~ ETO is built around three championship rounds:

On one day, competitors shoot a 3D sport parcours.
On two further days, competitors shoot 3D hunting parcours.

Each ETO parcours contains 24–30 targets. The regulations require a balanced spread of target groups: at least six targets from Group I, at least six from Group II, at least six from Group III, and a maximum of four from Group IV. All shooting is at unknown distance.

Target pegs are colour-coded by age group. Red and/or yellow pegs are used for Seniors, Adults, and Juniors. White and/or white-red pegs are used for Juveniles. Blue and/or blue-red pegs are used for Kids.

~ 3D sport round:

In the 3D sport parcours, each target is shot using a walk-up system. The archer begins from the furthest peg. A miss allows movement to the next closer peg, and, if needed, a final move to the nearest peg. Only the score of the successful arrow counts.

Scoring for the sport round is:

1st arrow: 20 for kill, 16 for wound
2nd arrow: 14 for kill, 10 for wound
3rd arrow: 8 for kill, 4 for wound

That format gives maximum reward to a clean first shot and makes the first arrow the defining arrow of the target.

~ 3D hunting round:

The two hunting parcours follow a different structure. Targets may be set as two pegs and one target, one peg and two targets, or two pegs and two targets, depending on the course design. In formats with two targets, both arrows are scored and added together. For Group IV animals, two animals are always used on one target position.

Maximum distance in the hunting rounds is 30 metres for Juniors, Adults, and Seniors, and 20 metres for Juveniles and Kids.

Scoring for the hunting rounds is:

10 for inner kill
7 for outer kill
2 for wound

The regulations show the same values for first and second arrows in the hunting format, reflecting the structure of the hunting course rather than the walk-up pressure of the sport round.

~ Bow inspection and equipment control:

Bow inspection is part of registration and is carried out before the tournament. T.A.I. states clearly that the equipment declared at registration must match what is presented at inspection, and changes after registration can lead to disqualification. Equipment checks may also take place during the event.

The TIFAM article emphasises the same point in practical terms: declared bow style matters, and referees have authority where equipment no longer matches the class entered.

Archers should therefore arrive with equipment fully prepared, class-appropriate, and easy to inspect.

~ Bow classes:

T.A.I. recognises the following bow styles:

SB – Selfbow
PB – Primitive Bow
AFc – American Flatbow classic
AFm – American Flatbow modern
RBc – Reflex Bow classic
RBm – Reflex Bow modern
TRB – Traditional Recurve Bow
BHR – Bowhunter Recurve

A few examples from the current rules are especially useful for competitors:

Primitive Bow uses natural materials, has no arrow rest or bow window, and shoots wooden or bamboo arrows with natural feathers, Mediterranean over the hand.

American Flatbow classic, described in some countries as Longbow, allows an arrow shelf and bow quiver, uses Mediterranean release, and requires wood or bamboo arrows with natural feathers.

Reflex Bow classic and modern allow Mediterranean or thumb release, but prohibit sight window, arrow rest, and bow quiver. Classic uses natural bow materials; modern allows synthetic bow materials and arrows of any material, while natural feathers remain required.

Traditional Recurve Bow permits a sight window past centre, an arrow shelf, and bow quiver on the opposite side of the sight window, but prohibits additional arrow rest, stabiliser, and additional weight.

Bowhunter Recurve allows a window past centre, arrow rest, and a straight stabiliser up to 30.5 cm, but prohibits forked stabilisers, counterweights, and changing bow tension during the round.

Across bow classes, T.A.I. also requires natural feathers and sets detailed standards for arrow numbering, nocking points, and broad equipment legality. Competitors should consult the full official bow styles document before travel.

~ Age classes:

T.A.I.’s current age classes are:

Kids: 8–11
Juveniles: 12–15
Juniors: 16–17
Adults: 18–55
Seniors: 56+

The reference point is the competitor’s age on the first day of the competition. T.A.I. also allows certain upgrades or downgrades on request where a category is thinly populated for medal purposes, though Adults and Kids are excluded from those procedures.

~ On-course procedure and timing:

Groups consist of at least three archers, and general group size elsewhere in the regulations is set between three and six. Within each group, Archer 1 acts as target captain, Archer 2 as first scorer, and Archer 3 as second scorer. The target captain is responsible for rule compliance and safety on the target.

Each archer has one minute per arrow once stepping on the peg. The archer must touch the peg with part of the body, remain behind the firing position, and may only draw while facing the target. Other group members must remain at a safe distance behind the shooter.

The order of shooting rotates target by target. All arrows must be shot in ascending order, and if an archer leaves the shooting position, no further arrows may be shot at that target. Missed targets cannot be reshot.

~ Scoring notes and target values:

T.A.I. divides 3D animals into four size groups based on kill-zone height. Scoring zones are divided into body hit/wound, outer kill, and inner kill. If the animal has an extra inner ring, it also counts as inner kill. Hooves, horns, and antlers score zero.

Only the kill zone facing the archer counts when a target presents more than one kill area. Arrows that hit a line receive the higher score if the shaft clearly enters the higher scoring zone. Robin Hoods score the same as the arrow struck.

Shots from the wrong peg, shots at the wrong target, arrows stuck in antlers or horns, grazing hits that do not stick, and arrows that strike the ground or an obstacle before the target do not score and cannot be repeated.

~ Tie-breaks and medals:

T.A.I. awards medals and certificates for places 1 to 3. If fewer than three competitors start in a class, there is ordinarily no award ceremony for that class unless separately regulated.

If scores are tied, placings are decided in this order: number of arrows hit, number of zeros, number of inside kills, then number of kills. If equality remains after that sequence, archers remain equal.

~ Safety and conduct:

T.A.I. expects fair and respectful behaviour at all times. Alcohol and drug use during competition is prohibited, smoking is prohibited on the competition parcours except in designated areas, and accompanying persons or pets are not allowed in shooting groups or on the parcours.

Archers may only draw on the peg and toward the target. Vertical shooting into the air is forbidden. Groups may not delay others through prolonged arrow searches, and searches must stop when a following group reaches the peg.

Weather alone does not stop the event; competition continues unless the tournament director gives the agreed signal.

~ Protests:

Official protests must be submitted in writing within 30 minutes of the results list being posted. A 50 euro protest fee applies and is refunded if the protest is upheld.