AE Youth Rattan Proposal

Proposed AEthelmearc Youth Rattan Program

Thank you for your interest and support of the Youth

Below are the notes from the meeting on November 8, 2008 at the Gold Chain event in Stormsport.

The next meeting, will be at Kingdom 12th Night
Shire of Riversedge (Meadville, PA)
January 10, 2009 ... 3:00-4:30pm

Please attend to offer your suggestions and comments.
I think with the support we have been getting throughout the Kingdom,
AEthelmearc will have one of the finest youth programs in no time at all.

1. 16+ rattan to be implemented at events only to begin with, rather than at every local practice.

This will give us an opportunity to see how many 16-17's are interested as well as establishing the new style of marshaling before the practice in wide spread. It was discussed that this might be a more practical way to approach the new program and establish conventions in the training rather than 125 local groups individually saying "woohoo! lets fight"

2. It was agreed that we understand that some of the youth are being trained "off the SCA radar" by their parents or adult friends. When the 16+ program is underway we would like it to be understood that the youth training in rattan are honour bound not to go back to the local groups and practice with PVC.

It was brought up that not only is the calibration different between the forms but that also the muscle motion and memory are very different and that it would be unwise to mix the forms. We have had some first hand reports of young people who have faced some serious injuries by doing so. That is not to say that some young people are able to do it quite well, but to begin with we choose to err on the side of caution.

3. It was discussed that training the 16+ group would have to be a cooperative effort between youth warranted marshals and adult heavy warranted marshals. Also that we will need to include a roster of rattan fighters in each region that are approved to train/spar with the young people that dont technically need to be warranted in either venue or be required to have the background check.

Strangely, at this point Sir Aengus turned to speak to the gentle to his left and while he was looking the other way his hand slowly raised itself up into the air and thus he volunteered to be in charge of this section of the program :0)

4. A second meeting has been scheduled for the Storming the Castle event in Rhydderich Hael (Buffalo NY area) on Saturday 11/15.

5. I have contacted the autocrat of College of 3 Ravens event to request a full day track of classes and practice sessions for the Youth Martial Academy.

This will be our first chance to have an actual training session for the 16+ with rattan ... so if anyone has ideas for classes in boffer or youth rapier please start formulating it into a class and let me know what you're thinking. I will post details from the autocrat when I have them.

6. A topic that was discussed for the youth combat program as a whole is the significance of division 2 fighters.

It has often been noted that in division 1 the kids are just joyful and happy to be swinging a stick with permission! In division 3 there is much talk of calibration and manners...one is too high the other too low. The way I see it, the obvious time for "intervention" is division 2. The kids here still have the joy but are becoming bigger and stronger and yes virginia, just a little more willful.

Another significant delema in division 2 is that this is the age for growth spurts. The height/weight range between the kids is extremely spread out in this group. On the positive side though they are also the most adaptable to fighting up to 3 or fighting down to 1. It is also where most kids decide why they are in the program and if they want to stay in and go on to adult heavy.

So basically we should begin some new discussion on how to make the most of our division 2. please feel free to post you ideas, concerns, questions, comments, observations.

Finally thanks to all who have participated in this process
and all the autocrats who have made time and space for us.
I hope to see many of you at Storming the Castle.

Thank you for your support :0)

i do remain
jenna

1. 16+ rattan to be implemented at events only to begin with, rather than at every local practice.
	This will give us an opportunity to see how many 16-17's are interested as well as establishing the new style of marshaling before the practice in wide spread. It was discussed that this might be a more practical way to approach the new program and establish conventions in the training rather than 125 local groups individually saying "woohoo! lets fight"
2. It was agreed that we understand that some of the youth are being trained "off the SCA radar" by their parents or adult friends. When the 16+ program is underway we would like it to be understood that the youth training in rattan are honour bound not to go back to the local groups and practice with PVC.
	It was brought up that not only is the calibration different between the forms but that also the muscle motion and memory are very different and that it would be unwise to mix the forms. We have had some first hand reports of young people who have faced some serious injuries by doing so. That is not to say that some young people are able to do it quite well, but to begin with we choose to err on the side of caution.
3. It was discussed that training the 16+ group would have to be a cooperative effort between youth warranted marshals and adult heavy warranted marshals. Also that we will need to include a roster of rattan fighters in each region that are approved to train/spar with the young people that dont technically need to be warranted in either venue or be required to have the background check.
	Strangely, at this point Sir Aengus turned to speak to the gentle to his left and while he was looking the other way his hand slowly raised itself up into the air and thus he volunteered to be in charge of this section of the program :0)
4. A second meeting has been scheduled for the Storming the Castle event in Rhydderich Hael (Buffalo NY area) on Saturday 11/15.
5. I have contacted the autocrat of College of 3 Ravens event to request a full day track of classes and practice sessions for the Youth Martial Academy.
	This will be our first chance to have an actual training session for the 16+ with rattan ... so if anyone has ideas for classes in boffer or youth rapier please start formulating it into a class and let me know what you're thinking. I will post details from the autocrat when I have them.
6. A topic that was discussed for the youth combat program as a whole is the significance of division 2 fighters.
	It has often been noted that in division 1 the kids are just joyful and happy to be swinging a stick with permission! In division 3 there is much talk of calibration and manners...one is too high the other too low. The way I see it, the obvious time for "intervention" is division 2. The kids here still have the joy but are becoming bigger and stronger and yes virginia, just a little more willful.
	Another significant delema in division 2 is that this is the age for growth spurts. The height/weight range between the kids is extremely spread out in this group. On the positive side though they are also the most adaptable to fighting up to 3 or fighting down to 1. It is also where most kids decide why they are in the program and if they want to stay in and go on to adult heavy.
	So basically we should begin some new discussion on how to make the most of our division 2. please feel free to post you ideas, concerns, questions, comments, observations.
Finally thanks to all who have participated in this process and all the autocrats who have made time and space for us. I hope to see many of you at Storming the Castle.