gabriel,
thank you for your comments. i hope you will be able to attend some of the
future meetings and practices as they are scheduled.

to respond to some of your concerns... the basic reason that we do not lower
the adult participation age to 16 as in other kingdoms at this point in time
is simply that we have decided to go another way. in part we are trying to
consider those 16/adult fighters and their ability to participate at
pennsic. in the wide world of youth combat we are still (IMHO) relatively
inexperienced. our youth fighters have always had problems getting enough
people in one place to have tourneys or practices. i don't think we should
rush into a 16/adult policy and since i have been asked to explore this
venue i have to assume that my superiors feel the same way for the moment.

you are also that her grace tessa and his excellency sir alonzio are fine
examples of what can result from the 16/adult policy. i am fortunate to have
them both as advisers on this project. I spent some time at pennsic
discussing the issue with her grace. also at pennsic sir alonzio taught a
wonderful melee class to the division 3 group. we are currently working on
his youth combat marshal warrant.

all of this is not to say that we are disregarding the idea of 16/adult
entirely. its still a possibility and may not be too far in the future. but
for now the kingdom has decided to pursue the prospects of the program
though the experimental weapons rules. we can't do anything until we see who
wants what and if we can make it work for the betterment of the kingdom as a
whole.


jenna


Carole Goranson (THL Jenna MacPherson of Lion's Tower)
Amherst, NY (Barony of the Rhydderich Hael, Æthelmearc)

"The problems of the world can't be solved in meters." - Arlo Guthrie





>From: Troy Headland <battalion73@...>
>Reply-To: AEyouthpolicy@yahoogroups.com
>To: AEyouthpolicy@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [AEyouthpolicy] Policy Meeting Notes (gold Chain)
>Date: Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:06:25 -0800 (PST)
>
>Unfortunately due to a family issue I was unable to attend the event and
>thus this meeting. This exact issue is the reason I was against there
>being another division being added to the youth fighting. Adding a new
>division isn't solving anything. it is just causing more problems. So
>rather than causing all this chaos it would seem the best path is what I
>suggested from the start. Allow the option to Youths at age 16+ to move
>into the adult heavy fighting. No one is forcing them to do it. This
>would be a decision that they and their parents would come to together.
>They would be able to practice at regular practicews without needing
>background checks(reducing costs to have these done) They would be able to
>participate in Tourneys. No melees until 18 is what I would suggest as
>there is a higher risk of injury in the melees. Most of the Kingdoms of
>the Known World do this. We have 2 shining examples of people who came up
>in just such
> a fashion in our Kingdom right now that I know of. Her Grace, Tessa the
>Huntress and His Excellency, Sir Alonzio of the Peacemakers. Making this a
>choice for those teens who wish to advance can only help to bolster
>activity and safety in the long run. We will put a 16 year old behind the
>wheel of a car so whats the big deal about putting them in a helmet and
>armor and aiming them at a foe?
>
>Thats just how I feel.
>
>As Always, In Service
>
>Gabriel
>
>--- On Fri, 11/14/08, Yvianne <yvianne@...> wrote:
>
>From: Yvianne <yvianne@...>
>Subject: Re: [AEyouthpolicy] Policy Meeting Notes (gold Chain)
>To: AEyouthpolicy@yahoogroups.com
>Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 12:56 PM
>
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>I'm not trying to be rude or flippant about this. I tried for over an hour
>to phrase this better, but I don't seem to be able to without changing the
>kind of answer I think we need at this point.
>
>If rattan and boffer are so similar that youth can switch back and forth
>without any problems, why does the kingdom need a youth rattan program at
>all?
>
>It just seems that trying to define the specifics of a new policy without
>ever really answering this basic question first keeps bringing us back to
>the question. Perhaps if we answer the question, we would have a specific
>goal and be able to draft policy around that.
>
>Yvianne
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: OTRobin@aol. com
>To: AEyouthpolicy@ yahoogroups. com
>Sent: Friday, November 14, 2008 10:27 AM
>Subject: Re: [AEyouthpolicy] Policy Meeting Notes (gold Chain)
>
>
>Jenna,
>
>This looks good except one area confuses me.
>If the only rattan experience the older kids who want to have will be at
>events, what happens the rest of the time when they are no longer allowed
>to go to a practice and fight boffer? It sounds like this will eliminate
>16+ rattan fighters from practicing under the SCA rules once they switch,
>for now, and be encouraging more off the radar practicing.
>As time passes and more events are held that will include the 16+
>component, I hope participation spreads quickly. My other area of confusion
>is that many of the older kids already fighting rattan outside of SCA
>sanctions activities have been able to go back to boffer with little or no
>difficulty. If level 3 boffer weapons are made to mimic rattan in bulk,
>weight and balance, the idea that anything more than a minimum or zero
>difference in calibration and muscle memory does not fit. Using my training
>in activity analysis, practicing is what will build muscle and motion
>memory. Anyone who has ever had an injury that requires physical or
>occupational therapy has learned that you can't fake it or fool the
>therapist when you have not done the exercises for your home program. The
>rhythm and fluid motion is not present nor observed when you do not
>practice. This is very similar to the notion that putting on armor
>without any stretching or minimal muscle warming up then going full speed,
>makes you invincible to injury.
>
>I agree with erring on the side of caution. It is pretty easy to pick out
>the fighters who practice regularly and am always very glad to see more and
>heavier armor than SCA minimums require, for any person.
>
>I would suggest two topics for classes at C3R. One for adults fighters who
>wish to be included in the training process of 16+ rattan. Second, would be
>for all marshals who wish to participate in the 16+ rattan program to
>clearly outline policy, learn some approved methods to include
>(standardization) and gather ideas to consider that would include teaching
>the 16+ rattan how to handle some typical conflicts - like not taking
>shots.
>I will gladly make an outline to post for purposes of fine tuning with
>suggestions, if anyone is interested.
>
>Nivah
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