All of the medals have a story. It's not about the medal, it's the memory. Great video!

So I wouldn't normally comment on this type of thing but i actually agree with you. Josh shot a state record for unmarked and equalled the Australian record which he'll wait 12 months for 2 certificates but no actual physical memory of the event. Hes never shot unmarked before so it was a huge deal for him on the day.

I totally agree, I’ve had this argument many times over the years and taken so much grief because of my opinion.

In our club and regional shoots, if you are the only competitor in your class, that is not your fault that nobody else entered, so if you have bothered to turn up then you have won the class and should get a medal. If 4 people shoot a class, then 1st and 2nd get medals, 6 or more then we award 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Love this video. As for me, my biggest competitor has always been myself. I struggle no harder against anyone but my own sucky, incompetent self LOL. The last time I competed my goal was just to get all 120 arrows downrange somewhere into the target. I ended up actually keeping all 120 in the gold, but that was just the cherry on top. Nobody even noticed me and I didn't get any accolades at all. But for me it was a huge accomplishment. I even had to overcome a head cold while I did it. That's not having a go at those who've accomplished more and gotten prizes. But it's just the nature of competition for me - if I'm getting better than me each arrow I shoot, I'm winning. I'm only losing if I'm not improving over my last arrow....

My rifle club used to give out patches you could sew on your jacket. The 1st 2nd and 3rd place competitors get medals or trophies.

I agree 100% on the state level there should be zero reason why the old timer who was the only one in his class to get up off his ass and shoot he should get himself a metal. Same for all classes.

Absolutely agree 100%. All places should be rewarded down to 3rd place. A 1st place award if you are the only one there shows you have the commitment to at least be there and shoot your best.

Totally agree if you make the effort to attend the event and you are the only person in that class, it’s not your fault. You should get a medal. What’s the entry fee for then?

A subject I have often thought about. I personally don't enjoy competition if I'm in a category with less than 3 archers. It's a question of what does competition mean. We all put effort into our hobbies. But a competition means you pit your skill against someone or several others preferably. It's easy solution to mind. A single archer in a category just shoots against the gains system which is a % of the record holders score. Eg if gold gain =80% of the record holders score then you get a gold medal for your achievement. And so on. Crazy how many grown adults want medal for being alone in a category. For me I'd rather be last in a well contested category than first alone in a category

At my first ever tournament i shot in the men's senior barebow category. There were three of us, and I got third place! I was so surprised and pleased when the coach/organizer gave me a third place medal when i saw her the next week. I didn't shoot well compared to the more experienced, but it was a great experience, and I enjoy the pressure and experience of competing. If medals are too controversial, a tshirt, a pin, or some widget is a nice memento of the event.

I'd like to see all events providing a medal for the 3 first scores for each class. If there is just 1 shooter for a certain class he gets the gold/first medal. If there are only two, give them the first and second medals. Who ever got the idea to scimp on any award or medal for the best shooters. You always shoot for the top scores and getting a (physical) recognition for your effort is well deserved!

Absolute common sence, we cant be having that 😂 Brilliant insight as usual Steve, keep fighting mate !

The argument goes "you should be competing with someone to win one of these" No, the argument is "someone needs to beat me to take my medal"

Great talk!!

Totally agree mate

Fantastic video ..that dog is hilarious !

An interesting question. It is interesting, but I have a lot of medals, but none are really memories for me. Some of my most memorable events did not result in a medal, yet I remember them vividly. Medals for me are recognizing the achievement of competitors in a competition. They are a symbol of being the champion of that day. I have received silvers in a two person race. I find standing on a podium next to the winner a little awkward. And those watching understand I received a silver by default. While I still have medals, I do not place a great value in what the medal symbolizes, even though it is a nice reminder. The Lancaster Archery Classic, one of the biggest indoor archer tournaments in the US, gives each participant a baseball hat and a badge for that year's event. It shows you came to the shoot. I think that is a great way to recognize the commitment of the archers that come while preserving the value of the medals. So, perhaps a token to show participation is what is needed. BTW, I put in the time and effort to shoot. I am constantly working on my archery. I do find an intrinsic value in participating and, regardless of my results, I am proud of my performance.

