Matchplays

[Marcus]

Well it's now around 6 months till the next Fitas and want to know people's opinions on a AV wide matchplay league. Probably team based with each club submitting teams of shooters for it. We could set up a schedule so each month we go to a club to shoot in the event and teams get awarded points at the end of the day based on position.
I think it could work well with alot of arrows shot if we use a kind of round robin system. If you shoot in 4 match plays to determine your position then that's 72 arrows. If 6 clubs were in on it then it could be quite a intensive shoot. And if some clubs had 2 teams there would be plenty of shooters.
I really want to get into the matchplay stuff, but nobody shoots it except at the nationals. Imagine what kind of havoc we could wreak at the Nationals and the worlds if we had teams who shot in matchplays constantly.
If people like this concept or have another one then lets get moving and make something happen. I can't organise on my own, but will definitly help get it started if there is help. (I can build the website for it etc)

[mike]

Sounds like a good idea, perhaps schedule it around the normal tournaments

I'd shoot it, but I reckon I'd have trouble making the Sherbrooke Team!!

[mike]

I cam 5th in the club champs after, wait for it:

Leigh Cornish
Bryce Lee
Jim Park
Scott Evans

Thats some pretty damned tough competition!!

[Marcus]

I think that would be an issue for alot of clubs. I didn't make our DVA team for the short range (behind Ray Morgan, Erika, Tony Dennis and Sten Nigol. Quite rightly so, I was shooting like crap. Beat em all at the Short Range though. ;)). Allowing multiple teams would be vital. Many clubs have 3-4 good shooters and allowing the fringe shooters compete is the best way to get good performers at National level. Besides, who says a team of 1st class shooters can't knock a GMB group out on a good day. I think too divisions such as A grade and B grade would make it possible for all to compete and have a good time.

[James Park]

I would very much like to see some team matchplay events (not individual matchplay events, but the team event). I can see a number ways teams can be put together: club, shop, manufacturer, etc., and can see no problem with cross-club teams. For example: a High Country Team of Michael, Tory and Raechel would be quite strong.
I agree with Marcus that not always the supposedly best team wins, so you always have a chance.
Perhaps we could start holding them after each tournament in the (incredibly long) time it takes to work out who won?
I would be happy to help organise them, and could be persuaded to contribute to a prize.

[Colin]

Had a chat with the members last night, we could round up at least 2 teams. yel if you need any help setting it up.

[Marcus]

Thanks for that Colin. if clubs can get at least 2 teams together it could have merit. Would also very much like your help in setting up too. Email me off the forum with any ideas of concerns.
What kind of prizes are you talking there Jim?

[James Park]

Prizes: If we could get it as a regular thing (say 2-3-4 times a year) then we could have some sort of shield (sort of like the State Championship shields). They cost about $125, I think, and I would be prepared to pay for it, but we would probably need AV agreement.

[mike]

Sounds like the concept is coming together!!

This is good!

I would definitely shoot in it if possible (don't make it too soon though please I only have five arrows left in my ageing set... :mad )

Speaking to Jim on the weekend, it seemed that it would be a good idea to have team composition rules, eg only 1 GMB archer (I'm not GMB I'm MB so thats easy for me to say!), must have at least one female, etc. Should keep equipment divisions seperate (unless your name is David Barnes and you can shoot a recurve like a compound!)

[Marcus]

With the equipment I am reluctant to seperate equipment on the grounds that I think one of the ,ajor issues with comps right now is the number of divisions. Teams should be graded on a score all three are capable of. While there are not enough recurve teams to warrent a seperate division.
If your team can average 54 or better at 70m then it's A grade, else B grade.
is that too discouraging for recurve shooters?

[James Park]

I good recurver can be an advantage in matchplay because they get through their arrows faster than compounders.

[mike]

You make a good point about not enough recurvers Marcus, and to be quite honest, any recurver who can shoot better than 54 on average at 70m should be in an A grade team!!!

Speed shouldn't be a problem. The problem is that people, even the top archers, don't do enough matchplay to have the experience of firing 3 arrows in less than say 35 seconds. Having a regular matchplay comp would solve this problem. If you had a consistently slow archer in your team, you would have to seriously consider dropping them off the team.

[Bruce]

I think it would be good to have a field format for a matchplay with the three archers having to shoot an arrow at each of 3 targets . Set at varying ranges so that it evens out the scores and abilitys more

[James Park]

Bruce, FITA does have a team matchplay event at the World Field Championships. Each team has three archer: one compound, one recurve and one barebow. Usually the team with the strongest barebow archer wins (because the compound and recurve archers in the top teams go pretty close to a perfect score, where the barebow member can lose lots of points). At the World Field it is quite a good event to watch, and can be exciting.
Each team member shoots one arrow at each of four targets, for a maximum team score of 60. I have seen the winning teams score well over 50.
We have such a team event at the AA Nationals, with teams from each state, but we struggle a lot to get sufficient barebowers.

[Marcus]

I havn't visited this idea publiclly for a while so here is the latest.

I've been working on the format and am almost finished. Most of what we have discussed will be done. One thing I'm thinking of is making it varied. Perhaps using Bruces idea of a Field matchplay. Perhaps a Target, FITA Field and 3DAAA events with the ladder being decided from the results of all three.
Now the only problem I finding is fitting it into the calendar which is already choc full of archery goodness.

I'll start the entry forms for the target version in the next week or so and get things moving.

Any final suggestions?

[Marcus]

I'm thinking of September Sunday 29th for a team Matchplay event held at DVA. Who's interested? The World Masters start the following Friday, is that too close? Otherwise Nov 3rd.