The role of the club in the traditional Shillong Teer

The game of Shillong Archery is very popular in the northeastern part of India and is currently very popular abroad. The game is mainly practiced through clubs, so the responsibility and role of the club is very important.Let’s look at the importance and responsibilities of the club.

Know about The role of the Clubs

Shillong Teer is organized and managed by authorized archery clubs under the supervision of the Meghalaya Archery Association (MAA). These clubs are registered and follow government guidelines under the Meghalaya Amusement and Betting Tax Act.Every day, 12 licensed clubs participate in the shooting that decides the First Round and Second Round results.

The role of the club in Shillong Archery is highly significant. Every day, 12 clubs participate and carry out their responsibilities with full dedication. In this chapter, we will take a closer look at the role these clubs play in the entire system.P

1.Main Responsibility of These Clubs

Every day, all the members of the club reach the polo ground on time, maintaining discipline. They take time very seriously. Before starting, they patiently wait for the permission of the club authorities and start shooting arrows only after getting permission. They follow strict rules while shooting arrows

• 1. Usually 30 to 50 experienced archers take part in the first and second rounds, and they complete the shooting with perfect skill; no more archers can take part.
• 2. Maintain fairness, each club strictly follows all the rules, and each archer can only shoot a certain number of arrows; no additional arrows are allowed.
• 3. Unnecessary breaks can be taken during the shooting, so that the continuity of the game is maintained.
• 4. Shooting must start and end at the specified time—no deviation from the schedule is acceptable.
• 5 .Bows, arrows, distances and the entire shooting area are thoroughly checked and observed in advance, so as to ensure maximum safety.
• 6. Only registered and approved archers are allowed to participate in the game; no one outside the club is allowed to do so.

It is mandatory for the clubs to follow these rules to maintain discipline, and they have been doing so regularly; besides, they also play an important role in preserving the rich cultural heritage of Khasi archery.

2. Learn about the club name.

The list of clubs participating in Shillong Archery is given below. A total of 12 clubs regularly participate in this traditional archery game and play a vital role in making the day-to-day game a success. Each club has its own responsibilities, discipline and rules, which together ensure the smooth running of the entire Shillong Archery.

1. MALKI Archery Club

2. LAITKOR Archery Club

3. MAWLAI Archery Club

4. KYNTHUPLANG Archery Club

5. LAITHUMKHRAH Archery Club

6. RANGBIRIA Archery Club

7. WAHINGDOH Archery Club

8, SENGBIRIAIABEITLANG (SENGBIRIA) Archery Club

9. JAIAW Archery Club

10. SENGLANG Archery Club

11, PYNTHOR Archery Club

12. LABAN Archery Club

3. History of Shillong Teer Clubs & How They Were Formed

Shillong Archery has been a deep cultural tradition among the Khasi people of Meghalaya since long before archery was established as a legal sport. They played the game competitively during village festivals, social gatherings, and as a form of entertainment. Back then, this competition was considered a symbol of unity and team spirit.
From then on, local teams of archers naturally started forming smaller groups. These initial groups became the basis of today’s archery clubs.

Between the 1950s and 1970s, Shillong witnessed a growth in organised community sports. During this period: Youth groups, local organisations and cultural organisations started forming informal archery clubs, mainly for friendly competition.
These clubs shot arrows for fun, not for betting. But their gatherings would attract large crowds and people would start guessing the total number of arrows hit on the target. As a result, a game gradually began to take shape.

In the late 1970s, community archery competitions became very popular in Shillong. Soon, more small organizations in such areas started forming teams, which later gradually grew into clubs. This is where the idea of ​​a formal Tear Club began.

4.Legalization of Teer in 1982: Official Birth of Clubs

A turning point came when the Meghalaya government legalized archery under the Meghalaya Entertainment and Betting Tax Act, 1982.
After legalization, an appropriate authority was formed, called the Khasi Hills Archery Sports Association (KHASA). An organization responsible for the rules and administration of the Shillong archery game. From then on, only registered clubs were allowed to participate in daily shooting. Archery clubs had to follow specific rules for safety, discipline and play. The concept of “12 clubs daily” was formally introduced. Thus, the modern Shillong archery clubs were born.

5.The Growth of the “12-Club System”

As the tournament became more organized, the organizers realized that having too many clubs shooting at once would create confusion.
Therefore, the formal format was established and the rule was introduced that 12 clubs would participate each day, on a rotating basis. A certain number of archers from each club would participate and equal opportunities would be given to all clubs.
The 12-club system is still followed today.

6. The Transformation of Clubs in Recent Years

As the popularity of the game has grown significantly in the past few years, KHASA has introduced new rules for club participation. Previously, 12 clubs would take to the field each day, but now the rules have been changed to allow only one club to participate each day. After the 12 clubs have completed their turns, those 12 clubs are given the opportunity to participate together on a special day—making the game more disciplined and regulate

CONCLUSION

Shillong Archery Clubs are the backbone of the entire sport. From preserving traditional Khasi archery to maintaining discipline, fairness and authenticity, each club plays a vital role in keeping the sport alive. Over the years, the structure of the clubs has evolved – yet the essence remains the same: trained archers, organised shooting and community responsibility.

Understanding how these clubs work not only provides clarity about the sport but also highlights the cultural heritage behind Shillong Archery. Without the dedication of these clubs and their archers, the sport would never have been able to function with such consistency and trust. In short, Shillong Archery Clubs are not just participants – they are guardians of a tradition that connects the past with the present.

Disclaimer

The information provided about Shillong Teer clubs is based on general knowledge, community practices, and publicly available details. Rules, club participation systems, and management policies may change over time depending on the decisions of the concerned authorities. This content is meant for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be considered as official documentation or a basis for financial, betting, or prediction-related decisions. For the most accurate and updated rules, always refer to authorized Shillong Teer bodies or local authorities.