Hi Steven, I agree to a point on this. First of all, if there is a competition with multiple shooters, than there could, or better, should be, place getters, like 1 - 2 - 3 and the rest could get a RECOMMENDATION for having entered/ or their PARTAKE of that particular event!!!! Also, if there are no other participants in a class, you could give them a "Best in Class" award!!! Which is not a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd as per definition, but an acknowledgement that they participated in a class, and WON! Through this system everyone will be acknowledged for their participation in any event! Many sporting clubs are already doing this, so maybe this can work here too??? Just a thought, cheers, Eddie

There used to be fita stars you would get when you reached certain points. Great counter to just the medal

I had to laugh, we just completed a major competition in NZ where some archers came from the North Island and some from round the South Island. Of the 16 categories being shot, 12 only had one archer shooting. I was one of them in 50+ Men compound. Yes, I got gold. For me personally, if I had shot poorly I would have accepted the medal at the time and returned it to the club later. As it was I shot really well after working through target panic. I'll keep that medal and be proud of it. It will constantly remind me that we can get through tough times should the will and determination drive us.

Competition breeds excellence. Participation is social, and its own rewards. If there ends up being a one-person category, they shoot against the last viable winners score (present or not).

I don't like participation medals, but if you are the only person to compete in your Division it should be a automatic first place medal

It all depends on why one enters a shoot and what are their expectations. It's just that simple. "Winning" can be as simple and as satisfying as doing yer best. True competition is one's self. Having MANY classes and levels of medals/trophies to hand out is good for some competitors and almost always a major hassle for event organizers. Been there, done that, having organized a 250+ member club back in the 60s/70s and put on tournaments with many hundreds to many dozens of participants.

I think everyone could get a completion certificate or something to remember the event but something still needs to have a distinction between those who placed on the podium. If someone works hard enough to earn a spot on the podium, they deserve the distinction to know their work meant something

With the huge growth in 3d seemingly from the popular event of the total archery challenge which seems to be based around the experience of the event, being with good friends and like minded individuals, rather than a point system.. Maybe there needs to be a revisit on the target archery side of a more eventful community experience then focusing on points.

In France, most (if not 100%) tournaments will give out medals to the top 3 in all of the categories regardless of the number of participants. There's also (sometimes) a lottery for an extra couple euros you can enter and get prizes.

many other sporting events issue medals/awards just for competing.. archery should follow suit, yes the winners/competitors should win an appropriate medal ie 1,2,3 etc as mentioned yep only x1 person turns up.. they win = gold, no fuss a gold yes memories are worth a million dollars/pounds etc.. medals with the memories are worth much much more.. any award, medal, cert etc I've happily shared with friends/family the event years later & its always great fun, just as I enjoy others sharing their story & achievements..... gaining a win/competing & receiving a "great you turned up" its just poor.. concerning archery alone, my 1st competition I won as a junior just after my BG course I won gold for my class & I would've won silver overall, just within my club I was incredibly happy (no silver medals available unfortunately... hence only x1 at the time) this was back in 92-93..... its shameful clubs, events are incredibly tight these days, even after you pay to attend the event.

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Karate tournaments in the 1980’s they may give a ribbon for attendance maybe but the 1st-3rd places got massively huge trophies like 5 feet tall for 2nd place….not hyperbolic. The tournaments would not have to be major even the local ones gave out giant trophies and across the US. My friends and others seeing those trophies attracted a lot of people to the sport locally. Reduce the qty of trophies but make them massive

I totally agree if you competed and you won your devision even if you are the only one competing you should get a medal. But I’m not one for everyone competing getting a medal. Only the top 3 in any devision should get a price.

