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Archery doesn’t look like a sport that needs a nutrition plan, until you’re on arrow 60, it’s 2 p.m., you skipped lunch and your aim starts to wander. Food for archers is mostly about steady energy and focus over long days, plus one area where the rules are unusually strict: certain medicines and alcohol are banned in archery competition. This page keeps it short and practical, for youth, school, college, club and elite archers.
General information, not medical or dietary advice. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian before starting any supplement, especially for young athletes or anyone taking medication. Back to the archery hub.
What archers actually eat
Research on archery nutrition is small but useful. In a study of six world-class male archers over a four-day competition, daily intake ranged from about 2,560 to 3,990 calories, and they ate more carbohydrate on the high-volume days (more arrows, longer duration, more walking) than on lighter days. A follow-up study of eight national-team archers (four women) found men ate more energy and carbohydrate than women, and everyone stayed adequately hydrated through the competition. A 2026 survey of 51 elite archers from 22 countries found those who trained more often per week tended to have lower body weight and waist size.
The takeaway is simple: eat normal, balanced meals, eat a bit more on big shooting days, and don’t go long stretches without food. The ACSM sports nutrition position stand suggests a familiar pre-event meal 1–4 hours before competing. On a tournament day that means breakfast you know, snacks between ends (fruit, sandwiches, crackers, nuts), and water. More on the day itself in archery tournament day.
Banned in archery: beta-blockers and alcohol
These two are the rules every archer and archery parent should know:
- Beta-blockers are prohibited in archery on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2026 Prohibited List, both in competition and out of competition. Archery is one of a few precision sports named under category P1, alongside shooting, billiards, darts and golf. Beta-blockers are heart and blood pressure medicines (examples on the list include atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol) that slow the heart rate and can reduce tremor, which is why they’re banned in sports where a steady hand matters.
- Alcohol is banned in archery competition under World Archery’s own rules. WADA removed alcohol from its Prohibited List in 2018, but World Archery kept the ban: no one on the field of play may drink or be under the influence of alcohol, athletes can be breath-tested at any time during an international event, and a positive test means disqualification and further sanctions.
If you take a prescribed medicine, including a beta-blocker for a heart condition, don’t stop it on your own. Talk to your doctor and check the medicine on Global DRO. World Archery explains that athletes who need a prohibited medicine can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), and that a national TUE may need a new application for international events. Rules vary by competition level, so ask your national federation.
Supplements: what makes sense
Archery doesn’t need much from a tub. Food first. Because archers can be tested, any supplement carries a risk: an often-cited study of 634 supplements from 13 countries found about 15% contained substances not listed on the label that could cause a positive test. If you use one, pick products that are third-party certified for sport, such as NSF Certified for Sport or Informed Sport/Informed Choice, and check them on USADA’s Supplement Connect. These certified picks come from our guides:
- Electrolytes for hot days: Nuun Sport (300 mg sodium, 1 g sugar per tablet; Informed Choice, per the maker). See best electrolyte powder.
- Protein, if food falls short: Thorne Whey Protein Isolate (21 g protein per serving, NSF Certified for Sport). See best protein powder for athletes.
- A multivitamin, if a doctor or dietitian suggests one: Klean Athlete Klean Multivitamin (NSF Certified for Sport). See best multivitamin for athletes.
Thorne Whey Protein Isolate
- 21 g protein per serving
- 30 servings
- About $65
Caffeine, “calm” supplements and energy drinks
- Caffeine isn’t on the WADA Prohibited List, but it can make some people jittery, which is the opposite of what an archer wants. It isn’t for everyone (sensitivity, heart conditions, pregnancy); check with a doctor, and never try it for the first time on tournament day.
- “Calm” or “focus” supplements: you’ll see small studies, such as one of 18 college archers given L-theanine before a competition, but the evidence is thin and products vary. They are no substitute for a practiced routine and slow breathing (see archery training). Avoid anything with a proprietary blend you can’t check.
- Energy drinks: the American Academy of Pediatrics says they have no place in the diets of children and teens.
For recovery meals and sleep, see archery recovery; for a team-sport comparison, soccer nutrition and supplements.
Archery nutrition and supplements: FAQs
Are beta-blockers banned in archery?
Yes. The WADA 2026 Prohibited List bans beta-blockers in archery both in and out of competition. Athletes who need one for a medical condition should talk to their doctor and ask about a Therapeutic Use Exemption.
Is alcohol banned in archery?
Yes, under World Archery rules. WADA dropped alcohol from its list in 2018, but World Archery still treats it as a banned substance, tests by breath at international events, and disqualifies athletes who test positive.
What should archers eat before a competition?
A familiar meal 1–4 hours before, then snacks and water through the day. Elite archers in one study ate more carbohydrate on days with more arrows and walking.
Do archers need supplements?
Most don’t. Food and water cover the needs of most archers. If you use a supplement, choose one certified for sport (NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport) and check with a doctor or dietitian first.