[Ansteorra-archery] Youth Marshalling

[Rumil Fletcher]

>How on earth do the kids get involved and gain experience, then?  I 
>have a 13 year old and 15 year old, one very interested in archery 
>and one in fighting.  Although we have a wonderful contact for 
>archery, I have yet to find anyone who holds fighter practice for or 
>even works with that age group, at least anyone within my general 
>area.  This is extraordinarily frustrating, at the least, for a mom 
>who wants her kids to know and experience something other than 
>*prime time* !!!
>
>Anne, from Waco

Target archery is not limited to adults, only combat archery is. 
Your children may participate in target archery to their heart's 
content.

Many groups have this problem in that youngsters want to get involved 
in combat activities, but there are no local youth marshals to 
support it.  In most cases where this is resolved, it is by the 
parents; sort of like Little League coaching.  So my recommendation 
is that you contact your Regional Youth Combat Marshal and find out 
what it would take for you to become a youth combat marshal, either 
for armored combat or rapier combat, as your child is so inclined. 
This does not mean you need to get out there and get bruised every 
week like adult armored fighters do.  Rather it means that you will 
need to learn the rules, demonstrate your competence to the Regional 
Marshal's satisfaction, and get authorized as a Youth Combat Marshal.

You may find that once you have a venue for children to participate 
in, kids from surrounding areas may flock to your practice, as there 
is a wide-spread need for such marshals.

Youth Combat functions are for that age group only.  There is no 
mixing between adults and minors.  So they will not be able to 
participate in combat activities at wars unless there are youth-only 
combat activities at those events.  But perhaps after you become a 
Youth Combat Marshal, you can start something in your area.

Rumil Fletcher