Personally I think everyone that enters and shoots should get some sort of badge, patch plus any medal for a top 3 finish. If only one entry then give them their deserved medal for making the effort. As you have mentioned, it's for a momento of the shoot regardless of a score, the kids love to receive something for their efforts and take the to school to show what they got over the weekend or holidays, this encourages more young people into the sport. Silly idea I hear people say, they have never entered any marathon or road race obviously as every single runner gets a momento medal of some sort. I used to have over 100 runner medals and when I looked over them I could still remember the race, day and event and how much sweat and effort to get them. It was never about winning, I was back then a top 5% runner in the whole of the UK and not just a random wearing green flash trainers.

If they advertise a competition bracket/class and one person who fits the criteria shows up, then that person wins by default and should get something. Should everyone get something for showing up? Absolutely not. There is a system called Lewis Class that we used in Trap Tournaments. There was a high overall, high runner up, and First, Second and Third Class; all of which have their first, second and third places, and they were based on score. If you're going to give participants a chance to win something but they're not good enough to win the whole thing, that's a good way to give everyone a chance.

If you want to compete for a medal, just enter open men's or masters men's in either compound or recurve. Problem solved. My club did host an event where only one person in men's open compound didn't receive a medal. We gave him a participation certificate. It was all good natured and he accepted it with a laugh.

Your point of growing archery I believe is lost on the federations, their main aim seems to be on the olympics and fast tracking youngsters. Its a shame, archery seems in most countries to be the "Oliver" of the sports world, cup in hand begging for scraps, a reluctant parsitical existence, if fortunate living off the grace of other sports clubs like cricket, football, golf, rugby etc. for their field and other facilities. A container in a field is still all too common for facilities for an archery club. A shame.

I think that if an older archer beats someone in a younger age group then they should get that medal. If they have shot the highest score of anyone there then they would have earnt it. Simple. So an over 70 can take the over 50 medal or open medal etc. Nice haul there, you've got more gold than Mr T.

I have an old PSE bow that I can’t seem to identify. Is there anyway I could email you some photos and to try and find out what it is? It’s in amazing condition and I want to get it set up asap to use!

totally agree.. nothing sucks more than training for a big comp & then getting there & realising you're the only one in your division. It's not a good win to have, but it's still a deserved win; for taking the time to prepare & turn up ready to compete. Not giving people are medal in these situations will just decrease participation; & that's not what is best for the sport! But what we really want is PRIZE MONEY.. maybe cash prizes if you beat someone else in your division. :)

Im not a fan of participation trophies. However. If you come nowhere or win. A certificate with your position and the score would be nice.

Prizes are incentives. The bigger the incentive, the bigger the shooter turnout. Charging a Nomination Fee and not offering a fair reward, is theft.

I for one believe if your the only shooter u should get an award, as to giving every one that shows up an award , no, with the exception of youths an young adults,call me old school, if you give out awards just for showing up your not teaching one how to lose or win , I’m a firm believer you have to learn to lose in order to win. I do understand the dedication one puts in plus the money but that’s what is called a hobby, would I ever lobby against giving out awards to everyone , no. May all your arrows find its mark.

I hate the idea of participation medals. If you are the only one in your category. Your score should count against the open. Nope. But i have seen in the past. Digital cards with a thankyou (and a photo on the front, of the day), or a certificate... Or even a tee shirt from event. There is your token/memory of the day. But medals should def stay the same. Medals show that you have beaten someone and cultivate that extra incentive... Tho, the top score record of the state, or annual top score in a particualr category should get something. Not a medal tho.

No, if you don't place you don't get a prize. THis is what is wrong with society today, weakness abounds

No! Afraid not. Nearly every organization in archery has the top three in each class declared as winners ? Giving everyone an award leaves no goals to strive for

The "everyone wins a prize" generation is so weak. What happened to the journey being valuable in itself!? Why is beaten by someone else so devastating that people's egos can't cope with it!? It's utterly ridiculous!!

Archery will never be big thers know shops its a dying sport itriad to get into it but the nearst store was 180 miles an i was on my owen all a time not good