NFAA 5 spot scoring: white centers and blue rings
The NFAA 5 spot target scores 5 for each white center, including its inner X, and 4 for the blue scoring area around it. An arrow outside a spot scores zero. A standard NFAA indoor 300 round has 60 arrows in twelve ends of five at 20 yards, with Xs recorded separately.
The five-spot has two point values
| Arrow location | Points | Separate count |
|---|---|---|
| Inner white X-ring | 5 | One X |
| Rest of white center | 5 | No X |
| Blue scoring rings | 4 | No X |
| Outside all scoring spots | 0 | No X |
The blue rings on an NFAA five-spot combine into one 4-point area. They do not step down through 3, 2, and 1. Those lower values belong to the full single-face version of the NFAA indoor target. An arrow near the outside of the blue can still earn 4.
Both versions have a white 5-point center with an inner X. On the full single face, the blue zones continue outward with values 4 through 1. The five-spot crops the available scoring area around each of five separate centers.
What does an X add to the score?
An indoor NFAA X adds to your X count while still contributing 5 points. If all five arrows hit white and three reach the inner X-ring, the end is 25 with three Xs. If one of those white arrows moves into blue, the point total becomes 24.
A score such as 300 with 40 Xs means all 60 arrows earned 5 points and 40 also reached the inner ring. It does not mean 340 points. The X-ring overview explains why the same letter can carry a different point value on another kind of target.
Write the X count as you score each end. Trying to reconstruct it from the final point total is impossible, because an ordinary white 5 and an X contribute the same number of points. Keep the columns distinct throughout the round.
Must you shoot one arrow into each spot?
One arrow per spot is a common way to use the five centers, and it helps keep arrows apart. Under NFAA indoor rules, however, you may shoot the spots in any order and put more than one arrow in a spot, provided you stay within the prescribed five arrows per end.
That differs from formats with a mandatory one-arrow-per-center rule. Do not discard an arrow automatically because it shares a spot with another arrow on an NFAA five-spot face. Ask the tournament official if a local event announces a different format.
For practice, a fixed sequence can help you avoid losing your place during an end. You might start at the upper left, move across, then work down the sheet. Choose an order you can remember after an interruption, then use it throughout practice.
How the indoor 300 adds up
| Part | Arrows | Maximum points |
|---|---|---|
| One end | 5 | 25 |
| Twelve ends | 60 | 300 |
The standard distance is 20 yards [18.29m]. The NFAA 300 round guide covers the round in more detail. Check the event information for age divisions and any format variations before setting a practice distance.
A sample end of X, 5, 5, 4, 4 totals 23 with one X. Another end of X, X, 5, 5, 5 totals 25 with two Xs. Together those ends give 48 points and three Xs. The maximum after two ends is 50, so you have dropped two points.
A miss has a larger effect than a blue hit: replacing a 5 with a 4 loses one point, while replacing it with a zero loses five. Record both honestly during practice. That lets you see whether a lower total came from repeated blue hits or an isolated miss.
Judge the white-blue boundary
NFAA line scoring gives the higher value when the arrow shaft touches the scoring line. Inspect the entry point without moving the shaft or paper. A tear extending toward white is not enough by itself to establish shaft contact with the boundary.
Call all five arrow values and let the scorer finish before pulling. If the group questions an arrow, use the target captain or line-judge procedure announced for the event. Keep your own hands off the face while others examine it.
You can rehearse this at practice with a partner. Take turns calling values while the other person records them, then check the card against the face. Practicing the scoring routine helps when the range is busy and another group is waiting to pull.
Recognize a different indoor face
The visual below is a full five-color 10-ring face for comparison. It is not an NFAA five-spot. Its gold center and ten-point scale belong to a different scoring layout.
Vegas 3-spot scoring uses gold, red, and blue, with 10 as the ordinary maximum per arrow. NFAA five-spot uses white and blue with 5 as the maximum. A 300-point result can come from either format, so the total alone does not identify the round.
Use the general scoring guide if you need help with end totals. On your practice card, write NFAA five-spot and the distance before shooting. Keep that label with the final score and X count when you enter the result in a training log.
Questions
Does an NFAA five-spot have a 3-ring?
The NFAA indoor five-spot awards 5 for white and 4 for the blue scoring area. It does not award 3, 2, or 1. The full single-face NFAA indoor target includes those lower values in its outer blue zones, which is why descriptions of the two faces can be confusing.
Can two arrows in one NFAA spot both count?
Yes. NFAA indoor rules allow multiple arrows in the same spot as long as you do not exceed the prescribed number of arrows for the end. One arrow per spot is a useful way to reduce collisions. Check local event instructions before assuming another organization uses the same placement rule.
Is a perfect NFAA indoor score 300 or 300 Xs?
The point maximum for one standard NFAA indoor round is 300, from 60 arrows worth up to 5 each. The maximum X count is 60. Every arrow can score 5 without every arrow being an X, so record the points and the X count separately on the scorecard.