JOAD Classifications Archers are classified by age and, for the most part, will compete within their age brackets. In rare cases, an archer will be "promoted" to the next age level in order to compete with more experienced archers. The JOAD and USA Archery competitive caregories are as follows:
*Yeoman Athletes may compete up to and through the year of their 9th birthday. This class is not offered at national tournaments, and is optional at other tournaments. Indoor JOAD rounds are 30 arrows at an appropriate target (Tournament Director's decision). Outdoor rounds for JOAD and USA Archery competition are not official for this age class and it is up to the Tournament Director to decide if a category for this age group will be offered.
*Bowman Athletes may compete up to and through the year of their 12th birthday. For indoor JOAD competition the Olympic athlete will shoot at a 60-cm target face (outer 10 ring) and the Compound athlete will shoot at a 40-cm target face (outer 10 ring). At USA Archery Indoor Tournaments, both Olympic and Compound athletes shoot at a 40-cm target. Olympic shooters use the outer 10 ring; Compound shooters use the inner 10 ring. Both Olympic and Compound athletes will shoot 60 arrow rounds at the JOAD and USA ARCHERY Indoor tournaments. In outdoor tournaments, boys and girls both shoot 30, 25, 25, 20 meters. Bowman archers score the outer 10 ring in outdoor competition. The Olympic Round (Elimination/OR) is shot at 30 meters, but is not offered for Bowman at national tournaments.
* Cub Athletes may compete in this class up and through the year of their 14th birthday. At indoor JOAD tournaments, Cubs shoot at 18 meters. Olympic athletes use a 60-cm target and Compound athletes shoot at a 40-cm target face (outer 10 ring). At USA Archery indoor tournaments, both Olympic and Compound athletes shoot at a 40-cm target. Olympic athletes use the outer 10 ring; Compound athletes use the inner 10 ring. Both Olympic and Compound athletes will shoot 60 arrow rounds at the JOAD and USA ARCHERY Indoor tournaments. In outdoor tournaments, all Cub ladies and gentlemen shoot 50, 40, 30 and 20 meters, using the outer 10 ring. The Olympic Round (Elimination/OR) is shot at 50 meters.
*Cadet Athletes may compete in this class up to and through the year of their 16th birthday. At indoor tournaments, Cadets shoot adult distances and target face sizes in both USA Archery and JOAD competitions. Indoor competition is 60 arrows at the 40-cm indoor target face; inner 10 ring for Compound shooters. In outdoor tournaments ladies shoot 60, 50, 40 and 30 meters; the gentlemen shoot the distances of 70, 60, 50 and 30 meters. Both Olympic and Compound athletes score the outer 10 ring. The Olympic round (Elimination/OR) is shot at 60 meters.
*Archer (This class is not offered at national tournaments, and is optional at other tournaments) Athletes may compete in this class up to and through the year of the 18th birthday. In outdoor tournaments, ladies and gentleman will shoot 60, 50, 40 and 30 meters. Athletes shoot at the outer ten ring in outdoor competition. At indoor tournaments, all athletes shoot the 40-cm target; Compound athletes use the inner ten ring. This class is for beginning archers.
* Junior Athletes may compete in the Junior class up to and through the year of their 18th birthday. Junior athletes shoot adult distances and target face sizes in both USA Archery and JOAD competitions. Indoor competition is 60 arrows at the 40-cm indoor target face; inner 10 ring for Compound shooters. In outdoor tournaments, ladies shoot 70, 60, 50 and 30 meters; the gentlemen shoot the distances of 90, 70, 50 and 30 meters. Both Olympic and Compound athletes score the outer 10 ring. The Olympic Round (Elimination/OR) is shot at 70 meters.