[Archers] Draft of Archery Rules

Tue Apr 30 18:16:06 PDT 2002

Before I reply to the questions.  Could someone remove one of my e-mail addresses.  It is very annoying to get 68 messages when only 34 are original.

I practice and/or follow archery in several camps FITA, SCA, Hunting, 3D, and NFAA.  I find one of the universal truths to be that whenever there are rules there will be people who don't agree with them as well as people who try to skirt the edges to give themselves some sort of advantage.  And of course it is human nature to believe that whatever opinion we hold is the right one and whatever experiences we use
to base our opinions on are the only experiences that could possibly bear on the solution and any opinion that differs is a personal attack.
HANDSTRAP:
I could care less whether the hand strap is used or not. If we want to make it optional then that is fine.   However, since there seems to be a move to possibly require it as a safety device, I will offer my own opinion on the safety aspect.  A light grip on the bow is normally something that will increase your accuracy.   And the strap allows you to keep a light grip without detracting from your concentration
on the spot your trying to hit.  I can't imagine it being a safety device.  I know that if you take one of those indestructible fibreglass bows( I'm not doing it with an expensive bow), come to full draw with an arrow pointing at the target and before you release open your bow hand.  Upon release you will see that the arrow goes down range toward the target followed soon after by the bow. If no one is standing
downrange of the archer then the only thing that will happen is that the bow may break when it hits the ground in front of the archer..

ROYAL ROUND AVERAGE:
I believe that the MIT should obtain a royal round average to become a marshall.  It doesn't say that they must have any particular average or even that it must be maintained.  It does however mean that the person is interested enough in SCA archery to play the game.  Atlantia is trying to build up its archery.  Here in the North it has a good toehold.  In the south it doesn't seem to be doing well.  Only by
having committed, target Archery Marshals who can make archery interesting and fun will we be able to build a strong archery program in Atlantia. Part of that commitment is a willingness to play the games we play even if it might not be your cup of tea.  I don't include the winter series because many areas don't have indoor areas where they can shoot it.  But if everyone did then I would say an MIT should
probably have a winter series score also. But it woldn't have to be a high average.

Lawrence Castell wrote:

> This is great. Just what this email list is for. Ok, now I will request that the rest of the marshals, instead of just listening, give their opinion on two issues that have been brought up.
>
> I will not act on the comments of one or two people in the kingdom. But I will act upon the comments of a consensus of the marshals (as long as we maintain our safety). If I only hear from four or five or six people, that is not enough to make a valid opinion and hence a change in the rules. And there is not a need for a lengthy explanation. Anything from a fore or against to a simple statement is fantastic.
>
> So, M'Lords and M'Ladies send in your comments on:
>    1) hand straps - invalid equipment
>    2) required Royal Round average for MIT's
>
> Ignacio Erensaurlezelasgarria, Menditarra
> Kingdom Archery Marshal
>
> Honor, Valor, Knowledge, and Service
>
> >>> "Andre Detommaso" <detomamd at yahoo.com> 04/29/02 09:58PM >>>
> I have addressed my concerns privately to Ignacio on
> the draft of the rules, which by the way I believe to
> be a very good effort. I do however have a major
> concern with a point expressed here. To wit:
>
> --- Lawrence Castell <Lawrence.Castell at trw.com> wrote:
> skip...
> > In section
> >
> > 3.1.2 Forbidden Equipment and Techniques
> >
> >         Hand straps - strap that holds the hand to
> > the bow
> >
> > I don't understand this one. How does a device that
> > keeps the bow safely
> > attached to an archer be forbidden. I've seen
> > several SCA archers who should
> > or would benefit from the use of one. It would have
> > prevented them from
> > dropping their bow when they released. Especially
> > when a proper grip on a
> > bow is a loose grip..
> >
> > Ted - Sure it is best to have a loose grip. But we
> > also say enough of a grip to hold onto the bow. A no
> > grip is a drop the bow grip. A dropped bow is also a
> > safety hazard. (Which way will the bow go, will the
> > archer immediately try to pick the bow up even if it
> > is in front of the line?) We as marshals should be
> > guiding and training the archers that are less
> > experienced in the proper handling of equipment on
> > the line. Archers should be able to properly use
> > their equipment without the use of a hand strap. If
> > they need it because the bow is too heavy for them
> > then that is not the bow that they should be using.
> > Hand straps are typically used to stabilize the bow
> > during shooting and not to prevent dropping the bow.
> > This gives an unfair advantage to the other archers
> > around them, as with other item within this list.
> > But keep in mind that there is an exception to all
> > the rules. (Don't make exceptions just  because the
> > person is a friend or you personally do not like the
> > rule.) Exam!
> > ple in this case - a person that has an obvious
> > physical handicap want s to shoot and we have
> > someone (marshal) that can work with them one on one
> > and they need the hand strap to hold onto the bow.
> > Then it is the decision of the Marshal In Charge of
> > the event or practice to allow the archer to use the
> > hand strap.
> >
>
> Two points here: completely disagree that hand straps
> are there to stabilize the bow and not drop the bow.
> What is this based on? If you go to mundane
> competitions, you will see that 99% of the archers,
> whether compound or recurve shooters, use hand straps.
> The reason is that when you are concentrating on
> aiming and releasing, it is not unusual to have too
> loose a hand on the bow and lose control of it. Having
> a strap keeps you from having to worry about it, and
> having to worry about dropping your bow and damaging
> your bow or injuring others. I have seen it happen
> more than once. IT is not fun, and it is very
> dangerous. Secondly, maintaining a death grip on the
> bow is not "proper shooting technique", and never was
> in any time period. A relaxed and loose bow hand is
> proper shooting technique. If you want your arrows to
> go straight, that is what you need to do. A hand strap
> prevents the proper shooting technique from being a
> dangerous technique. Finally, saying that a hand strap
> creates an unfair advantage to the archer shooting
> next to you is not a valid point. With the same
> argument you can say that a recurve shooter has an
> unfair advantage over a longbow shooter. A shooter
> with a high-quality recurve has an unfair advantage
> over someone with a cheap recurve. A shooter with a
> fast-flight string has a definite unfair advantage
> over others forced to shoot with B-50. A crossbowman
> with a well-tuned crossbow has an unfair advantage
> over a recurve shooter. A crossbowman with a sight has
> an unfair advantage over everyone else. This is a
> non-starter. Under these rules, I can show up to the
> line with a $1000, state-of-the-art, completely modern
> take down with laminated titanium/carbon limbs and
> fast-flight string, and be completely legal as long as
> I don't have the strap. I can guarantee you that that
> bow gives me a ton more advantage than any straps will
> ever even come close to.
> The cheapest version of a hand strap is a loop of
> string that fits over two fingers and costs
> approximately $1. You can make one yourself for two
> pennies. There is absolutely nothing that keeps anyone
> from using one, other than a lack of will to do so.
> Finally, implementing this rule would make Atlantia
> the only Kingdom in the Society to ban this. Aside
> from everything else, however, you are banning a
> safety device. That alone justifies not implementing
> this ban.
>
> Regards,
> - Lorenzo
>
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