Facing limited access to indoor sports halls due to health restrictions, the Fédération Française de Tir à l’Arc authorized outdoor 18-meter competitions that qualify for the French Championship, FFTA reported.
That rule change opened a new path for winter competition across France. Clubs accustomed to indoor shooting have shifted targets outside.
Florent Mulot, a 28-year-old firefighter and archer at the Draveil club in Essonne, adapted quickly to the outdoor format. Entering his 17th season in the sport, Mulot embraced the cold weather constraints rather than letting the winter season stall.
“Depending on the conditions, I use a technical base layer, gloves between ends, a beanies—because a large part of body heat escapes through there—waterproof shoes, hand warmers for pockets and sometimes even a heated vest with a small battery,” Mulot told FFTA.
Adjusting Equipment for Cold Weather
Shooting outdoors in chilly weather requires more than standard equipment. Archers bundle up in multiple layers while managing the mechanics of their release.
“When I have too many layers, I wear a sleeve to press the clothing flat against my forearm so it doesn’t catch on the string as it passes,” Mulot said. “I don’t use everything each time, but it’s pretty much all the ways I have to avoid freezing in the middle of winter.”
The Draveil facility adjusted its layout to bring targets out to the 18-meter distance. Reducing volleys to between three and six arrows helps keep archers’ fingers warm between turns.
Despite the chill, Mulot noticed little difference in his actual performance. Aside from intense cold, he treats outdoor elements much like the summer season by factoring in wind and sunlight variations.
“It’s no more difficult than indoors,” Mulot said. “As long as you manage to keep your string fingers roughly warm, shooting is enjoyable.”
Arc Club Nice Opens Weekend Schedule
Arc Club Nice hosted an outdoor tournament on its grounds, utilizing the standard indoor rulebook under health protocols. Ysabel Buthiaux, the club’s secretary, noted the logistical advantages of staying outside.
“There are really no extra constraints; for us it will be easier,” Ysabel Buthiaux told FFTA. “Already because we won’t have to move our targets—the initial competition was organized in a hall located about ten kilometers from the club—nor install them the day before and then recover them the day after the competition.”
The outdoor setup saved the club money on transport and truck rentals. Because health rules barred physical medal ceremonies, savings on awards allowed organizers to lower entry fees while still turning a profit.
While municipal rules prohibited static refreshment stands, the club coordinated take-away food ordered during registration and picked up at check-in. Organizers scheduled a single daily session to catch the highest sun and warmest daytime temperatures, while the expansive outdoor grounds allowed them to host more competitors than a cramped 15-person indoor hall.
Relaxing Federation Rules for Clubs
To help clubs follow local restrictions, the federation eased administrative requirements through March 31, 2021. Governing bodies permitted weekday competitions to simplify interclub matches and youth events on Wednesdays.
Canceled events qualified for full refunds, and clubs gained the freedom to add competitions to the calendar at any time. Eric Buthiaux pointed out that outdoor scheduling provided flexibility to postpone rain-delayed events to the following week.
The revised format drew immediate interest. Despite a competing indoor event in the same department on the same dates, Arc Club Nice received roughly a dozen registrations within two days of publishing its notice, including cross-border competitors from Italy.
“We’ve set up targets at 18m, with spotlights we’re good!” Mulot told FFTA regarding the club’s evening training setup. “Really good in fact, and the coach has set up a little challenge so it motivates the whole team!”
Eric Buthiaux estimated the club would host at least sixty competitors daily as the winter outdoor calendar progressed.
