NASP archery scoring for students and parents
NASP archery scoring in bullseye tournaments uses 30 scoring arrows on an 80cm 10-ring target for a maximum of 300 points. Students shoot at 10 meters and 15 meters, with three scoring ends of five arrows at each distance. A separate practice end at each distance does not count toward the total.
Understand the two distances
| Stage | Practice arrows | Scoring arrows | Maximum scored points |
|---|---|---|---|
| About 32.8 feet [10 meters] | 5 | 15 | 150 |
| About 49.2 feet [15 meters] | 5 | 15 | 150 |
| Whole round | 10 | 30 | 300 |
The metric measurements are the official distances. Each stage starts with one five-arrow practice end, followed by three five-arrow scoring ends. An end means the arrows shot as one batch before scoring and retrieval.
Students therefore shoot more arrows than appear in the 300-point total. The practice arrows help them settle at each distance, but they do not earn points for the round. A parent counting every arrow from the stands can easily include those warm-up shots by mistake.
Keep separate subtotals for the two distances when reviewing practice. If the score changes after moving back, you can see where it happened instead of trying to explain a single final number. The target face stays the same size.
Read the 80cm face
The scoring face is about 31.5 inches [80cm] across. Gold contains 10 and 9, red contains 8 and 7, blue contains 6 and 5, black contains 4 and 3, and white contains 2 and 1. The arrow receives the value of the zone its shaft enters.
| Ring | Color | Points |
|---|---|---|
| X | Gold | 10, recorded as X |
| 10 | Gold | 10 |
| 9 | Gold | 9 |
| 8 | Red | 8 |
| 7 | Red | 7 |
| 6 | Blue | 6 |
| 5 | Blue | 5 |
| 4 | Black | 4 |
| 3 | Black | 3 |
| 2 | White | 2 |
| 1 | White | 1 |
| M | Outside the scoring area | 0 (miss) |
An arrow outside the scoring rings receives zero. NASP scores the inner X as an ordinary 10. For a new student, the useful first step is learning the two values within each color. Calling every gold hit a 10 would overstate the score.
Use the 10-ring target guide to practice recognizing the boundaries. You can point to imaginary hits on an unused paper face and have the student name each value before adding any numbers. If the student can name the rings but loses track while adding, work on the totals separately.
What if the arrow touches a line?
NASP awards the higher value when the shaft touches a scoring line. A shaft in the 8 zone that touches the 9-ring line scores 9. The arrow hole can tear beyond the shaft, so a tear touching the line does not automatically earn the higher score.
Look where the shaft meets the paper and leave the arrow untouched. If the students disagree, ask a range official for a decision before pulling. The line-cutter guide explains why moving an arrow or the face can change the evidence.
At practice, an adult can demonstrate this with arrows already safely in a target after the range is clear. Show the difference between shaft contact and a loose flap of paper. Avoid teaching a child to press the paper against the shaft to make the call easier.
Who calls and records the arrows?
Under NASP national bullseye scoring procedure, one student calls the partner's five arrow values and fills in the matching bubbles on the scorecard. The partner checks those entries and confirms the end. Then they reverse roles. Officials resolve disagreements and handle erasures. Students should read the instructions for their event before the flight starts.
Treat checking the card as part of shooting the end. Compare each arrow with its recorded value while the arrows remain in the target. Look for a missed entry or a mark on the wrong row. A total can look plausible even when two individual values are wrong.
Parents should stay in the designated spectator area. The student and range staff handle target scoring, so a view from the stands cannot settle a close line call. After the flight, ask the student about the process as well as the number: did they know how to ask for help, and did they check each end?
Add a five-arrow end
| End | Arrow values | End total | Subtotal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10, 9, 9, 8, 7 | 43 | 43 |
| 2 | 10, 10, 9, 8, 8 | 45 | 88 |
| 3 | 9, 9, 8, 7, 6 | 39 | 127 |
The example produces 127 out of 150 at the first distance. If the student then shoots 118 at the second distance, the final score is 245 out of 300. Neither practice end goes into that addition.
One end can contribute up to 50 points. A miss contributes zero but still occupies one of the five arrow entries. For example, 10, 9, 8, 7, and 0 total 34. Leaving the zero arrow out of the record makes it harder to check that every arrow has been accounted for.
The general archery scoring guide has more examples of running totals. During a tournament, follow the actual scorecard layout, which may use bubbles for individual values rather than the handwritten rows shown here.
Practice the scorecard before tournament day
Rehearse one full scoring exchange at a club session. Let the student call a partner's arrows, enter the values, and wait while the partner checks. Use a sample of the event's card so the first encounter with its layout does not happen under tournament pressure.
Practice both distances if the range permits. Record the two subtotals and keep the face size consistent. A closer-distance practice result can show progress, but it is not a complete NASP tournament score.
If an arrow bounces out or another unusual event occurs, the student should alert range staff and wait for instructions. Do not add a replacement arrow without authorization. Wait for the official's instructions before the student shoots again.
Questions
Do practice arrows count in a NASP score?
Practice arrows do not count toward the NASP bullseye tournament total. Students shoot one practice end and three scoring ends at each of two distances. Only the six scoring ends count, giving 30 scoring arrows. Each arrow can earn 10 points, so the maximum individual score is 300.
Does NASP use the X-ring to award extra points?
NASP bullseye scoring treats the inner X as a 10. It gives no extra point for reaching that smaller mark. A student who hits the regular 10 zone and a student who hits the inner X both add 10 points for that arrow to their end total.
Can a parent change a student's arrow score?
A parent should bring a concern through the event's approved staff or coach procedure. The scoring students check entries at the target, and a range official resolves an uncertain arrow value. Help your child practice that exchange beforehand so they can identify a mistake and ask for assistance while the arrows remain in place.