(6.2) Facility Safety

​The Natonal Axe Throwing Federation maintains rigorous and evolving standards to ensure the safety of both throwers and spectators.  

1. Pre-Throwing Visual Inspection
   1. Target inspection:
      • Replace wood as needed;
      • Check backboards and sub-frame for damage.
   2. Cage:
      • No holes, gaps or breaks in chain-link.
   3. Axes:
      • Heads are tight;
      • Handles are not splintered or weakened;
      • Edges are sharp, but not excessively sharp.
2. Facilities and Equipment
   1. Minimum axe length of 13” including head (see Axe Specifications);
   2. Axe handle made of wood;
   3. Use of fault line to prevent overstepping by players;
   4. Throwing area partitioned from spectators;
   5. Use of periphery barriers to prevent ricochet of axe outside of throwing lane;
   6. No person to approach target while axes are being thrown unless separated by floor to ceiling partition reaching at least 15’ outward from adjacent target(s);
   7. Within an arena, there must be a 15' floor to ceiling partition separating sets of 2 targets:
      1. Within a set of 2 targets, there must be a 6' floor to ceiling partition between the targets.
   8. Ceilings must be a minimum of 14' high unless otherwise approved by the NATF.
3. First Aid Standards
   1. Every throwing Arena must have a fully stocked St. John's Ambulance CLC Level A first aid kit, or equivalent in every lane;
   2. Facilities with three or more arenas must also have a single CLC Level C first aid kit, or equivalent on site;
   3. All staff &/ or in-lane officials must be first aid certified with St. John's Ambulance Emergency First Aid & CPR Level A, or equivalent;
   4. All staff &/or in-lane officials must understand standard response process in case of injury;
   5. Including incident reporting process.