judge with the technical assistance of the Master of Arms concerned.
If there are grounds for dispute, the dart in question must not be removed from the target for any reason, under penalty of being awarded a lower score.
Disputes may be decided by a simple majority of the Jury, excluding the Field Judge who verified the dispute, only in the case of an even number of competing teams.
3.12.3 Regardless of the score obtained, if a dart sticks out of the target, it will be considered a null shot. The score of a dart that, although loose, has its tip below the level of the target will be considered valid.
3.12.4 If the wooden shaft of the dart detaches from the tip but the tip remains stuck in the target, the score obtained will be considered valid for all purposes and therefore approved, provided that the tip can be identified as specified in Article 2.2 of these rules.
3.12.5 If one dart sticks into another dart, the score obtained is equal to that of the first arrow stuck in the target. In individual competitions, it is classified in the ranking immediately after the first arrow. The single body that is formed remains the property of the second shooter.
3.12.6 If a shaft breaks the line demarcating the circles, the higher score will be counted.
3.12.7 The best throw is determined by the point closest to the center, measuring, with the dart inserted in the target, the distance between the perfect center of the target itself and the side of the tip closest to it (even if the dart interrupts the line demarcating the lower score). In the event of a tie, the clockwise rule will be applied, taking twelve o’clock as the best reference point.
In the event of a tie with darts completely covering the nail, the best throw will be determined by indirectly measuring the distance between the perfect center of the target and the center of the tip.
In the team competition, the best dart of each target will be left stuck in the board until the winning team is certain, in accordance with Article 3.6.
4.1 Types of penalties.
Penalties are divided into:
– Individual;
– Team.
They are expressed as:
– Warning
– Censure
– Demotion
– Expulsion
The decision is taken by a qualified majority of the jury, before the
official announcement of the results.
Penalties are divided into:
1) Disqualification from shooting: this is the exclusion of the individual archer and/or team from shooting. Exclusion from the team competition does not automatically result in exclusion from the individual competition or vice versa. This occurs in the following cases: unstamped arrow or crossbow, shooting with a “red flag” on the field.
2) Warning: this occurs when the archer behaves in a manner that is unsafe;
3) Caution: this is a more serious penalty than a warning and occurs when the archer behaves in a manner that is unsafe. Two cautions may result in disqualification, subject to the case being referred to the Jury;
4) Disqualification from the event: this may occur after receiving two warnings in the same event or for serious misconduct relating to safety;
5) Disqualification for one calendar year: this occurs for serious misconduct by the crossbowman that violates LITAB principles and for unsportsmanlike behavior;
6) Expulsion: this is the maximum penalty for unacceptable behavior by the crossbowman that violates LITAB principles and for unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalties set out in points 1 to 4 inclusive are valid exclusively for the event in which they are imposed. Those in points 5 and 6, of course, follow their duration.
Penalties may be imposed on both individual archers and teams, and decisions will be made as follows:
a) The decision on penalties under points 2 and 3 will be made by the Field Judge before the official announcement of the results;
b) The decision on penalties under points 1 and 4 will be made by the Jury by absolute majority before the official announcement of the results;
c) The decision on the penalties provided for in points 5 and 6 will be taken by the entire LITAB council in a separate meeting and upon submission of a written complaint.
4.2 Detection of penalties.
Violations of these rules may be detected by any competing crossbowman, the Master of Arms, the Field Judges, and the President of L.I.T.A.B.
Crossbowmen must report the violation to a Field Judge who, if he considers the violation to have occurred, will report it to the Jury.
5.1 Crossbowmen.
Each crossbowman is liable for any damage caused intentionally to the equipment of other Compagnie and to the image of L.I.T.A.B.
5.2 Compagnie.
All Compagnie or Societies undertake to comply with and ensure that their members comply with these regulations. They are also responsible for selecting competitors and for checking the safety of competition equipment.
October 20, 2011
Note: It is considered desirable that, in the above-mentioned competitions, the figure of the Field Master be included, an honorary title that will act as master of ceremonies and/or director of the entire event, without, however, affecting the technical aspects of these regulations.
