In recent months I’ve been having and hearing more discussions about course laying with numerous people both face to face and on-line.
I’ve also been criticised for giving comments and my views online. And this has made me feel pretty low, in truth very low as it’s hit my confidence big time, making be question whether to continue posting or even archery.
Some organisers have said these points should be raised at the time of the shoot and not posted online on Facebook or websites.
Well maybe there is something in that, but I personally don’t see that as always being possible. People aren’t always that approachable because, lets face it, you can be stressed when trying to run something like a shoot.
There have been times when I’ve had the opportunity to talk to the course layers, more normally on courses where I know them personally and can have a quiet word.
So why don’t people make comments?
Maybe here is a reason, why…
At one recent shoot I attended all the archers were told that if they needed a target face changed they were to notify a course marshal. Only course marshals were to change faces. Fair enough, I can understand that as you don’t want faces being changed every five minutes.
However, what I and other archers witnessed might be a reason why so many archers don’t say or give comments on the shoot.
An archer requested a target face change, marshal replied that someone would be down shortly. The archer replied saying that there were people waiting to shoot it. The marshal then appeared to become very, lets say, agitated and short in his following reply.
I can understand that this is a stressful time for the organising team with long days and late nights, but it might explain why many archers don’t like approaching organisers.
This kind of response explains why archers don’t make comments on the day. In fear of being rebuffed or ridiculed.
There’s been a lot of conversation down at the club and other locations on courses and shoots attended, far more than ever appear on the web.
Is it better to say nothing? Then there is no chance of improvement.
Is it better to say something on the day? Call me a coward but I can understand why some would find this difficult to raise on the day. You also aren’t sure if it is just you not shooting well on the day. It is only afterwards when talking to others you realise maybe it wasn’t just you.
How do you report a problem?
Well you could approach a marshal and explain your concerns and views. How they react though is unknown.
If it is a matter of safety then you have to raise it there and then.
So what will I do?
To be completely truthful I don’t know. I don’t know if I will carry on writing these shoot reports or not. I started this as a bit of fun after reading many other blogs ( http://jordansequillion.wordpress.com/ and http://charlesarcheryblog.wordpress.com/). I thought posting these would be helpful and interesting.
Now I am not sure….
Here is a parting thought if you say nothing do you have the right to comment when things change?
Thanks for reading,
My Archery Experiences 
Hi Rob, DON’T GIVE UP!!, your shoot reports give people like myself, disabled, who have to choose very carefully the sites we can attend, a veiw of whats going on over the country, and see the beautiful photos of woodland that we maybe will never get to shoot, your comments are honest and true, so don’t be disheartened by their negative responce, shorly it’s better that more archers can hit and score at these shoots than just a few, make them shorter and let more people go home happy, keep it up Rob, best wishes, Mark.
LikeLike
Thanks Mark for your support and comments on this issue. I hope to meet you one day on a shoot.
LikeLike
Hi Rob, firstly don’t give it up. On giving comments on courses, what you write in your blog is quite obviously your opinion. I’m of the view that if people have a different opinion then perhaps they should read someone’s blog. On discussing courses and course laying on the day. If a marshall asks me what I think, I’ll tell them, honestly. They can either take on board my comments or dismiss them, it is their choice. Should they choose to be hostile about it (I’ve not had one yet) and they were to leave me feeling intimidated three things will happen. One – I’d report them to the shoot organiser and the NFAS. Two – probably tell quite a few of our fellow archers about it and, three – never go to that shoot again. If they don’t want my answer don’t ask the question. Simple really. As it stands at present there is only one shoot on the calendar that I will never shoot again. I’ve shot it twice, first time it was poorly laid, given a second chance and that one was down right dangerous (bad enough that I took photos of the archers on the next peg, in my line of sight from the red peg – I jest not!). Would your opinion make me less likely to go to a shoot that wasn’t very good – of course it would, that’s what happens when people value an opinion. On the other hand I’m grown up enough to decide who’s opinion I choose to value and why.
Incidentally don’t let other put you off course laying, I’ve shot targets you’ve laid. No complaints here – far from it in fact.
Keep your chin up 🙂
LikeLike
Hi Andrew R-M
Thanks for your supportive comments on this and I’m glad you’ve enjoyed shots I have done in the past.
As I said I try to post my opinion and views but it has made me think twice. Thanks
LikeLike
Hi Rob,
We’ve not met at shoots but i quite often read and enjoy your reports. It would be a pity if you were to down tools. Opinions are just that so chin up. You never know if you carry on we might see the back of 20 yard squirrels and the like.
LikeLike
Hi Andy. Thanks for the the supportive comments. I too would like to see the back of the 20 yard squirrel shot.
LikeLike