[Archers] Youth Target Archery Marshal Program

Wed Jun 1 12:34:07 PDT 2011

okay, so the lurking was short lived :)  Cog's message arrived while I was typing mine ;) I just want to re-stress - what qualifies as a big event?  Additionally, according toSociety rules, every archer is the ultimate responsible party for their own equipment.If a marshal is uncertain about a specific bow type, don't be afraid to ask the archerwhat they would look for if they thought their equipment might be failing, or if at allpossible, another marshal.  It is always the MiCs option to disallow any equipment withwhich they feel uncomfortable.  If a prospective MiC doesn't feel comfortable withcrossbows, then the event announcement should indicate that they are not allowed. back to lurking.... again :) Dealla ---------- Original Message ----------
From: "John Atkins" <cogworks at triad.rr.com>
To: "'Holly Gibbons'" <holly0920 at yahoo.com>, <archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org>
Subject: Re: [Archers] Youth Target Archery Marshal Program
Date: Wed, 1 Jun 2011 15:25:03 -0400

Thank  you Nuala for opening this can of worms.  Being accused of often bringing  up only the negative let me say this, I COULD NOT AGREE WITH YOU MORE!  I  too, believe that many of our archery marshals could seriously use a "refresher  course".  I have seen situations that were, at best, marginal, and some  that weren't even marginal!  I've seen marshals "running the line" while  sitting 10 feet behind and 20 feet off the end of the line so they could be  sitting under a sun shade!  I've seen marshals refuse perfectly good bows  because they did not know what they were inspecting.  I've seen ranges that  I seriously questioned the safety of and was told "It's OK'.  (For those  who are going to ask, yes, I did bring these issues to the attention of the  marshal at fault.)  And I believe Nuala is correct, every MIT  should, if at all possible, do a turn at a big war, or at least a big event,  i.e. War of the Wings, Kingdom Champion Shoot.  Where else will they get  the exposure to such a variety of equipment as at one of these  events?    Do I  think the archery marshals of Atlantia as a whole are ill equipped?  Not at  all.  I've done a few non-SCA shoots and some of them have been flat out  scary!  We look like "the cowboy after OSHA" compared to them!  But we  have a few marshals who serve as examples of this discussion (I've seen some out  of kingdom marshals who fit this scary definition as well).    As for  the age of youth marshals, I still think a mature 15 year old can do the  job.  I've been coaching kids ice hockey teams for over 17 years now.   I've coached ages from 6 to 18 years old.  I've worked with several kids 15  years old who would be excellent, conscientious marshals.  I've also worked  with some kids at 18 who would scare me if they were a marshal!  So  maturity is the operative word here along with a good screening  process.    cog -----Original Message-----
From: archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org    [mailto:archers-bounces at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Holly    Gibbons
Sent: Wednesday, June 01, 2011 2:34 PM
To: archers at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Subject: Re: [Archers] Youth    Target Archery Marshal Program

  Ok, so here's my humble opinion.    Have we checked with the Thrown Weapons Marshallate? They    have had just such a program in place for years. I believe they do this at age    17. I love the concept of letting the capable and mature 16 and 17 year olds    get ready to hit the ground running. I actually do not think that 15 year olds    have the judgement thing down yet, but it truely depends so much on the    kid.     I think archery marshals in general need more training,    lots more, no matter their age. No way are three MIT sessions enough whether    you are 16 or 56. I felt woefully underprepared with that so I did tons of    MITing before submitting paperwork. It's one    thing to co-man a line, another to inspect bows, and another entirely to    design and run a shoot. I try not to run lines if I can help it because I    haven't got the voice and I am distractable. I'm a lot better at inspections    and my fav thing to do is make targets. So we have to know ourselves and our    weak suits, also, and that takes time and experience.   I think MITs should have more training in running shoots    - - they should have to be an assistant to someone experienced in putting on a    shoot, setting up the course properly, making the targets, etc, before they    can do one themselves. I have seen too many safety issues crop up with new    Marshals putting on their first shoots! I had lots of help, I remember that.    As far as inspections, every MIT should have to spend a day at Pennsic or    another huge archery event and inspect every crowwbow under a watchful eye, if    they themselves shoot a handbow, and vice versa. Sheer numbers is what you    need.   One other thing that has been really helpful to me is to    have another set of eyes and ears. Whenever I put on an event I want another    experienced marshal tagging me. I can take the ultimate responsibility but it    is incredibly valuable to have a backup to talk things over with.   It's a little like graduated drivers' licences. So    definitely bring on the mature youth, but re-amp the overall    requirements! Thanks for a cool discussion, everybody.    ...    Nuala        

____________________________________________________________
Get Free Email with Video Mail & Video Chat!
http://www.juno.com/freeemail?refcd=JUTAGOUT1FREM0210
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/pipermail/archers-atlantia.sca.org/attachments/20110601/3ed35989/attachment-0003.htm>