Dress Codes

[Barry C]

What are opinions about the GNAS dress code. For a long time it has been green and white, now with the introduction of team shirts, combined with white or green trousers. While I can appreciate tradition and a small effort to modernise I am very against this outdated rule and wish to wear whatever clothes I like, or find comfortable at a competition. It feels like this sport is run by the elderly who have long trod the path of lawn bowles etc... Being in a club where over 95% is 21 or below I feel that the youth of this sport would prefer more freedom in dress. I have lost count at the mumber of other young people laughing at what we wear. It's not going to help future membership or performance if young 'sport' gifted kids take up another sport percieved as cool instead of fuddy duddy archery. Most archers I meet would not class them self as cool or gifted at sport and enjoy the odd spot of role playing/ computer sessions. If the image could modernise in the UK as it has in other nations then I am certain we could attract more members, and more members with natural ability, strength and coordination.

[TJ Mason]

There's no safety reason behind the dress code, so it wouldn't stand up to a serious challenge. But it would be best if the GNAS shifted position rather than waited until someone confronted them.

I actually don't mind the white-and-green rule too much. What I hate is the "tuck your shirt into your trousers" rule. (Insert scowly-devil icon.) This really interferes when using an open stance.

[Shirt]

I'd like to point out that under the old green and white rules there was nothing saying how big your club logo could be... covering the whole of your back was fine, and t-shirt printers tend to prefer white for some reason.

[Doc_Haynes]

Why is there even a perceived need for a 'National' dress code? I'm hard pressed at the moment to think of another sport where a 'National' dress code is imposed. All the sports I can think of allow club or team colours.

[Dave]

I'm of the belief that civilisation died the day they allowed cricketers to wear team colours And it's a sad day when the green and white is no longer on the shooting line - I suppose it could be compared to the old school uniform debate; get rid of it and children are more concerned with what each other is wearing rather than concentrating on the job in hand

[shawasha]

Always hot potatoes, these kind of issues.
Although I think that the green and white keeps things looking low impact and smart, club colours/uniform would lend each band of archers a unique and recognisable image whilst still keeping things looking smart.
Wouldn't like to see archers being able to dress however they wanted though, as that would most likely make for the shooting line beginning to resemble a gypsy encampment (mind you, that might attract patronage from Prezza!)

[pitprops]

Got to agree with the original post here. Having any form of dress code is outdated, let people where what they want and what they feel comfortable in. This from someone whose company dress code requires him to wear a suit, hasn't warn one for years, and hasn't been sent to bed without supper yet.

A couple of people make a point about looking smart. What has colour got to do with looking smart? Surely the condition of the clothing has much more than colour, but do the rules say they have to be clean, pressed, etc? Its not a rhetorical question. I've never read the rules. Being a relative novice, I prefer to spend my time concentrating on my shooting rather than what the guy/gal next to me on the line is wearing.

[Dave]

Shirt - 11/4/2005 5:30 PM t-shirt printers tend to prefer white for some reason.

</p>

They prefer white so they don't have to print a white base under the colours when screen printing.</p>

[Archery1st]

From my view I have no problem with whites, I guess they make the shooting line look professional, saying that I've also shot a lot overseas and do like some countries dress codes, one of the best is the USA, their dress code is fawn or blue bottoms and almost a free choice in tops (no camo, no offensive logos or words are the main no no's).</p>

The changes which have been started over here are a good step in the right direction, things take time I know, its only taken 50+ years to get this change, the people at the top are now accepting that archers want different things to what was wanted back years ago, it won't take anything as long for more to come I'm sure...BUT I do hope that the competition shooting lines don't start looking like a washing line with anything goes.</p>

Lets face it dress code's only have to be enforced at Record statue shoots, National events, and any shoot which the organiser advertises that dress code will be enforced, all other shoots you CAN wear what you like, if a non RS shoot is saying dress code why not contact the organiser and ask for that rule to be dropped as its not actually required, you never know if you don't ask (I've done this many times and shot in my sponsors tops, which is good publicity for them)</p>

[MrC]

Hi Barry,

What are opinions about the GNAS dress code. For a long time it has been green and white, now with the introduction of team shirts, combined with white or green trousers. While I can appreciate tradition and a small effort to modernise I am very against this outdated rule and wish to wear whatever clothes I like, or find comfortable at a competition. ...

I would prefer to scrap the dress rules, or at least relax them considerably, but I think that will take a little while. However, speaking as someone who's been away from the sport for nearly 15 years, it's obvious to me that they're dying. Club colours are the first official indication I'm aware of, but when I started shooting tournaments 18 months ago it was obvious the rules are enforced much less than in the past, so if people are really put out by it they can just flout them, I saw many more people in incorrect dress than I would have expected, both subtle and unsubtle. At first I assumed this was just in local club shoots, but I've seen blatant breaks of dress rules in FITA stars and 720's as well.

My suggestions are to be patient, safe in the knowledge that the dress regs are at death's door. If they really irk you right now, then you have to decide what you want to do. I wouldn't want to risk being caught out by them so I stick to the rules, others may decide to risk that. I have to agree that archery green is about as untrendy as you can get, but white isn't so bad, you just have to look around a bit to find something you don't mind, what with jeans / baggy summer linens / baggy tracksuit bottoms / shorts of whatever kind there should be something to most people's taste. Anyway, it's not a fashion parade, the mixture of people is half the attraction for me.</p>__________________
MrC