New AJAD Format for Trial

[PKF]

A number of discussions have been held by the AA Junior Committee concerning a new divisional structure for the Juniors in Australia. This new structure is focused on ability, experience and performance rather that just age. Western Australia have already been reviewing the new AJAD format, see their web site under AJAD, with a view to using the new format for juniors in WA.

[Marcus]

Is this the system where they are talking about having

U14 Boys Compound Divisions 1
U14 Boys Compound Divisions 2
U14 Boys Compound Divisions 3

etc etc ?????

[Marcus]

Found the information here

http://www.archerywa.com.au/AJAD_News.htm

48 junior divisions

Yep, sounds like the best plan to get juniors into the sport and shooting lots, every kid is bound to love shooting on their own with no competition, afterall they will all get gold. 48 state champions sounds awesome.

Junior Archery in this country has reached the absurd. Really is out of control. It's always easier to add divisions than take them away and this proves it.

So who is on this AA Junior Commitee? How many are under 50?

Thanks for posting this information PKF, you can come to the dinner now if you are still interested. ;)

[mr_flibble]

To my understanding none of the new junior rounds have been passed at any ASWA meeting to date, the last one being only last monday. I also believe that it hasnt been passed through the AA board either. 48 state champions really does sound good! I dont even think that we have had 48 juniors turn up to a state championships in WA yet.
I don't think that these proposals will ever be passed in WA, most of the ASWA committee that i have spoken to are against the proposal, but of course we will just have to wait and see.
It would be a start if the people on the junior committee would even listen to the junior that are going through the system, there is a big communication breakdown somewhere with the way Juniors are ran.

[PKF]

Is this the system where they are talking about having

U14 Boys Compound Divisions 1
U14 Boys Compound Divisions 2
U14 Boys Compound Divisions 3

etc etc ?????

That's the one. Its all because we are bound by the age grouping that no one wants to give up. If it was done purely on performance who knows what would happen, U12 shooting with U14 outrageous or even a Junior on the Senior State Team!!!!

[PKF]

According to sources the structure has been approved in princle, to change the current status quo. How it will be implemented is still unknown and whether it will be the format for the 2004 Junior Nationals at who knows where! I wait with baited breath

[Marcus]

So what is the goal of having divisions that may only have 4 people in them and breaking them into thirds?

This is by far the stupidest thing that AA has ever done!!

[Leo]

So what is the goal of having divisions that may only have 4 people in them and breaking them into thirds?

This is by far the stupidest thing that AA has ever done!!

I'm with you on that one Marcus! :roll: :roll:

[Leo]

Yep, sounds like the best plan to get juniors into the sport and shooting lots, every kid is bound to love shooting on their own with no competition, afterall they will all get gold. 48 state champions sounds awesome.

Hope you remembered to count the crossbows in the 48 state champs Marcus.... or can you add another 4? :lol:

Considering on average about 100 juniors shoot the Junior Nationals there will be lots of National Champions too :o , detracting from the performances that really should get noticed.

And that is to say nothing of the cost of medals/pennants and the time taken to present them all.

Perhaps a true Juniors Advisory Committee of a junior from every state (led by mr_flibble :D ) with the juniors able to put forward their ideas in a non-threatening environment? The juniors could communicate between themselves (by email?) and then be able to have their ideas distributed to the grown-ups on the Junior Development Committee for further discussion.

[Marcus]

That's a great idea Leo. I was pushing for something similar when I was a junior. 17 years old and my opinion still was not noted. Same with the other juniors.
Most of the juniors would get very very unhappy to find out that rules were changed without a single one being asked about it. U18 juniors are old enough to almost vote, yet not old enough to supply feedback into the development of the sport that directly effects them.

48 junior champions. Hmmm, actually now that I think about it we have

Male
Female

x

Compound
Recurve
Crossbow
Longbow
Barebow Recurve
Barebow Compound

x

U18
U16
U14
U12
U10

x

Division 1
Division2
Division3

=

180 divisions

So we get 150 juniors to a Nationals and hand out 180 GOLD medals, or 540 potential medals, but then we have

Target
Clout
Field
Matchplay
Team Matchplay

2160 medals on offer without counting Team Matchplay. How about when the juniors arrive they are just allocated their 14.4 medals at the start?

In case some people can't read

2160 MEDALS ON OFFER AT THE JUNIOR NATIONALS!!!!

[Juggs]

having a two year old and only new to the sport myself, there is no way i would encourage her to take up the sport i think she would get more out of something like little athletics or netball or some other team orientated sport.

[Foxcub]

i dont get it same one tell me that a AJAD is =(

[Clare Barnes]

i dont get it same one tell me that a AJAD is =(

Australian Junior Archery Development is AJADs (I think!)

Many clubs have an "AJAD" program in place to promote archery coaching and events specifically for junior archers. :D

[Marcus]

Dunno Steve, I think archery is a great way for kids to learn self esteem and meet lots of people etc. However how do you build self esteem when you give golds away for free?
Perhaps in 10 years things will be better, afterall the downward spiral can not continue forever.....can it?

[ambie]

i have talked to a number of juniors in wa, and all of them are against this new program. i have also talked to seniors, and i have recieved a few solutions to the problem, one of the popular ones is to get rid of the mens fita completely, just have under 18 boys and girls shooting the ladies, under 16's shooting the fremantle, u14's the intermediate, and the u12's the horsham. i think that the new program has potential, if it is either done on age OR division...not both. but for now i think that the best solution is to keep everything the same. 2160 medals? that is really absurd. a junior from every state sounds really good...but maybe make it 2 or 3 from every state? and i agree that there is a huge communication problem between juniors and seniors.

[Marcus]

Good to hear your opinions on this one Amber

I agree on your distance formats there, perhaps someone should motion this in each state. If each state shot thise distances then AA would have to follow.