NEW ULM, Minn. - The Archery Trade Association (ATA) and Bowbook, a Slovakian-based software company, today announced they are teaming up to offer archers, bowhunters and current users of ArcheryTime.com more value through Rcherz.com (stylized as rcherz.com).

Rcherz, an archery and bowhunting-centric online platform, adds a critical feature to this content and social venture through its wireless, interactive scoring system. This groundbreaking technology allows users at local, club-level, state and national events to organize and score archery competitions while sharing the results online via social media and direct online access.

"This is a big win for the archery and bowhunting community," said Jay McAninch, ATA president/CEO. "Bowbook's development of this scoring system standardizes competitions so archers and bowhunters can keep score and compete with each other nationally. In fact, competitive archers can compete internationally. This combined platform, built around the scoring and social engagement features of Rcherz.com, coupled with the content-driven features of ArcheryTime.com, gives users a single resource that embodies everything an archer or bowhunter needs to engage with others, improve their individual performance or get started in our growing sport."

For competitive archers, the scoring system enables tournament shooters, fans and families at home to view live results during competitions. It also allows them to load, share and compare scores with other archers competing in leagues or tournaments locally or worldwide. Scoring can be done using the Rcherz mobile app, available for free through both iTunes and the Google Play store. Interested users can see the Rcherz scoring system at work here.

This fall, bowhunters will benefit from Rcherz's scoring system, starting with contests organized by their local archery shops and other organizers of big buck and bull competitions. By participating online, bowhunters can enter competitions hosted through their local shops and compete with other bowhunters through statewide or national contests.

"Rcherz.com was built by archers for archers," said Viktor Zeman, Bowbook's co-founder. "The main goal was to help archers and bowhunters with simple everyday tasks such as finding competitions, registering for events and discovering new and compelling how-to's, news and locales. We're happy our knowledge of archery and software development complement the ATA's initiative to benefit archery and bowhunting companies and all archery organizations."

The soon-to-be-combined features of both websites will be accessible at Rcherz.com. Later this year, Rcherz will also launch an enhanced search tool that allows users to locate archery pro shops in their communities. Users will be able to filter results by location and factor in the types of services each archery shop offers, such as leagues, instruction, youth classes, equipment repair or indoor ranges.

Heightened visibility and convenient access to archery and bowhunting is critical in a year that promises the second installment of The Hunger Games, an archery-themed movie series that released its first of four films in 2012. The Hunger Games, the 2012 Olympic Games and Brave - another archery-centric motion picture - pushed archery into mainstream conversations last year. This included media coverage in major outlets like NBC's Today Show, ESPN's Sports Science, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal.