Full policy: Club Day Policy & Procedures, Operational Checklist.

The Roster

• Lead Rostered Person — sets structure, controls the line, final safety authority.
• Duty Team — helps with setup, sign-in, and packdown.

Setup

• Follow the Range Operations Policy — flags, signage, lines, overshoot checks. No shooting until it’s confirmed complete.

Shooting Line

• Whistle commands per the standard system.
• Control the Shooting Line appropriate to the people shooting.
• Ensure those U14 have a Parent/Guardian on site
• Ensure those under 11 have a parent/guardian on the line with them while shooting. (Supervisor may shoot if safe to do so)

Lost Arrows

• Organised search process, logged in the Lost Arrow Book.

If Something Goes Wrong

• Record incidents/near misses per the H&S Manual — see Report a Concern.
• The 6 Non-Negotiables: no Person in Charge, no range setup, no line control, unsafe behaviour, no sign-in, or U11 without supervision — any of these means no shooting.

1. Purpose

This document defines the roles, responsibilities, and scope of authority for Range Officers and Line Controllers operating at Tauranga Archery Club.

Its purpose is to:

• clearly establish range control authority,
• ensure consistent and safe range operations,
• support Health & Safety obligations, and
• provide a clear foundation for Range Officer training and authorisation.

Range control is a safety‑critical function and takes precedence over coaching, competition, or convenience.

2. Principles

• Safety of people overrides all other considerations.
• Range control authority must be clear, respected, and unambiguous.
• A Range Officer may stop shooting at any time for safety reasons.
• Coaching, scoring, and event activities must comply with range control decisions.
• Escalation is expected where safety or welfare concerns arise.

3. Role Definition

A Range Officer / Line Controller is a club‑authorised individual responsible for:

• controlling shooting activity,
• enforcing range safety procedures, and
• managing people on and around the shooting line.

Different titles may be used (e.g. Field Captain, Director of Shooting), but the authority and responsibilities remain the same.

For Archery New Zealand (ANZ) sanctioned competitions and formal events, the Range Officer performs the role of the Director of Shooting (DoS).

4. Typical Contexts

Range Officers may operate in:

• Club Days
• Coaching sessions
• Beginner courses and Have‑A‑Go events
• Club‑run competitions
• Events and public or private bookings

The level of complexity may vary, but safety responsibilities do not.

5. Core Responsibilities

Range Officers are responsible for:

• controlling all shooting and retrieval activity
• ensuring correct range layout (shooting, waiting, and target lines)
• enforcing whistle or command systems consistently
• ensuring clear overshoot and exclusion zones
• monitoring participant behaviour and compliance
• stopping shooting immediately when unsafe conditions arise

6. Authority & Decision‑Making

Range Officers have authority to:

• issue clear commands to shooters and helpers
• stop shooting immediately when required
• remove participants from the line for safety or behavioural reasons
• pause or cancel activities due to conditions, behaviour, or risk

Range Officer decisions do not require justification during live shooting and should not be challenged on the field.

Concerns or feedback may be raised after the activity.

7. Relationship to Coaches

• Range Officers control the range; coaches control instruction.
• A coach does not override range control unless formally acting as the Range Officer.
• Individuals holding both authorisations must clearly indicate which role they are performing.
• In conflicts between coaching and safety, safety prevails.

8. Juniors & Vulnerable Participants

When juniors or vulnerable participants are present, Range Officers must:

• maintain stricter supervision thresholds
• ensure appropriate ratios are supported
• stop activities if supervision becomes inadequate
• escalate welfare concerns immediately

Range Officers are not expected to investigate concerns but must act to keep participants safe.

9. Behaviour & Conduct Management

Range Officers are empowered to:

• address unsafe behaviour immediately
• intervene in cases of non‑compliance with instructions
• remove participants who repeatedly ignore commands

Persistent issues must be reported following club incident or concern processes.

10. Emergency Response

Range Officers must:

• initiate emergency stop procedures
• secure the range and participants
• coordinate initial response until help arrives
• follow club emergency procedures and reporting requirements

11. Limitations of the Role

Range Officers:

• are not required to provide coaching or instruction
• must not coach while actively controlling the range
• must not operate beyond conditions or competence
• must escalate beyond‑scope situations