Throwing Axes

Throwing Axes

Definitions

• “Pause” means a clear absence of forward, backward, side-to-side, vertical motion

• “Planted” means at rest with a part of the foot in contact with the ground

• i.e. the toe, the heel, the sole, etc

• “Throwing Line” means either:

• The Black Line (see Lane Specifications) when throwing a hatchet

• The Blue Line (see Lane Specifications) when throwing a Big Axe or double-rotation hatchet

• “Fault Line” means either:

• The Red Line (see Lane Specifications) when throwing a hatchet

• The Black Line (see Lane Specifications) when throwing a Big Axe or double-rotation hatchet

Initial Foot Placement

1. The throw begins when the competitor pauses with at least one foot planted behind the throwing line

• “Behind” means farther from the target than the farthest edge of the throwing line

• the foot may be planted centered, or to the left or right of center

• “At least one foot” means the other foot can be placed at will

• i.e. ahead of the throwing line, on the throwing line or behind the throwing line

Stepping Motion

2. Competitors may take one single step toward the target during a throw

• Here the “rear” foot is the foot that begins the throw farther from the target than the “lead” foot

• Here movement toward the target is understood to be independent of whether the foot is in contact with the ground or not i.e. stepping or sliding the foot

• Examples of one single step toward the target:

• the rear foot moves closer to the target than the lead foot and comes to rest on the ground, and

1. the lead foot remains stationary, or

2. the lead foot moves toward the target and comes to rest on the ground,

1. behind the rear foot, or

2. beside the rear foot, with

1. toes aligned, or

2. the lead foot heel farther from the target than toe of the rear foot

• the lead foot moves toward the target and comes to rest on the ground, and:

1. the rear foot remains stationary, or

2. the rear foot moves toward the target and comes to rest on the ground,

1. behind the lead foot, or

2. beside the lead foot, with

1. toes aligned, or

2. the rear foot heel farther from the target than toe of the lead foot

• the lead foot remains stationary throughout the whole throwing motion

• the rear foot remains stationary throughout the whole throwing motion

• Examples of more than one single step toward the target:

• the rear foot moves closer to the target than the lead foot and comes to rest on the ground, and

1. the lead foot moves toward the target and comes to rest on the ground, with the lead foot heel closer to the target than the toe of the rear foot

• the lead foot moves toward the target and comes to rest on the ground, and

1. the rear foot moves toward the target and comes to rest on the ground, with the rear foot heel closer to the target than the toe of the lead foot

• either foot moves toward to the target and comes to rest on the ground, then the same foot moves again toward the target

• Taking more than one step constitutes a fault (see Faults)

3. The stepping motion ends when:

• the competitor has paused, and either

• both feet are at rest, in contact with the ground, or

• one foot is at rest, in contact with the ground and the other foot suspended and motionless

4. When the throw is complete, neither foot may leave the ground unless:

• both competitors’ axes are at rest, either in the target, on the ground, or elsewhere, and

• the competitor has completed their throw, paused at the end of their stepping motion, and is awaiting completion of their opponent’s throw

• in this case, the thrower may step backward, away from the target

5. Accommodations exist for competitors unable to step or pause (see Accessibility)

Throwing Motion

6. The axe may be released any time during the stepping motion

7. The axe must be released before the end of the stepping motion

• i.e. before the thrower pauses as defined above

8. Competitors must be facing the target

9. The axe must be held by the handle

10. The axe must be held such that, at arm’s length toward the target, the blade faces the target

11. The axe must be thrown in one of three ways:

• held with both hands, and thrown over the head

• held in one hand, and thrown overhand

• held in one hand, and thrown underhand

12. The axe must rotate approximately once between release and striking the target

• the physical dimensions of the axe, the distance to the target, and the manner in which it is thrown will dictate the range of rotations that allow it to properly land in the target

• the thrower must not attempt to hyper-rotate the axe

• the thrower must not hold the axe in a manner that requires additional half-rotations in order to land the axe in the target

Fault Line

13. Competitors must not cross or touch the Fault Line while throwing

• Crossing or touching the Fault Line constitutes a fault (see Faults)

14. Competitors must not cross or touch the Foot Fault Line until both Competitors have completed their throw (Throwing Axes 3)

• Before advancing toward the target, there must be a noticeable pause from both competitors before crossing the Foot Fault Line

• Failure to pause constitutes a fault (see Faults), even if they are the second competitor to throw.

