[Ansteorra-archery] new post

[Rachel's]

I have seen a lot of talk about changing things in this area of the sca.  Which is still amazing to me.  I come from an area where archery became an event thing only if you were lucky.  

I had shot archery for about 2 years alone.  I wanted to shoot so bad that I would shoot in the snow that was up to my knees. I would dig up arrows out of ice and snow when I missed the target and then shoot again.  I had no marshal to help me after I was injured at an official practice.  I could get no forester or marshal in my area to work with me or even to come out and shoot after I was cleared to shoot by my doctors.  I was the only archer for an entire barony who shot more than once a month.  I was looking at traveling 3-4 hours for the nearest sca marshal and on frozen icy roads this would have been a bad decision.   

The solution to was to go to FITA and shoot with them.  Yes, I may have shot a 20 yard target inside but these people wanted me to shoot with them and welcomed me with open arms.  They gave me advice when they could and encouraged me along the way.  I was once again able to shoot a 20 yard target.  

The differences between the two groups was amazing I was able to shoot with some of the best archery that FITA had to offer and yes they shot a compound bow but, they took the time to find out what I was shooting.  I learned more from FITA archers than I did from any one in the sca about archery until now.

I moved to this area and found Ld. Blackmoon who has taught me more about the skill of archery than anyone I have met.  I value my time I spent with FITA and will eventually go back to compete.  Now I am working on the basics once again because I lost everything I once had.  

To change things in the area of archery I believe starts with us the people who shoot.  Change is hard for every one but the resistance is there for a reason.  Archery is a sport based on grace, skill and individuality. I believe in safety first of the missle and thrown activities.  That is safety for the individual, participants and the populace.  Maybe we need to start focusing on changing our views, thoughts and ideas. We need to keep in mind that rules are in place to protect us as well as others.   If you think that you have a new idea that might work then check and see if you can try it out at a practice.  Who knows it might just work and it may not.  Please listen to people who say it won't work because, they may be able to tell you why it did not work for them.  Do not get discouraged your ideas is what the sca is about being "creative" but with in the rules. 

Go out to the populace yourself if you must and start telling people when archery will begin you may not need a herold every moment of the day. Sometime kind words to people will get more results than demanding their attention.  I do not know how many events that I went to and the troll did not even know where the archery was set up but knew where heavy and rapier was.  Work the crowd that you do get - it is up to the individual archers to talk to people to see if they are following along.  Be the chatelaine of archery -  introduce, explain, view it from the populace perspective you will be amazed at what you see.  I was chatelaine for my barony back home and the most important thing that I learned with conducting demos was to view the demo from the public eye.  Believe me you will be amazed at what you see and what you did not see as a participant.  

I retained for crown once and was amazed at what I did not see as a participant in the group hosting an event.  I can say that was the first event I truly enjoyed because I could see every thing.  What I saw for archery was 3 guys.  They were standing on a table shooting down at a target (NO I DO NOT SUGGEST ANY ONE DO THIS!).  I personally thought they were nuts but what I actually saw was that they were having fun.  They were so involved at what they were doing that they did not even notice the Queen was watching them and laughing with them when they hit there target.  

From this and many other experiences I have learned that being noticed is not as important as I was led to believe when I first joined.  Now I moved here and I still hear that rumor.  I have decided to have fun an gain the skill I need once again to achive my personal best at what I want to do.  The questions is: What have you decided to do?

See you all at events when my schedule allows.

Halla


      
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