ARCH - Ranking System

[Melanie Black]

I agree 1000% with what Eadric has to say here.

I think in all the years I have shot archery in the SCA I have submitted an
official score like once maybe. I enjoy archery, its fun. I do like to gain
skill with practice as well.
I had not shot in like maybe two years until this last July 4th I happened
to go to sort of an informal SCA party where they were doing equestrian and
archery. I went to simply watch, but was encouraged to pick up a loaner bow
and sheet a few rounds.
I started with the 20 yard rage, borrowing a bow from a very pleasant fellow
there.
I shot a 13 with the first six arrows, then a 19.  I decided to switch to
the 30 yard range but to my dismay the bow I was borrowing had  too much of
the heat of the day and one of the limbs began to come apart, so a borrowed
a different bow from Baron Talmon, but did rather poorly and only got a 9
then a 2 on the 30 yard range.  Then the rain came..

I am going to dig my bow out of storage and see if the arrows are still
intact.
I think most of my arrows are either aluminum or fiberglass. are those
allowed at all?
The bow I believe is a 30# fiberglass recurve (one of those red ones).

Well, anyway I was told I shot rather well for being out of practice.  Well
anyway my point is that with a "ranking" system beginners definitely get
labeled as beginners and that can be intimidating in itself. I think gentle
encouragement and rewarding achievement are much better than browbeating and
guilt trips on people who don't go gung ho into it.

Melanie de la Croix

----- Original Message -----
From: Eadric Anstapa <smills at barley.scabrewer.com>
To: <ansteorra-archery at ansteorra.org>
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2000 4:06 PM
Subject: Re: ARCH - Ranking System
>
> Can we try to stay positive here and not say pessimistic
> things like "Does it really matter"?  I think is would be
> better to encourage people to shoot rather than berate
> them for not shooting or to be pessimistic because only
> one person has submitted enough scores so far for an
> complete average.
>
> Lets face it many people have no desire to compete and as
> strange as it may seem some don't even have a desire to
> keep score.  Some people are too intimidated to shoot for
> score or to compete and sometimes it seems like that the
> feeling in this forum is that if you are not going to
> compete in the IKAC/IKCAC or participate as a combat
> archer in the wars then you are not really needed or
> wanted.  I have also read and heard comments like "I
> didn't help the kingdom average"  or "No need to submit
> the scores because it wouldn't help the kingdom
> average".  This is entirely too much emphasis on
> IKAC/IKCAC.  Personally, I feel we need to promote
> personal achievements.  I have personal goals set because
> they are meaningful for me and will help me enjoy this
> game more.  I hope that in meeting my goals I can help
> other people enjoy the game a bit more also.
>
> As bizarre as this sounds, perhaps the best archer in our
> canton won't even keep score.  He comes out at shoots at
> most practices and shoots a LOT when he does show up but
> he wont keep score.  I watched him closely last weekend
> and I think he might have a 60 Roryal Round average if we
> kept score.  Score or not we want him to continue to show
> up and enjoy himself and share our fellowship.  His goals
> for archery are different than my own
>
> Let me say that I am against calling what we hare trying
> to put in place a "Ranking" system.  I don't like the
> idea that someone should feel out-ranked or that because
> someone is a "Marksman" and another a "Bowman" that
> someone should feel that the Marksman should be in charge
> or have precedence at the range.
>
> If we attach names to the various levels I would prefer
> to call this an "Achievement" system.  I thought this was
> also the concensus of those gathered at Gilli's on July 1.
>
> The whole purpose of an achievement system is to
> encourage people to shoot and to encourage them in a
> positive manner.  The purpose should not be to rank
> individuals against one another (but I realize despite
> better intentions it will happen anyway).
>
> If a person sees that their average is just a few points
> shy of the next achievement level, then that is positive
> encouragement for them to shoot a little more and work
> just a little harder to reach that next level.  When they
> do, someone once again gives some positive reinforcement
> by presenting them with appropriate tassels for them to
> display.
>
> With or without a system of defined achievement levels in
> place Iaen and I will have Royal Round averages on the
> web next week.  For those who have not yet submitted
> three scores their current average will be posted but
> will be marked as incomplete.  Once we get this going and
> scores are being submitted regularly we will stop posting
> the incomplete averages.
>
> Marshals, if you have been in charge of any shoot this
> calendar year and still have records for Royal Rounds
> scores that Iaen does not have please email then to him
> ASAP.
>
> In Service,
>
> Eadric
>
>
>
>
>
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