← Back to the blog

Archery Tag rules: how a game works

Published on 10 July 2026, updated on 1 September 2026 by the Tag Brussels team

Archery Tag pits two teams against each other with bows and rubber-tipped arrows: an arrow that hits the body square on eliminates you, a mid-air catch brings a teammate back, and a round is won by eliminating the whole opposing team or completing the scenario objective. Here are all the rules, explained by the team that hosts games every week on our forest field in Bierges (Wavre), 15 minutes from Brussels.

What is the goal of Archery Tag?

Simple: eliminate every player on the opposing team by hitting them with an arrow, or complete the objective of the current scenario (capture a flag, protect a king…). A game is usually played between two teams of 5 to 8 players, separated by a neutral zone in the middle of the field.

At the starting signal, the arrows sit in the centre: both teams sprint to grab as many as possible, then the duel begins. You shoot, you dodge, you take cover behind trees and obstacles, and you scavenge ammunition between assaults.

How do you get eliminated, and how do you come back?

A player is out when an arrow hits them (the body, not the bow). But Archery Tag has two spectacular comeback mechanics:

• Catching an arrow mid-air: intercept an enemy arrow before it touches the ground and an eliminated teammate returns to play (and the shooter can be eliminated, depending on the variant).
• Hitting the enemy target: in some variants each side has a 5-spot target; every spot knocked out brings one of your players back.

The result: nobody sits out for long, and a trailing team can always turn the game around. That comeback mechanic is exactly what makes Archery Tag more dynamic than most elimination games.

To settle debates mid-game, here are the situations that come up most often and what the rules say about each.

How long does an Archery Tag game last?

A round lasts 15 to 20 minutes. At Tag Brussels, a full session lasts 2 hours: safety briefing, archery initiation, then back-to-back rounds with rotating scenarios, with breaks to catch your breath and collect arrows. A group typically plays 5 to 8 rounds per session.

What does a 2-hour session at Tag Brussels look like?

You arrive a little before your slot for check-in and gear distribution: your playing time itself stays untouched. The session opens with the safety briefing, where our instructors go over the golden rules and answer any last questions, then with the archery initiation, even for people who have never held a bow.

Then the games begin: 5 to 8 rounds spread over 3 or 4 different scenarios, broken up by pauses to catch your breath and collect arrows. Our instructors rebalance the teams every round, and an odd number of players is no problem at all. First visit? Our guide on what to expect from your first Archery Tag session walks you through it hour by hour.

What are the safety rules?

The golden rules, repeated at the briefing before every session:

• Full-face mask on at all times, even between rounds.
• Never shoot under 5 to 7 metres: at close range, ask your opponent to surrender instead.
• Rubber-tipped arrows only, supplied and checked by our instructors: never personal gear.
• Flat shots only, never arcing arrows into areas you cannot see.

With these rules and our instructors on the field, Archery Tag is a pain-free activity: the soft rubber tip absorbs the impact, you feel a light push. That is the big difference from paintball: see our comparison Archery Tag vs paintball.

What gear is provided, and what should you bring?

All the gear is supplied and included in the package: bow, arrows with a wide soft rubber tip (about 5 cm across) and a full-face mask. Equipment is checked and disinfected after every use. The only thing you bring yourself: closed shoes with good support, trainers or walking shoes, because you will run a lot. All packages are on our prices page.

Do you wear glasses? The full-face mask fits over most frames, and an anti-fog spray is available at reception: just mention it when you arrive. We cover everything in our article can you play Archery Tag with glasses?

Which scenarios can you play?

Plain elimination is only the start. On our field, the instructors chain scenarios to keep things varied: capture the flag, protect the king, team deathmatch, battle royale… Each one changes the strategy: holding a zone, escorting a VIP, or surviving in a free-for-all. We break them down in our article 7 Archery Tag scenarios you absolutely have to try.

Do you need archery experience?

No. Archery Tag bows are designed to be easy to draw (about 12 kg of draw weight, with softer bows for kids), and every session starts with an initiation: stance, nocking, aiming, release. After 10 minutes of practice, everyone hits their mark. From age 8, sporty or not, everyone finds their place: light builds are often the hardest to hit!

Frequently asked questions about the rules