15. Competitors must not throw while any person is between the Fault line and the target

• on their assigned lane, nor

• on their opponent’s assigned lane

Timing Between Opponents

16. Competitors must begin their throws (see Throwing Axes 1) at approximately the same time

• Throws are not expected to be simultaneous due to natural differences in timing between competitors

• Competitors should not intentionally delay beginning their throw such that their opponent has completed their throw before beginning their own

• An exception is permitted when lane space does not permit two competitors to throw at the same i.e. when throwing Big Axe and only one of the lanes can accommodate throwing at the Blue Line

• In this case, one competitor will throw before the other

Throwing at the Target

17. Competitors must only throw at the target in their assigned lane

• Throwing equipment at another target constitutes a fault (see Faults)

Double-Rotation Hatchets

18. When throwing double-rotation hatchets, Throwing Axes 12 is amended to:

12. The axe must rotate roughly twice between release and striking the target

Declaring Aim Intention

Within matches it is necessary for competitors to make a declaration on where they intend to aim, at the bullseye or at the Clutch.

This occurs:

• on the 5th throw of a regulation round or playoff round
• during a tie-breaker, when calling Clutch is possible

This decision is informed by an understanding of an opponent’s intention. Competitors are encouraged to confer with each other prior to throwing.

Definitions

• “Leading competitor” means:
  • the competitor with the higher score in the current round, or
  • in the case of a tie in the current round, the competitor with the greater number of rounds won in the match
• “Trailing competitor” means:
  • the competitor with the lower score in the current round, or
  • in the case of a tie in the current round, the competitor with the lesser number of rounds won in the match
• “Tied competitors” means:
  • Both competitors are tied in the current round and in the number of rounds won in the match

Procedure

1. If the lane dimensions permit both competitors to throw at the same time (usual for hatchet throws, sometimes for Big Axe throws):
   1. Competitors confer about their intended aims
   2. Competitors declare their intentions to the scorekeeper
   3. Competitors complete their throws
   4. Scores are recorded

2. If the lane dimensions require the competitors to throw one before the other (sometimes for Big Axe throws):
   1. Competitors confer about their intended aims
   2. Competitors confer about the order in which they will throw
   3. Competitors declare their intentions and order to the scorekeeper
   4. The first competitor will throw
   5. The score is recorded
   6. The second competitor will throw
   7. The score is recorded

Declaring Intentions

3. Competitors must declare their intention to aim for either
   1. the bullseye, or
   2. the Clutch

4. Competitors may declare different aims

i.e. one is aiming for Clutch, the other is aiming for bullseye

5. The trailing competitor may
   1. declare their intention and throw at the same time as the leading competitor
   2. elect to wait until after the leading competitor has thrown before making a declaration or throwing

6. The leading competitor must either
   1. declare their intention and throw at the same time as the trailing competitor
   2. declare their intention and throw first, if the trailing competitor has elected to wait

7. If competitors reach an impasse after conferring, the impasse will be resolved by the scorekeeper following this direction:
   1. the leading competitor must make their declaration and throw first, or
   2. in the event of tied competitors,
      1. both competitors will aim for the bullseye, and
      2. when space does not permit simultaneous throws, the throw order will be at the scorekeeper’s discretion 
   3. an impasse would typically be: 
      • at least one competitor is unwilling or unable to make a declaration, or
      • at least one competitor refuses to throw, or
      • the competitors are unable to reach agreement on who will throw first, i.e. during Big Axe tie breaker using one target

8. Competitors must inform the scorekeeper of their intended aim before throwing
   1. If a competitor throws their axe without informing the scorekeeper, the axe will be scored as though it were aimed at the bullseye, regardless of whether it hits the Clutch
   2. If a competitor informs the scorekeeper of their intention to aim for Clutch without conferring with their opponent, it will be scored as though it were aimed at the Clutch
      1. Informing the scorekeeper can be as brief as saying “CLUTCH” loudly
      2. In this scenario, the opponent is under no obligation to aim at the Clutch, their declaration is free

9. If competitors have conferred, and their intended aims and throw order have been communicated to the scorekeeper, competitors must follow through on their intention
   1. Competitors may reconfer and change their declarations, or throw order, provided:
      1. neither competitor as thrown, and
      2. both competitors agree, and
      3. the scorekeeper is informed
   2. Scorekeepers must enforce the original intention, and throw order, in the event an impasse